I just finished Sheryl Sandberg’s book, “Lean In” which questions traditional gender roles and encourages both men and women to shirk off old expectations. Research has found that children are treated differently based on their gender right from the get go. It’s no wonder that we continue these “roles” into adulthood.
One section of particular interest to me was on the question women have been asking for years: “Can we do it all?”
As a single Mom who never stopped working, I uttered that question more than once. I carried a lot of guilt about not being more involved in school projects, not baking cupcakes for my sons’ Halloween parties, not setting up more playdates, not being there when they came home from school. I also carried a bit of jealousy for the stay-at-home Moms (and Dads) who had the chance to do all of that.
That was a lot to carry and it wasn’t necessary. “The right question is not, ‘Can I do it all?’ but ‘Can I do what’s most important for me and my family?'”