Today is International Women’s Day and this time of year always holds some significance to me because it was the time I received my provisional plumbing license. Ironically I got my license the day before International Women’s Day 3 years ago and I have just received the paperwork from the Plumbing Council to pay for another year’s license fee.
I remember going to a function for female plumbers and apprentices run by the Plumbing Council three years ago for International Women’s Day and it put me off future International Women’s Day functions. Simply put, despite the fact that I’m a female plumber, I don’t believe all plumbers should be female nor should the construction industry be predominantly run by women. I think it’s great that women have more opportunities to choose a career in any field they wish but I don’t believe women should rule the world.
What International Women’s Day should represent (and what it is supposed to represent) is a celebration of not only what women have achieved in the past, but the opportunities that continue to open up for them in the future.
I believe I have the best of both worlds. I enjoy the couple of days a week that I work as a plumber and I love the time that I spend being a wife, mother and home maker. Being a home maker is such an important role and its value to the household should never be taken for granted. Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world but it can be the most rewarding if you invest quality time with your children.
Since having my second daughter, I have had a bit of time to reflect on the type of mother I want to be and how I can balance this with my work pursuits. Some women tend to view or do the opposite – pursue their own careers and work out how their children and family can fit around them. I don’t agree with this or think this is right. Children are a blessing from God and a responsibility. Blessings also require good stewardship. I believe children need to be viewed in this light.
I am enjoying every moment with my daughters (not the temper tantrums from my two year old!). They are only little for so long and now is the time that they want and need my attention the most. I know that I can ramp up my business’s when they go to school, but working for myself and my family business means I will always be there for my children should they need me and I won’t miss out on important milestones in their life.
It all comes down to choices, and it seems that women are getting more of these as each year passes by. The choices made now though, need to be ones that we don’t regret in the future.
