Why are you not going to the office, Mum?

Alyssa: Mum, Tracy’s going to breakfast and after school club. I want to go there too.

Me: But, Tracy is going there because her mum has work and she can’t bring her to school just before the bell rings and at 3:30pm when everyone goes home.

Alyssa: Then you have to work too so I can go there.

Me: Don’t you want your ballet, tennis, kumon and swimming lessons? If mommy is working in the office, you can’t do all those. You’ll have to go early to school, have your breakfast there and stay there until night time. Do you like that?

Alyssa: Yes, mum. It’s alright because Tracy’s there.

I always say, never under estimate your children and that they’ll surely understand when we explain things to them. But this time, I can say that there really are things they can’t understand unless they are experiencing them themselves. I guess my daughter can’t understand yet the importance of the time I dedicate to her and to the family. She still doesn’t know how lucky she is to have a mum who’s there for her every time and who can bring her to whatever after school club she wants. But I don’t rush her. I know she’ll appreciate it in time.

Honestly, it’s not that I don’t want to work, in fact I have applied in every possible job opening as a receptionist, admin support staff, hotel clerk, waitress, retail assistant and all – I don’t even care if it’s out of my degree. I have never had a job ever since I graduated from college and who doesn’t want to work, right? Sometimes I can’t help but think, why did I ever graduate when I will just stay home after? I want to experience the feeling of dressing up – in office suit and high heels, going to the office, conference calling, attending meetings, being promoted, etc. But every time I attempt to work, God is giving me the opportunity to work whilst staying at home. Then I realize, I have a degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship. Isn’t it what God is trying to tell me? That I can practice it even by just staying home – having the luxury of time all others are dying to have?

I know my daughter will appreciate me soon. Maybe when she hears her classmates talking about how they want their mums to be there for them in every time of their lives and how difficult it is because she needs to work.