Sit-at-Home Mom

One day, I was running late for my training appointment. It had been one of those days where everything was a going wrong in the morning. Tantrums over breakfast, couldn't find one of Leah's shoes, spilt milk, the whole hectic bit. I don't really care when I'm late. I figure most the world runs about ten minutes behind so if you show up 1o minutes late, you are right on time. I run on what my family jokingly calls "Egyptian Time." Plus, if you have to pick your battles, running late because I am tending to my kids, doesn't bother me.

Anyway I get in late and my trainer, asks why. I tell him it was a rough morning with the kids and try to explain how it is to be a stay-at-home mom. He says sarcastically, "Yeah, being a sit-at-home mom IS hard." Now, initially I wanted to punch him in the face. Then I realized, unless you are a stay-at-home mom, this would be your impression, although I never get to sit for more than 5 minutes.

I also understand where the confusion sets in. For the most part I don't have a schedule to follow. Anyone without kids would think, "SWEET! I can do whatever I want!" The thing is, with kids, your day is dictated by their needs. I do not get to watch the shows I enjoy because they are watching their cartoons. I can get on the computer, but I am interrupted a millions times. "Mom, I need milk." "Mom, I have to go potty." "Mom, he hit me." "Mom, fix this toy."

Even getting ready is tricky. Yeah some days I don't shower until 3 in the afternoon, but that's because it is a chore to do with kids. For a week straight, during the potty training months, Leah would wait until I was in the shower, completely sudded up, to announce she had to go potty. I don't think people without kids have ever had to get out of a shower to wipe an ass. It isn't fun! You feel sticky and cold and soaking wet. I could have told her to wait a second, but if you have potty trained a toddler, you know waiting is only an option if you want a whole new different type of mess to wipe up.

I am not writing all this to complain, even though that is what it seems like. I wouldn't trade this in for anything, but not because it is easy to "sit" at home and watch the kids. I have a different perspective on life now that I have to put my needs second and my kids' needs first. It makes me less selfish, and at times, completely selfless. I don't mind, but to say I sit at home doing nothing is very far from the truth.

Most people without kids, don't get that constant grind of doing things for kids. And I decided that it doesn't make me mad. No not at all. I don't mind if I get looked at like a lazy house wife. I understand that you can't possibly understand until you have kids. That's why I can't wait for the people who think this is a cake walk to have kids, lots of them, or just one really, really mischievous one.