Stay at Home Mom speaks out....Loudly

Okay, today I am in a "Mood." So, I advice you to read this following post at your own peril.





May I start by saying, in my humble opinion that Stay at Home Moms are sometimes treated like second class citizens. Oh I know that there are those who have had it much worse. I'm not denying that. I feel for the masses who have suffered far worse, for far longer than I could ever dream of enduring. That is not what I am saying at all.





I will say, for what ever reason, Stay at Home Moms are one of the few people where prejudices are still accepted and where profiling is the norm. We are viewed as a group of people who live on "Easy Street" who's days are filled with "Nothing to do" and what we do accomplish is "insignificant" at best because "we do not earn money." Also, because we have no J-O-B we should be readily accessible anytime of the day or night because what else could we possibly have going on??!!!





Well, I'm tired of it doggone it! Just because I don't have a "career" , don't think for a moment that I don't "work." In fact, if the truth be known; I work harder than you could ever begin to dream of. I may not have business meetings to attend, clients and co-workers to deal with or deadlines to meet. I don't have "vacation days" "sick days" or "weekends off." I work 24/7/365. Okay, 24/7/364...I get Mother's Day off. And trust me, I am indeed dang thankful to have it!





I don't complain because the weekend is over too quickly. In fact, I'm so busy doing laundry, cleaning house, cooking and picking up after everyone that all my days go by at lightning speed and morph into one.





When I answer the phone and you ask, "What are you doing?" and I reply, "not much. What's up?" What I am really saying is, "You don't want to know what numerous mundane tasks I am preforming simultaneously at this moment. I will put them all on hold and not begrudge the interruption in my schedule; because, you have found a moment for me in yours."





I don't buy designer clothing to wear. I don't have the more expensive vehicle to commute in. I don't know the latest fashions, gossip or technical must have gadgets. I don't hobknob with the elite crowd.



I do know that I have worth. I also have feelings that are every bit as important as yours. I know in my heart of hearts that what I am doing right now is more important and worthy of my time and efforts than anything else I could possibly hope to achieve. I also know that I am incredibly lucky and honored to be able to stay at home with my children.



I am raising my children. No nanny, no daycare worker hired at minimum wage. No one could love my children as deeply, monitor their safety more diligently, or anticipate their needs more than I do. I talk the talk and walk the walk. I do not consider it a sacrifice. I consider it a privilege. Hopefully, one day, they might think the same thing too.



So though my days aren't as glamorous as yours, I dare say they are every bit as relevant. I am every woman rolled into one. Mother, wife, teacher, housekeeper, cook, gardener, pool cleaner, pet sitter, poop scooper service, this family's own, personal "411"- I know the answers to all your questions and I can find the very thing you seem to have misplaced.



In fact, if a salary were received for all that I do...only the very wealthy would be able to afford me. I could be viewed as a multi-million dollar corporation. Not in what I earn, but what I save in expenses.



And although my life revolves around my family and their needs, I am still my own person. I still have the same wants and desires as anyone else. I still want to be viewed as an individual, not just part of a family unit. I would still enjoy time out with friends only, hobbies of my own, and moments just by myself from time to time. A little Chicken Soup for MY soul so to speak.



But I have rambled long enough. I have a million of chores waiting for me alone to do. None of which include watching soap operas or eating bon-bons. And before you leave thinking I am whining, please know that I am not. I love my life! I wouldn't trade it for the world! I just want those of you who are "employed" to know that Stay at Home Moms are valuable to society too. We just don't think that the world revolves around us and our job. We learned long ago that there are far more important things in life. Like our family. I never heard of someone on their deathbed wishing they had spent more time at work.