Mama Monday: Iva from One Chic Mom

Today, I am beyond excited to introduce you all to my long, lost sister. 

You know I've always wanted one.

My brother is somewhere in awesome shock right now. And wondering why he hasn't met her before. 

Welcome Iva from One Chic Mom.
Fellow fashionista. Blazer addict. Navy lover. Mama to 4. {cute little miss on the far right is not her's}
And croatian sister from another mother. 

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   Do you work outside the home or are you a stay at home mom? What led you to either decision? 

I am a stay at home mother of four, I had my children very quickly (four in five and a half years). After my first I tried to work part-time or work from home but that wasn’t an option for my company. I worked for a great organization, had wonderful co-workers but there was no passion for my work. The decision was easier to stay home. I thought I would go back to work after the second but then the third came followed by the fourth…and the decision became easier.

Did you always see yourself as stay at home mom/career woman? Was it a dream of yours?

I always saw myself as a career woman. I thought I was going to “have it all” – work and family. Seemed easy when I was in university, very different when you’re in the thick of it. I’m happy with my decision now. When I was making it I felt like a sell out. Like I was letting all the women who came before me down. I was the first one to go to university on my mother’s side and I was taught that school was your ticket to success. I will always have my education and you never know what life will bring.

What frustrates you most? What would you change if you could?

What frustrates me the most is when women attack each other for the choices we make. A former work friend of mine posted on her Facebook page how difficult it is to work and take care of her two children and that us stay at home moms had it easy. I don’t know, four kids, oldest 8, husband who works twelve hours a day and works weekends, plus entertains clients. I do everything for/with the kids (drop offs, pick ups, homework which is in French and I don’t speech French, etc.). My life isn’t one big commercial for Calgon. I want more “sisterhood”.

If you are at home, do you plan to return to work one day? 

I want to return to work. Now the question becomes to what? I’ve got no clue. I did tell my husband I am taking a year off – I will go grocery shopping alone, use the bathroom and lock the door, volunteer at the school without having to chase a child around…you get the picture.

Any words of advice for mama's who are struggling with this decision?

When you make the decision to work or stay at home know that sometimes there will be doubts/guilt and that is normal. Just know you made the right decision for you and your family and that’s the only thing that matters.

The decision to work outside the home or stay home with your children is such a personal one. There is no right answer or right decision but rather, I truly feel each woman must do what is right for her and her family.

I commend each and every mother out there for this. It is not easy.

We are women and man, we're amazing.

Iva, thanks so much for sharing your story with us today! 

see previous Mama Monday interviews:

one

two

three

four
five