A couple of weeks ago I was told by a woman that I'm not an adult because I don't work and I stay home with my son.
OK, so first of all. You know absolutely nothing about my life if think that I do nothing. I keep my house running and unlike you who only work from 9-5 and have no children other than your dogs I am on call 24/7. Mom's don't get a day off! It doesn't matter if we're running a fever of 102 or suffer from severe migraines.
If you had to walk a day, in my shoes, you would call it quits before the clock struck noon.
I run from 6:45 am until 11 pm. Not only do I take care of my very active 3-year-old son I also cook and clean and get the house ready for the next day.
I would love to be only responsible for myself and have no other worries. I had that luxury 4 years ago but not anymore. Becoming a mother is a huge responsibility, especially when you decide that you're going to raise your child instead of having strangers do it.
You don't get to decide when you want to participate in motherly activities. It's mandatory and requires a ton of patience and time. Alone time doesn't happen anymore. Unless you lock yourself in the bathroom to soak in the tub or take a quick shower.
I can't remember the last time I was able to read a book or watch tv in silence.
Not only am I a mother, but I'm also a student, as well as a writer for the Odyssey. I spend my days taking care of the house and my son and hoping that I get to cram some studying in somewhere during the day.
Being a mother is the hardest job that I've ever had. And that's with me not being a helicopter mom and hovering around my child all day long. I try to give him as much space as possible to explore and have fun.
It doesn't matter whether I feel like doing the job or not. There is no break and no option to quit the job. 24 hours a day 365 days a year I am at this. It's not easy, and sometimes it makes me want to throw a tantrum of my own, then I feel guilty because I know that I'm not as great a mom as I should be.
This is when I have to give myself a mini pep talk and remain calm and tell myself that things will get easier even though some days I would rather have my eyebrows removed from my face by being plucked one hair at a time rather than deal with my son's attitude.
So am I an adult? Yes! I am. I deal with more in a day's time than you working ladies do in a week. I'm just one of the lucky few that are given the opportunity to stay home and raise their kid right rather than be working and sending them off to daycare.
Next time you want to smart off at a Stay At Home Mom just remember that she deals with more than think. Parenting isn't all cupcakes and rainbows. Its just as hard a job as a real job, the only difference is that I don't get paid for all the hard time I put in.
