The Working Mother's Manifesto: Kicking Guilt to the Curb

As if I don't have to battle my own anxieties of being a working mom, last month the Atlantic published an article titled Why Women Still Can't Have it All, explaining that even in our modern-day society where mama's are kicking ass... motherhood and careers go together like oil and water. According a recent study by the Working Mothers Institute, 55% of us feel guilty for not spending enough time with our kids. And so this is my reply, the working mother's manifesto, five reasons why I (and you too) need to kick this guilt to the curb.

1. I am going to school and working hard so that I can provide for my daughter a life free of the fears and worries I had as a child growing up in poverty.  
2. Yes, my daughter goes to daycare. No, this does not mean "someone else is raising her". I'm raising her. She just happens to be lucky enough to have a nanny who adores her and friends to play and interact with during the day.
3. I am a positive role model, through my actions I am showing Rosie that someday when the time is right she will know that she doesn't need to choose between being a mom and working. She can have both. 
4. Because I work, Rosie won't have to worry about whether she can afford college. I will have saved enough to help her.
5. Just because I do not to get the quantity of time with her as I would as a stay-at-home-mom, does not impact the quality of time we share together. Exploring the colors and textures and smells at the grocery store may not be your idea of fun, but me and Rose think it's FREAKING AWESOME. So there.