A tribute to Mommies - Part 2

Kaylee and I at 1 week old

In honor of Mother’s Day I’ve decided to write a tribute to all moms.  This will be a four part blog about all the different kinds of mommies.  I want to honor each group and point out what is hard about what they do.  A lot of times each group of mommies thinks their jobs are harder for one reason or another.  But everyone’s job is hard as well as rewarding. 

Part 2 – The Stay at Home Mom

I have been a stay at home mom for the last 18 months, and let me tell you it is no walk in the park, pun intended.  There aren’t many stay at home mom’s anymore, this is a dying breed.  Or more like it was dead and is now being revived.  It’s hard to live on one income and that’s why this isn’t that common.

I feel like my job is never job.  I’m cooking meals, cleaning house and teaching my child.  I almost feel an obligation to do a certain amount of work every day with my daughter or around the house because this is my job.  And the only pay check I get is my daughters love and husbands appreciation.

I truly do love being a stay at home mom.  But there are of course negatives.  I feel like I never get a day off.  I spend so much time socializing with a toddler that I feel like I might break out into my version of Wonder Pets in the rare company of adults.  I don’t get a lunch break, so most of my meals are either liquid (no not that kind of liquid) or I eat standing up at the kitchen counter.  Truly I don’t really get a break where I can just sit and unwind for an hour in the break room. 

I have this sense that if I don’t socialize my daughter enough or if I play with her too much or don’t teach her to independent enough I’m at fault.  I kind of feel like how she grows up is my yearly evaluation on how I’m doing at my job, so god I hope I don’t screw this up!

The funny thing is that instead of office drama I have mommy group drama.  I hate drama.

Of course there are good things too.  I’m completely involved in every aspect of her growing up.  I’m getting to teach her manners that I want her to know because I’m always with her.  I know she’s eating right because I make all her meals (darn vegetarian).  I know she doesn’t have too much TV time because I set the limit. 

And of course I get to be with her.  I love being a mom.

So, today’s tribute goes out to my few stay at home mommy friends; Mandy Horetski, Heather Costa, Tori Withers and myself!