OPINION: "I'm a mother 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year"

WHY do people start to think that because I have gone back to work I no longer hold “being a mother” as my greatest achievement, my proudest moment?

Leah Wallace is a DEX columnist, mum, student, career-woman, and everything in between.

THREE fashionable women stand and chat in a hip clothing store, those passing would think that these young women are discussing on trend fashions, hip and happening nightspots and the latest music group burning up the charts, but step a little closer and all you will hear is talk about babies.

"I hate leaving him in the morning, though he barely notices I am gone once I drop him off at nanny's" pouts one mum.

"I know," joins another, "she has so much fun at the sitters, I am pretty sure she doesn't like me picking her up at the end of the day."

Everyone knows the age-old saying that a mother becomes a mother when she finds out she's pregnant.

Why do people assume that changes when a mother goes back to work?

Why do people start to think that because I have gone back to work I no longer hold "being a mother" as my greatest achievement, my proudest moment or that my daughter isn't the being and end of my world.

I went back to work for a lot of reasons and I am not ashamed to say money and career are on the list.

I want my daughter to have a roof over her head, food in her belly and clothes on her back and no matter how much you save before the baby comes along you eventually run out.

On top of that I spent a lot of money and time on my education and I don't want that effort going to waste by having the work force move ahead of me.

I also want my daughter to be strong and independent and know that she can be and choose whatever she wants.

She can have it all. Just like I can.

You might see me at work and think I have forgotten my daughter or that I don't care enough to stay at home (not that that's bad either) but what you might not see is my desktop which is a photo of my daughter, or the artwork we made together pinned to my wall and give me only a second and I will turn the conversation around to children so I can talk about - you guessed it - my daughter.

I might work a few hours a day by I am a mother 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Originally published as OPINION: "I'm a mother 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year"