Isn’t that okay?

I had a job interview yesterday that was… mediocre. First of all, diabetes dared to interrupt, but I didn’t let it.

I talked to 3 different people about various things, and I hope I managed to give them the answers they were looking for. However, I managed to get tripped up when the last person asked near the very end of the interview: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Ugh. What a loaded question. I had no idea what sort of answer they were looking for, so I told them the truth: At home, with kids.

I’m pretty that’s not what I was “supposed” to say. The guy talked a bit about how they were looking for someone who would be with them for a long time, and not going to leave in 6 months or something like that. I was crushed. I’m pretty sure that this question was the deal breaker for the position. I have to wonder, though, is what I said okay?

Society today seems to fawn over career-women. Women growing up to be CEOs, business managers, lawyers, doctors, investment bankers, etc. is seen as the ideal. People have longed hoped that women would be more than just homemakers with a high school diploma. To which I say: What is wrong with that?

I am a well educated, geeky young woman, who is currently earning more than her husband (but don’t remind him about that *grin*). And yet, all I want to do in the semi-near future is quit my job, make babies, and raise them. I love the idea of making dinners from scratch, knitting my kids goofy sweaters, doing housework, homeschooling, whatever. I have great admiration for career moms. Their job is harder (and more rewarding) than any so called career-woman’s job. There is no shame in not working and staying home with your kids.

And yet, I got funny looks when I said that’s what I wanted to do.

Relatedly, in my baking class, on the first day we went around and said our name and what we do. Since it was a night class, it was assumed that we all had full-time jobs. Most people said things like “I work at this large company”, “I an investment adviser”, “I work at this restaurant”, etc. Then one lady said apologetically, “I don’t work. I’m a mom.” I thought it slightly odd that that she felt the need to justify her choice to just be a mom.

I’m sure that my honesty will cost me that job, but so what? I want to be a stay-at-home mom someday, and I applaud those who already are.