Just a Mom

 

Not long ago I had someone tell me,

"You have time for stuff like that because you don't work. You're just a mom."

 

Don't you love it!

 

The poor thing, she was so clueless.  So, I politely bowed out of the conversation and went on my merry way.  The comment was not new to me and that incident will not be my last brush with similar remarks. I've been hearing this type of  thing for years.

"You are wasting a perfectly good education."

"It must be nice not to have to work."

"What do you do all day?"

"Your house must be perfect since you don't have to go to work."

"I guess you don't really understand what it's like to have a busy schedule."

"I would love to stay at home and do whatever I want to do."

 

Like I said - Clueless!

 

 

Yesterday, I was deeply involved in my "just a mom" day when it dawned on me that I should take a snapshot of what being a mom is like.

And maybe I should share that with you,
you know,

  just for fun! 

 

 

 

 

The photo is our kitchen counter.

This is my work station.

Here I make lesson plans,

give class lectures,
perform science experiments,

grade papers,

referee arguments,

prepare meals,

stack dishes,

cut fabric,

prep finished products,

package products for shipping,

discuss life issues and politics,

give council and advice.

 

 

Oh my, this is only a portion of the list but I simply can not continue to bore you with the details.

 

All I want to do is point out that being a stay at home mom

does not equal a life of ease,

nor does it indicate that a woman doesn't have a job.

 

 

In fact, I have a 24/7 job with little time off and few vacations.

I am on call at all hours of the day and night.
Since I left my regular job 15 years ago, to be an at home mom,
I haven't received a pay check,

much less a pay raise

but

I do have amazing fringe benefits.

 

 

My titles include but are not limited to the following:

mother,

teacher,

councilor,

nurse,
problem solver,

dietitian,

cook,

janitor,

seamstress,
lost object finder,

small business owner,

lover,

friend,

office manager,

writer,

and

life coach.

 

 

Are you a stay at home mom?

Make a list of all the jobs you do.

Make a list of titles you could be given.

 

You are pretty important

and don't let anyone tell you otherwise

or even imply that your work is in some way inferior to any other woman's work.

You are valuable!

You are needed!

You are appreciated!