I’m not sure the point to this post but here goes anyway…
I am a stay at home/work at home mom. I don’t sit on my ass all day, I’m busy. Of course I DO have my lazy days or days where I lack any motivation just like I have felt at any other job. The difference is this job has long hours but it’s very rewarding. I chose to stay at home because of money. I didn’t have any deep desire to rear children (I wasn’t even planning on having any) or stay at home cleaning poop butts but once I got pregnant and found out how expensive daycare was it was either watch the kid myself or work all day just to pay for him to be enjoyed by someone else. My mom had us in daycare but she had several kids and it wasn’t an option to stay home and when she did get home from work she was generally tired and angry so I’m sure that had something to do with the decision. I’ve been actively trying to not be that parent, I want to be the one who wants to hang out with their baby not the one who comes home pissed off and ready to explode. So I’m a stay at home mama to The Babe.
Other people, well more so people who have never been a stay at home parent or been around one do not understand. They make me feel as if I sit around on my ass all day eating candy. Yeah, somedays I do. I have random days where I choose to only take care of my child and fuck everything else. To the real world workers you know you have those days too! You just have to be at work and I get to be home and wear pajamas all day and be ‘that lady’. They make it seem like ‘What could you possibly do all day?’ I used to be one, I speak from experience. I have one friend who was a stay at home mom and she was one of few I knew, we shall call her K. I love K. She is a good mommy and despite having kids young does everything she can for them. She isn’t one of the stupid teenage parents although she isn’t a teen anymore. I digress, I used to wonder what the fuck she did all day to be so tired and worn out. I also didn’t understand the boredom, you don’t have to go to work that must be AWESOME! How can you be bored or lonely (because there is always a child)? I GET IT NOW! I understand now and I told her within about a week of having The Babe that I got it, it’s tiring and it takes time. If you want to do it right then you have to invest time and effort. I really can’t stand the people who make me feel bad for what I do, I’m doing an amazing thing. Creating a happy and healthy baby. Woo! Anyone who is 55 and above thinks that it’s great your staying at home, the 30-45 group think hmmm (if your my mother you wish I never had a baby and husband and just stayed a single workaholic) that’s nice and people my age generally wonder wtf I do all day.
What’s awesome about being a SAHM you ask? (or if you don’t skip to the cons). I get to spend TONS of time with my baby and never feel guilty for being away from him because I give him all my attention. I know that he is getting the attention he needs instead of entrusting someone else. I’m sure there are very amazing babysitters but I also remember my daycare. It was awful and her kids were mean to us and so was she. I get to play all day somedays and giggle and laugh and it’s AMAZING!! I’m available to my family, friends and husband most all the time. If my sister needs me I can be there, if C wants dinner with me and The Babe I can do it and I am also able to keep things managed at home as far as cleaning, shopping, budgeting and I don’t hate it (all the time) because I am not also trying to work and cram time in with Babe. I have time to blog! Well, usually I wait until Babe is sleeping (like now) but sometimes he doesn’t want to play with me and I get bored. I have time for crafting, baking and whatever else I fancy.
The cons…ahhhh the cons. Monatony and boredom. I do the same thing day after day after day for most of the day. I get up, check my email and facebook and see which of you lovelies commented. Babe wakes up, change diaper, cuddle/play, feed, play, nap, then I eat, he gets up, change diaper, cuddle…you get it. EVERYDAY! Unless C is off, then he’s the mommy and I sit over here and pretend I don’t know who they are. It’s nice. I’m sorry baby? Husband??? Ohhhh right right! I have those. When Babe throws a fit there is NO ONE else to take him, I’m on my own. I can call B and ask her to come if I’m going crazy and she is great about it but she also works and now lives on the other side of town. I could go visit people but what will they do? Stare at him screaming, not give me a break. Living next to family would be awesome, if I was sick or Babe was sick they could take him, if I felt like running to the store it would be easy just to let someone hang out for a bit. But we choose to live far away. For now. What else…crying all day because of teething/moody/I just feel like it can grate on your nerves like you would not believe. One time long long ago in our first week of C being back at work I saw myself running out the door. I didn’t but I could see it. Quickly…mommy guilt, too tired for much of anything and showering doesn’t always happen.
I guess this is a ‘tirade’ it’s more of a babble. Tomorrow I will blog about cute Babe stuff because he has been an adorable mess lately and we also got his bunny pictures back!!! :] That will be tomorrows Wordless Wednesday.
Go check out the two giveaways also! I may extend the Ecco Bella one.
