Last year my daughter was assigned to interview a person about their job for school. She asked, “Can I interview my mom?”
“Does she work?” asked the teacher.
Hmmmm…do I work…
For the better part of my adult life I’ve been at home with my kids. I don’t have a ‘job’. I don’t get a paycheck. I don’t get fifteen minute breaks, paid vacation or accrue overtime.
I am the cleaner-upper when a kid vomits all over her waste length hair at two a.m
I am a crawl inside the tub of icy water, hold the baby close because she’s burning up with fever…and know her screams are caused by my own hands…mom. That’s MY JOB.
I am the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Santa. I am a stealth wrapper, stuffer, hider and under-pillow-slider, moving through the house like a silent breeze, leaving behind magic, wonder, faith and awe.
I am a calendar. I remember clarinets, swimsuits, science projects, lunches, homework, gym clothes, snow pants, boots and backpacks all in the ten seconds before walking out the door.
I am a detective. I know who brushed their teeth and who only ran the water. I know which one didn’t put on clean underwear. I know if that quarter belongs to that child. I know what pot smells like…and what ‘high’ acts like.
I am a lie detector.
I am a cookie maker, car-pooler, laundry-doer, rash-investigator, plate-scraper, booboo kisser, homework checker.
I am the bench-sitters biggest fan…at every…single…game. I’m the picture-taker, the memory-maker, the Facebook photo poster…so the moms who have to work…who pout and stomp their feet and still have to miss the game…can get a glimpse at their child’s best moment ever…and know I was there to love in their place.
I am an advocate for special needs education. I am a lazy teacher’s worst nightmare. I am a good teacher’s biggest defender.
I am hope for the ‘over-coming’ one. I am a fixer of broken children.
I am a bedtime reader, snack-giver, milk pourer, ear cleaner. I’m a knock-knock joke ‘who’s there-er’, a home-made necklace wearer, and an “I-made-this-for-you” collector.
I am the one who is often jealous of those women who have a “job” or a “life” outside of their kids. I envy their self-worth, their active brain cells, and their non-sweats-wardrobe. I’m glad they can do it all. I’m happy if they’ve found a balance…and I’m sad if they haven’t.
But I am also a thankful, husband-loving, kid-raising stay-at-home mom…grateful every single day that I was given the opportunity to CHOOSE this life.
I am a mom.
Do I work? Hell yes, I do.
