Moms, What Do You DO All Day?

If you're a full-time mom, chances are, you've been asked the dreaded question.

"What do you do all day?"

Is it just me, or does the tone of that question almost always imply that we do absolutely nothing?

Hm. So, how do I answer that question?

Well, let's see here. I could make a list of my daily tasks, chores, and responsibilities.

• Cook
• Clean
• Change diapers
• Bake
• Kiss boo-boos
• Teach
• Run errands
• Chase kids
• Build blanket forts
• Drive little people around
• Attend events

Yeah. That sounds like a great idea! I'll print out about 100 lists, carry them with me in my purse, and hand them out when people ask me what I do all day.

At the bottom, I could write, "What do YOU do all day?"

Would that come off as rude?

Eh. I'm sure it would. People are so easy to offend these days. Throw in a rainbow picture and we'd have a nationwide protest on our hands.

I digress.

Most of the people who ask this question don't yet have children of their own, and in that case, I kind of get it. It's the people who have kids--often times more than one--that act like it's a walk in the park that tick me off.

I'm sorry, but if you think parenting is easy, you're simply not doing it right.

I've heard so many things about stay at home moms.

I've had people say, "That's probably the most awesome job in the world, isn't it?"

Well, if picking dried boogers off of a child's face, cleaning the toilet, wiping poop off of a baby's butt, never sleeping in, being on call 24-7, and waking up two to three times a night is your idea of awesome, then heck yeah, it's the most awesome job in the world!

Don't get me wrong. I know that I'm lucky to not have to spend half of my day at a 9 to 5. I'm lucky to be able to spend as much time with my children as possible. I'm lucky to have a hardworking husband who provides for us. I'm lucky to have a beautiful home. I'm lucky to have a supportive family. I'm flat out blessed. And there are many people who work outside of the home who are also blessed.

There've been people who've asked, "Why do you wear yoga pants all day?"
Okay, so no one has ever personally asked this question, but it seems to be a SAHM stereotype that I'd like to address.

It's the lack of time--not the abundance of it--that has me in yoga pants quite often. I mean, can you get on your hands and knees in jeans and scrub yogurt off of the floor without ripping them? Or...er...is that just me? Yoga pants are my work uniform. I don't make fun of your suit and tie. Get over it.

And the most annoying question of all, "Why don't you just get a real job?"

A real job? Please, explain to me what defines a "real" job. Being a stay at home mom is a "real" job. In fact, it's one of the most important jobs in the world. We can't quit. We can't be fired--although sometimes I'm sure our children wish they had that authority.

Could you imagine if every mother in the world just up and quit one day? There would be complete chaos. We, my friend, are the ones who keep it all together.

The point is, being a stay at home mom is just like any other job--except we have the future in our hands. We work our butts off, just like you. We break for lunch--although many times we're unable to even sit down. We have good days. We have bad days. We get paid. Ok, well, not in cash, but in hugs and kisses. And it's worth it.

Sometimes, it's hard. Sometimes, we need a break. Sometimes, we feel like having a job outside of the home would be easier.

Yes, I get to be with my kids without ever having to worry what they're doing, what they're being taught, what they're ingesting, or what they're watching.

Yes, I'm able to be there when they awake in the morning, and I'm able to tuck them in at night.

And yes, that is pretty darn awesome.

There are parts of your job that you like, too, I'm sure. But bottom line, it's still work. It's still a job.

So, in response to the question, "What do you do all day?"

I don't sit on my butt, that's for sure.