I'm a Mom

“I'm a Stay-At-Home-Mom” is not an acceptable answer to many individuals. Society has deemed it the equivalent of being unemployed. I'm less than impressed with those that view my job as requiring little to no effort. The day you're able to hand me a resume that has enough space for the following Job Description and Duties, I'll consider your opinion.

Until your children are older, you are responsible for bathing, clothing, and feeding them. They are simply unable to do any of these things for themselves and there are no “chores” to assign to others. So between loads of laundry, scrubbing floors, cooking meals, washing dishes, watering the plants, clipping coupons, dusting furniture, feeding the dogs, making beds, vacuuming carpets, and doing everything all over again, I have to make time to be a mom. I read books, build forts, play cars, color pictures, sing the ABCs, build block towers, watch Elmo, change MANY diapers, enforce vegetables, schedule doctor appointments, wipe runny noses, “baby proof” the house, pretend to be a horse and that a spoon is an airplane, dice hotdogs, clip fingernails, prepare a dozen bottles, find shoes, remove crayon from walls, retrieve the latest toy from the toilet, refill sippy cups, entertain a toddler while feeding an infant, protect the cat from the toddler, tuck little toes under the covers, sing lullabies after nightmares, wipe perpetually sticky hands, convince a two year old that bubbles aren't edible, rock my kids to sleep, teach them to be thankful, teach them who to be thankful to, impress morals, independence, and self-worth, but above all, let them know that they are loved and to love others.

After each day is done with the kids, the tiny tots are snuggled in bed, and the house is generally picked up, my day is not yet over. As the years have shown me, a husband and wife must make a valiant effort to maintain a husband and wife relationship. The busyness surrounding the children can absorb you and your focus can shift from being a family to simply being a parent, if you're not careful. A husband is not a roommate, but a life partner and co-adventurer. It takes an incredible amount of work to ensure that you both remain on the same adventure.

As life does its thing, I also have to find ways to maintain my sanity. I've found that sanity is a key point in making it through daily ordeals. I spend most days without makeup, ruffled hair, and mismatched clothing. Now, going without these things makes daily routine easier, but every woman wants to feel pretty every now and again. So I'm extremely grateful for any reason to pull on a pair of jeans and put on mascara. One of the oddest little things that secures my sanity is having my nails done. Somehow whenever I change a diaper, wash dishes, or scrub a toilet and see a little flash of “pretty” on the hands holding the toilet brush, the chore gets a little bit lighter.

Above all, God is my rock. If I don't have a relationship with Him, everything I do is in vain. He is the reason I'm able to do all of the things that I'm able to accomplish. If I'm feeling guilty for not vacuuming behind the couch, He reminds me of what's important by having Dawson flash me a smile. When I'm doubting my abilities as a mother, He reminds me that He's working through me, that everything will work out better than fine.

In a nutshell, that's what I do. Every day when you're on your way to your ten hour a day job outside of the home, I'm here. I'm here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without sick days or a 401(k). Just as you choose to go to work, so do I. The difference between us is that I love my job. It's my choice.

I'm a Mom.