And although at times it may feel like you’re not a top earner, that you’re failing-that you’ve given them too much screen time or fed too many fast food meals to count-know that you are doing the work of the mighty. You never even needed to apply because you were always qualified for this child. I want you to know that no one else was considered for this job. I see the work you’re doing in raising these children and it is the most difficult, most undervalued kind of work. So fellow stay-at-home moms, I want you to know this: I’d been given the wonderful opportunity to stay home with my children, a gift many can’t afford, but no one mentioned to me that child-raising is the hardest kind of work (without the punch card and cool business suit).
#STAY AT HOME MOM JOBS FREE#
It wasn’t intentional, but tiny bits of resentment started to creep in with every thought of a quiet drive home or a long lunch meeting free from macaroni and cheese.īut this was what I wanted, right? I chose this life, and I began to feel guilty about it. He’s my co-parent, but as the months of mothering went on, the weight of raising our children felt uneven. Once upon a time, I kissed my Prince Charming as he entered our home, but now my husband was an extra body, someone to pass the torch (and bedtime routine) to. I often found myself staring at the clock, willing the magical sound of the garage door to arrive. I’d been constantly moving, but never really exercised my mind. I was over-touched, but not talked to enough. Most day I felt like I’d done everything yet nothing at all. Staying at home is a privilege, but soon after I stepped foot in my new role I was met with a mix of elation and isolation. I was with another human all day but felt horribly unseen. There were days I took my children to museums or taught them their letter sounds, but no one was around to witness it. We tote toddlers on our hips, intervene during tantrums, cook meals that no one eats. We work overtime: breastfeeding, swaddling, pumping and dumping-all while juggling misplaced hormones and a mushy postpartum body. Typical jobs offer a pat on the back when you’ve met your quota, but babies can barely smile at you.
It’s hard to work under a boss who doesn’t hand out bonuses. They are also oblivious to our need for sick days, quiet time, or mental health restoration.
We try to establish routines and plans, but children are tricky and sometimes miss our sleep-in-until-seven memos. Something or someone to give direction to correct errors or provide a much-needed coffee break. Most jobs come with a manager or a manual. Cook, clean, care for our kids and reach a new level of personal fulfillment I never had before.īut the problem was, I did very little research on my new profession. With little pushback from him, out popped two children and I proceeded with my plan to be Susie Homemaker meets Carol Brady. Before my husband and I married, I declared I would be a stay-at-home-mom.