Our Mommyhood

Posts Tagged ‘mom duties’

By Poppy, Guest Writer, Funny Or Snot (@funnyorsnot)

In my high school yearbook when I was asked what I would be doing in 10 years, I was quoted as saying “married with 16 kids, be a housewife, PTA President, drive a station wagon, be spanked when I’m bad, and have to beg whenever I want a new dress”.  I was joking.  At that point in my life it never occurred to me that I would ever want children, let alone stay home with them full time.

Ten years later, I had one child that was a really easy-going kid.  I had a great support system and had no problems working full time and raising her, even though I worked a crazy schedule.  Fast-forward to my second kid, who wasn’t nearly as compliant, and I started to get a bit frazzled as I burned through my circle of sitters because the kid seldom slept.  My husband and I both worked a late swing shift until 03:00 in the morning.  We needed a sitter mostly while the kids slept, which should have been an easy job for very willing grandparents.

The plan was to work until 03:00 a.m. and I’d stay where the kids were until 06:30 a.m.  I’d get my daughter ready and drive her to school and hope the baby would take a nap so I could catch another few hours during the school day and before I had to go back to work.  More often than not, something would thwart that plan.  My personal favorite?

HEAD LICE

Have you ever shuffled into Walgreens sans bra in your best sweats with bedhead carrying an infant in a carseat and holding the hand of a 6 year old in pajamas and have to ask where they keep the Rid?  I think my picture is circulating in the Best of Walmart email somewhere, but really I was at Walgreens.  Don’t judge me until you have to pick 10,000 nits and their eggs with your hands covered in pesticide while you are breastfeeding.

My husband tried working an opposite day off pattern, but then we didn’t see each other.  I wasn’t opposed to paying someone to watch my kids, but I was afraid.  There were times I fought the urge to shake my own child so I was afraid someone who didn’t love her might hurt her.  We decided that someone who loved her was me.  My very supportive co-workers threw me one heck of a going away party that included margarita’s in a fishbow,l and 9 months later I was a full time stay at home mom of 3 children instead of just the two.  Then the unthinkable happened.  The single event that brought down my MILF status exponentially:

I was handed the keys to my 7 passenger Toyota Sienna minivan.

It has been almost 4 years now that I have been home full time with my kids.

Sometimes I’m embarrassed when someone asks me what I do.  Sometimes I long for adult interaction other than the computer.  Sometimes I miss having a defined purpose other than laundry.

But most of the time, I feel lucky to be home with them.  It was easier to live on one income than I thought it would be.

One of my greatest obstacles that I didn’t anticipate was reminding people in my life that I didn’t quit my job to watch their children.  I don’t mind helping out every once in a while, but if I wanted to run a daycare, I would open one and charge for my services.

My question to other stay at home mom’s out there is: Is it everything you expected?  Do you ever long to go back to work?  Do you find people take advantage of you if you let them?

Those that are working:  Do you long to be at home with your kids or do you prefer to work?  Would the monotony of playdates and carpool drive you crazy?