We were cleaning out the basement the other day and I got lost in the boxes and boxes of saved childhood treasures.... preschool "journals," scribbles, artwork attempts, school projects. As these childhood moments fly into the past, the motherhood/career debate continues to escalate.

Can women reconcile trading years of college, graduate school, careers and aspirations for diapers and days at the park? I read an interesting blog on Babble about the mommy track .. http://www.babble.com/content/articles/features/personalessays/bishop/mommytrack/I

The dilemma is challenging; the discussion worth having. But I can tell you, at the end of the mommy track, there is no reboarding the train. The kids grow up, hopefully into happy, healthy adults, and there's no going back, except to visit some treasured relics in the basement and lots of memories. 

I just ran across this article in the Washington Post about Michelle Obama, Barak's wife. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051002573.html?hpid=artslot. She is quitting her job to help her husband with his presidential campaign, and probably most importantly, to keep their lives from spinning out of control.  She has been very successful in her own right, but also has those nagging doubts that she is doing the best for her family.  I'm sure this new chapter will bring it's own challenges-- especially since campaigning requires so much travelling and being away from your kids.

I wonder if we can ever be sure we are doing the right thing, or if all the constant questioning and evaluating helps to make us better parents?

I just returned from a girls trip this past weekend and we had a great time.  I have been doing this same trip for at least 6 years, and some have been going longer.  It's funny to see how our work lives have evolved over time.  We were all working after college and when we got married.  Six years ago, very few of us had jobs other than mothering and household management.  Now there are only 3 who are not working for pay at least part time, and 2 of them are seriously thinking about starting back in something. 

There are lots of different reasons for going back to work.  All of our kids are in school now and most are getting close to, or are in high school.  Paying for college is looming in the future, but also adjusting to the fact that our kids don't need (and don't especially want) our "hands-on" parenting.  As they move into adulthood, we need to be able to move on too!  It's a hard transition, but it was a great to hear different ideas from my girlfriends on how to make it smoother. And then move on to the next topic!