Ever since giving birth to Mirabelle I have had the privlidge of being a stay-at-home mom. This is something I strongly believed I was supposed to do. The decision to stay at home with my daughter (and future children if God chooses to bless us in such a way) was one that came after much prayer and deliberation. I am not brash enough to stake the claim that this is what I will be doing the rest of my life but I do know that this is what I feel I am called to do until my children are school-aged. I may find that even then, they need me more than ever...I have heard that, even though they are in school their needs do not lessen..it all depends on what kind of a mom I want to be. I have committed myself to staying home full time until my youngest is in school and I will assess our needs and my desires at that point.
Something that I have noticed since becoming a stay at home mom is a recent word that is spoken often in my presence. Too often I am asked if I am "JUST a stay at home mom" or "are you not working these days?". The truth is that I am not JUST a stay at home mom ..but in fact that is exactly what I am and its a role I am proud of and a career path I feel takes much initiative and dedication. I would never ask someone if they were JUST an accountant or JUST a pastor or JUST a school teacher or JUST a CEO!! Why is it when referencing a woman that has chosen her children as her full time career we suddenly see her as choosing the easy way of life..she is choosing to JUST focus on one thing. The truth is we are still working just as hard as all the teachers, accountants, CEO's, retailers, etc.. out there. Working moms take their kids to daycare/ school while they work their 8 hour job but those 8 hours working moms are separated from their children, stay at home moms (SAHM) like me are with their kids nurturing, feeding, entertaining, educating, etc... Also, just like the working mother, we have to find time in our week to keep our house clean, run errands, make appointments, grocery shop, stay healthy or go to Dr. appts., find sitters when necessary, make time for our husbands, stay connected with our extended families and church ministries.
When it comes down to it, the only big difference between the working mother and the SAHM is that the 8 hour work day looks a bit different. This isn't just an issue of semantics..it can really be a shot in the foot since so often people feel that the SAHM has it so much easier or has some how chosen a simpler path in life. There is nothing simple about it...its just a different one and I feel no one path is more valuable than the next. This is my path and I couldn't want anything more!!
I wanted to say a big damn straight! :)
Posted by: Tammi | July 04, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Amen, Shannon! Even now I get "you JUST work part time and nanny on the side?" Even with only a husband to take care of (no kids yet), my schedule is crazy busy. I imagine your schedule is quite productive. :)
Posted by: Meg Asby | July 21, 2008 at 06:46 AM