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I have been collecting snippets for my blog (http://mommyniri.blogspot.com/) on this topic from various places including friends, groups and message boards and it became interesting enough that I wanted to share on this site.
I am at the junction of tip-toeing back into the workforce after an absence of 2.5 years and though I look forward to actually finishing a cup of tea (and one that has not been reheated for the 20th time), I do feel pretty passionate about my role as a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom). Before I get totally immersed in the working world I want to find a way to give voice to some of the frustrations we experience. A place we finally can have our say. Maybe having this written down will ensure I never become guilty of saying this to anyone.
"You are so lucky you get to take rest, sleep, eat or watch tv all day" or "You're so lucky!" or "You can do whatever you want all day."
Rest? Man, I can't remember when I could use a bathroom with the door closed. Keeping a pair of
eyes everywhere while you clean, cook, entertain and get no bonus,
raise, time-off or rewards is a bit of a tricky and consuming task. Apparently some spouses are guilty of this too. I still remember being asked a few years ago, just after I resigned to take care of Jia, "How was my vacation?" Grrrr.... Yes, that person is still alive and I hope reading this.
"I could never JUST be a stay-at-home-mom, how do you do it?"
Mmm,.. I don't know, I guess you would have to be crazy or maybe JUST a supermom/superdad. It takes a lot of strength to swap financial autonomy and adult conversations for being a prime caretaker 24/7 and still make dopey faces as needed.
"I work AND take care of my children."
Yes, of course you do, with a lil help from your childcare option.
"Oh!"
This is the response to being asked what I do and responding SAHM. It is always a total conversation ender with eyes already scanning around for someone more interesting to talk to. In the words of my coolest mommy friend "My baby was just born, not me. I have oodles to share and talk about too".
"You are so lucky you can afford to stay at home." aka "You must be rich if you can stay home."
Lucky, are you kidding? We constantly keep re-juggling figures to try and make it work and debate about having two incomes. Very often sacrificing little pleasures and on the constant lookout for bargains. Honest truth is now that I am trying to re-enter the job field and arranging care and all other sundries, I cannot believe how expensive the work I do is. According to Salary.com, if paid, Stay at Home Moms would earn $134,121 annually.
"What do you do all day?" or "What do you do with him/her all day?" or "What do you do with all
