So I recently read a blog post that several of my friends (also stay at home mamas) shared on the old Facebook and it got me feeling rather validated in my feelings regarding my job. My very important, time-consuming, AHHHHmazing and frustratingly temper-testing, thankless J. O. B. Now, I once was a paid employee AND a mama and I know how difficult that is. I would never say that the other side of this fence has it easier or is less deserving of merit, BUT I will say having a career and then coming home to your children is different in many ways. In my experience. On top of having a career, I was also a commuter. I woke up at four in the morning to drive across the county and I would get home barely in time to make some dinner, do bath time and put the little sucker to bed. I also spent my days off catching up on laundry and cleaning and hanging with my kiddo. I am confident that my experience with both lifestyles allows me to have an opinion that should be valued.
Stay at Home Mama should be synonymous with Beck and Call Bitch and Taxi Extraordinaire. If I’m being honest. Oh, you have poo-poo in your diaper? Well then, allow me to rid you of that. What’s that you say? You feel like eating a waffle WHOLE with only butter and it must be on a napkin instead of a plate? Let me make that for you. Would you like milk or O.J. with that? Does this sound familiar for anyone else? Probably, but for those of you that get up in the morning, put on what I consider to be “nice clothes” and head to some place other than your kitchen to perform tasks that you earn a “paycheck” for you get a break from all the beck and call bitch work that a Stay at Home Mama does not. AND most likely someone (hopefully your boss or clientele) appreciate you and tell you such. I miss HEARING how much people appreciate my hard work. I am not going to lie… I NEED someone to tell me I’m appreciated. It’s the small things that matter most to me (figuratively and literally). I need some form of accolades. For example, when I am able to do the seemingly impossible such as drop off two little boys at two different schools at two different times, then head home while my two month old’s (hopefully) snoozing, and do the dishes, dust the downstairs, vacuum and get laundry started just in enough time to pick up one little boy and feed him lunch while I nurse the baby in the school’s parking lot. Finish with enough time to drive over to the other little boy’s school to pick him up and head home to feed him as well. All this and it’s only one in the afternoon! Are you impressed? I’m always impressed. Sometimes I do a little dance just to show myself how impressed I am. Did I mention I work in both boys’ classrooms, that each son participates in an after school program, and I do a shit ton of fundraising for my son’s co-op? I do all of this without pay and with very little accolades, but I’ve never felt better about any accomplishment ever. And I’ve never been so exhausted, but no one notices all that hard work. Not the children and certainly not the hubby. He just knows that when he gets home from work… the house is decent, dinner is made, bills are paid, and his kids are alive. Awesome.
I know this is absolutely terrible of me, but I just love leaving the Hubby home with the kids for an extended period of time… like over two hours, because when I return he is usually overjoyed to see me, in need of alcohol, and EXHAUSTED and irritable and all he did was keep the kids ALIVE while I was out. There was no cleaning, (to be perfectly honest it looks like a cyclone hit while I was away every time) and he didn’t even have to leave the house with our children let alone keep a schedule and it probably took every ounce of his existence to keep our children alive in my absence. I absolutely love coming home to a beat up, exhausted hubby because in that moment he appreciates what I do SO MUCH. Scratch that, MY hubby appreciates everything I do for this family all the time. He just doesn’t praise me as much as my needy heart would like. My problem lies with the other women out there that want to compare being a “working mom” versus a “stay at home mom”. I “work” my ASS off. I just don’t get to shower before I take on the day and I don’t do it wearing heels. I feel like women that stay home with their children are seen as less capable when they deserve to be put on a pedestal and rendered goddesses for their choice of family over fortune.
famousslimandmighty 
Steph, I have always felt that being a mother IS the MOST important job in any society. I also have told you how wonderful you are. We all grow up in different circumstances and I really didn’t have my mother around that much. My older sisters were basically my moms. What you do now cannot be matched by anyone who works outside of the home. I was happy for 2 of my sisters who did work as stay at home moms. And as you know your Aunt Billie had 5 kids. Men don’t seem to understand the plight of the stay at home mom. They think all they have to do is bring home the bacon……for you to cook. It’s not their fault; I think it’s just part of their make-up as men. They are not multi-taskers when it comes to kids and home. Now, to be fair, there are some men out there who do stay home; however it’s pretty rare.
I believe God gave us women the abilities that he did because we are stronger emotionally, we are better nurturers and we were blessed with juggling skills. He wants you to be home raising your children; however He doesn’t want you to be Wonder Woman either. Take breaks, revel in them and just know that when you come home; it starts all over again.
I love you because of the person you are. I also envy in some ways the important time that you take out; even though you could be resting to go to the park, or take them somewhere fun to play. You are a wonderful daughter, friend, wife and especially Mother. They could never calculate a salary for stay at home Moms. But the benefits are incredible. xoxo Ma
Well put, Ma!