"Why must every story be measured against one’s self and the feelings they evoke? And why, if a story triggers discomfort in readers, must it be dismissed?"
I’m a working mom with a demanding career, and your narrative about “Raising Superwoman” resonated with me.
For an Orthodox Jewish woman, there is no such thing as “work-life balance,” as the focus is always on our families. There is nothing wrong with takeout or cleaning help or having your spouse do morning routine or bedtime if necessary. Who decided that being home for your kids with warm cookies and a glass of milk for after school is right for everyone? If your family needs the parnassah, perhaps being home and driving car pool is not your responsibility.
The question to ask yourself is, “Am I working for me, or for my family?” There are many stay-at-home mothers who invest less of themselves into their families than some working moms, despite all the time and resources available to them. Why is so much guilt associated with the beautiful and noble chesed of a working wife who helps contribute to the exorbitant finances of a frum household?
We don’t always choose to wear the cape we are given. The question we should be asking ourselves is: When we don our capes and go out to battle, what is our battle cry?
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