Give that Mama a hug!

I will admit. I did NOT get it. Please do not stone me for this admission. I did NOT understand why stay at home Moms were so different from me. I did not understand why I heard so many complaints from them. I was jealous of them, I thought NOTHING could be greater than spending all day every day with my beloved  children. What could be greater??

And then I quit my job to join their ranks.

It took two years and the addition of another child to make me understand. Stay at home Mamas. . .please accept my heartfelt apology. You work SO very hard, for no pay, no accolades, no vacations, no perks and little empathy from the world.

Now, I know I cannot speak for every stay at home Mom, as every family is different, but I find it safe to assume that the majority of SAHMs work very long hours. Coffee breaks are not a given, and IF you get one, they are not the relaxing, enjoyable events that they once were. Lunch break? Scarfing down pb&j with your kids, trying to maintain some semblance of order at the table and reduce the noise level a few decibels is not really a break at all. Quitting time? Don't even get me started with that. I miss quitting time immensely.

When I worked, I took my paycheck for granted. As nice as it was to receive awards and promotions, I felt I had worked my tail off and earned them, thus also taking them for granted. Now, I know that I will not receive any pat on the back, raise or positive recognition for putting Eli in time out for the 15th time for climbing up the window sill. He does not care that I am merely trying to keep him safe, or that I spent my entire day trying to keep him from harm, and that doing this while also doing laundry is quite incredible. Nope, he is not going to thank me, far from it.

My dear husband works very hard to support his family and to allow me to remain home to raise our family. As much as I try to explain it to him, he is where I was before I left my job, he is on the outside looking in. . how can I complain about how grueling my days are? This is what I wanted! What I fought for!

So, the next time you see a SAHM at your grocery store, at the park, at church. . .give her a MASSIVE high five!

Why?

Because even though it took me a while to pull my head out, I GET IT!

Because odds are she has not gotten a pat on the back in a while.

Because her job pays very little, has no paid time off and the uniform SUCKS. Odds are she is working harder than she ever did for a paycheck.

Because she is not perfect but she tries so very hard to do her best for her children every single moment. Her job pushes her buttons unceasingly and attacks her self confidence more often than she will care to admit. Mistakes are just part of the territory, they do not make her a bad mom, they make her human.

Because even though she may think about quitting her job every single day, odds are, she won't. She loves her job far too much to actually quit. Odds are she takes this job far more seriously than any other job she has ever held.

Because maybe she learned the hard way, that staying home with your children every day is not easy or simply filled with cuddles and giggles.

Because diapers do not change themselves.

Because her daily soundtrack would make you shudder. (One can only listen to Sesame Street, Caillou, Thomas the Tank Engine, Wild Kratts, Word Girl or any other show and theme song for so long before wanting to stick your head in the oven.)

Because her child may be the teen driving behind you when you are out for a Sunday drive.  If they gun their engine to pass you and your 80 year old self, they likely have more unique ways of handling their frustration other than flipping the bird. (Eli is already mimicking some of my road rage antics. It is pretty entertaining and so very PG.)

Because taking her tantruming and annoying children to your grocery store may be the only outing she has had in a week.

Because everyone needs a pick me up every once in a while. Winning at Words with Friends only goes so far. . .A DQ Blizzard goes a little further as a boost but still. . .As a society we are not good at looking out for others anymore. I personally think that should change. Community. A smile and a pat on the back goes a LONG way and it is simple enough to do.

Because I am the MOM and I said so!