Not Just a Stay at Home Mom

I think when you meet a stranger, one of the first questions asked is, "So what do you do?". And my response is always, "I'm a stay at home mom.". And that's when I get "the look". If you're a SAHM you know what it is. The head tilt and nod with an "Ohh, OK.". Almost a look of pity but with a hint of "Thank God I'm not you.".

Let me just say first and foremost, I CHOSE to be a SAHM. Being a SAHM is no joke. It's hard work, but oh so rewarding.

Who wouldn't want to wake up and stay home with these faces?

 

 

And don't think for one second that because you work and bring home money to pay the bills, that you are better than me and my job is not as important.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not super woman. I probably do less housework than some SAHMs that I know.  I let the laundry and dishes sit for an extra day, sometimes two and the floors aren't always clean. But one thing is for sure, my kids always have what they need and I am there for them 100%. As parents, we have the hard job of raising the future of America and if we don't instill good manners and teach them the things they will need to be productive and healthy adults, who will?! You can't rely on the school system and its teachers to do that for you.

As a SAHM, I am able to teach them; and to me, being able to watch what you have taught them, watch all their "firsts" milestones, and just be there as they grow is so important to me.


For instance, every other morning when we drop Alena off at school, we always see grasshoppers sitting along the sidewalk or on the walls of the school. The kids LOVE seeing them and their faces light up as if it's Christmas morning. I take that as an opportunity to teach them. They learned what grasshoppers are and what they do. I now allow an extra five minutes just so they can stop and admire the grasshoppers. I proudly stand there as other parents walk by with their kids giving us funny looks because my kids are on the ground gawking over a bug.

Ok, we're not at school but it's still a moment with grasshoppers. You can't see it, but his face is all smiles.

Things like that are what being "just" a Stay at Home Mom are all about.