The other day I was asked what I did for a living.
My reply was a “homemaker and stay-at-home mom”.
I was surprised that I gave that answer instead of my other go-to answer which sounds way more glitzy and interesting.
I was also surprised that I was slightly embarrassed that I had claimed that as my job title…as if it weren’t credible or significant?
What’s with that homemaker / stay-at-home mom stigma?
As a homemaker and stay-at-home mom I manage finances,
Plan, budget, shop and prepare meals 365 days a year for a family of 5,
I am an expert homework helper (and homework these days is tough),
I safely chauffeur up to 7 kids at one time all while staying cool and calm under absolute mayhemic circumstances,
I administer 1st aid at a moments notice without faining at awful, horrific sights,
I earn extra income by writing and managing a blog, as well as do real estate research,
I do the laundry of 5, mop floors, do dishes, scrub toilets, vacuum, dust…the list goes on.
Point: totally credible and significant.
If I get the list done for the day I feel successful.
However.
There are some duties to the job description that you can’t plan for.
Things less obvious.
They entail stepping away from the to-do list and sitting down beside the child to marvel at the sight of the garbage truck arm flip a can high in the air, with ease and dump a week’s worth of trash in to the top.
Every. Single. Thursday.
It’s a job description duty that seems so easy but is so difficult because it requires presence.
Humans don’t do “presence” well.
Let the moments to be present pass and you’ve missed the whole reward and purpose of homemaking/parenting 101.
Hey there! I’m Michelle; I’m an Passionate DIY’er and in constant pursuit of how to bring beauty to my house full of men (3 boys + 1 hubby). Stick around and see what I’ve got up my hard-working sleaves!
I love this! Thank you for sharing this today. Being a stay at home Mom is hard work that always seems to have a long to do list and I sometimes forget to be still, just be with my littles and enjoy them. x & o
Thanks.
Awesome Resume!! I’d hire you in a minute. When I work with “homemakers” doing resumes, this is exactly what I tell them to put as their experience!!
The other day I was speaking to a gentleman over the phone and I had to supply him with some personal information. He asked about my job and I told him I was a stay at home mom. Then he replied that I was unemployed. I told him no, I work at home I just don’t get paid for it. Thanks for listing the things we do!
Wow. I would have loved to have heard what his reply to you was after you corrected him. 🙂
I applaud this write-up. You have described it to a tee what all Moms with kids do out there in the world and I truly RESPECT all of you for what you do in raising God’s children. Keep it up, Blessings galore are in store for you from above. Happy Easter.
I’m not at all intending to start a war, but working moms do all if those things too! They’re “mom” things, not “stay-at-home mom” things. We all work HARD!
Julie,
I hope that didn’t come across like I was trying to draw lines in the sand about working moms vs. stay-at-home moms. As an aside, I know that first hand. In fact, my dad raised me solely for the most part as a single parent AND as a working dad. He had to wear many hats so I know how hard working parents have to work. The message was not about who is better. The message of the post was supposed to be about my experience with being present and realizing it’s not all about getting the to-do list done.
Just a little FYI–I read your blog in my Feedly Ap and there was some weird linkage going on. I think maybe you got hacked again. 🙁 just thought I’d let u know.
Thanks Erin. I’m working on fixing the problem but frankly, I’m about to through my computer out the window. What’s up with hackers? Dang them. Let me know if you see anything else that’s fishy. I appreciate the heads up.
Very well said Michelle! I really need to focus more on being present even more, It is so easy to check things off the list, but the small moments spent matter the most!
I’ve never heard it described that way – presence. We are so much more focused on the task-accomplishment cycle as humans, but it is presence that gives us memories, relationships and humanity. Thank you.