By Karen Galarpe
About a year ago, I was trying to schedule a lunch date with two of my classmates back in high school. We were all working for the same company, and I figured we should have a mini-reunion right in our neck of the woods.
It should have been easy to set a date then, I thought, but it proved otherwise. MG had to pick up her daughter from a tutorial center and bring her home, right around her lunch break. MC had to make a run to her sons’ school to pick them up and bring them home, before returning to work. Every day.
Finally, we found a common free lunch hour (after weeks of scheduling). After talking about high school and work, we got to talk about our lives as career moms.
True, it may be difficult, but bringing our kids to and from school is a joy in itself, we agreed. The extra time to bond with our kids is priceless as we get to talk about the serious and not so serious stuff while on the road.
We hear it first from our kids what happened in school, what project they need to do, and what they did with their friends.
We learn more about their world at the exact time they feel like talking about their day. More often than not, they’re kinda tired by the time we get home from work that they’re not in the mood for much talk.
I know not many moms have the privilege of driving their kids to and from school every day, but should you have the chance, take it. Kids grow up fast; make time to be with them.
I agree with Karen. I’m a full time housewife aka driver fetcher and tutor for my kids. 2 have graduated fr college while 2 more are in HS and GS. I have no regrets about not having a successful career knowing that I spent my most productive years with them. Those were valuable and priceless moments every parent should have with their kids.
I have been a transporter for the past two years. This year, it’s kinda different and a bit difficult because my son, now in Prep, is in a big school now (I think you know about that school in Katipunan.) I’m on my second week of “hatiran/”sunduan” and it’s such a big production number!!! But I share Karen’s thoughts that there’s nothing like fetching one’s child fresh out of the school. His stories are still sizzling and full of excitement!
Just like Suzie, I am a full-time mom and tutor to my son. I can’t imagine having an 8 to 5 job again. Just this week, I turned down an attractive offer to head a team for a multi-national company. No second thoughts… I just simply turned it down — to be with my one and only child.