Work and Family Roles

After reading chapter 9 in our text, it reminded me of some of the issues that surround work and parenting roles. I sympathize with parents who feel the guilt of not being able to be with their children due to work. It is a cylce that is difficult to get out of. Many adults go to work in order to provide for their children. In doing so if one parent cannot stay at home with them, they must find child care. Now parents also want to provide their children with the best possible care they can. Quality child care may mean more expensive. Parents may have to work longer hours or a different schedule to accomodate for the costs. What's the solution. Our text offers that some couples work out schedules so one parent is always with the children. But previously the text also states that working the same shift can be important in maintaining a relationship. Another solution is scaling-back. Most of the time it is the mother who cuts back on work to be with the kids. However, this makes job advancement and raises less likely. If the couple divorces or something happens to the spouse, this puts the mother at risk of financial challenges if she should become a single parent. With every solution there is a risk. I guess the only solution I see is to prioritize your duties for your roles and a parent as well as employee. What works for one family may not be the best for another. Yet again it is not what your situation looks like that is important, but the process.