"Does your wife work or stay at home?"

That question or any variation of it is one the most frustrating things ever. Not only does it imply staying at home isn't work, but it also belittles the role.

If a spouse doesn't contribute income, their role is automatically belittled and that's RIDICULOUS. The only reason a working parent can even work is because they have a spouse to take care of things at home. Also, a working parent works a limited amount of hours. Their boss doesn't barge into their bedroom at 2 a.m. demanding a project be turned in.

Staying at home isn't a full-time job. It's five full-time jobs, and you don't get a single hour off or get paid for any of it. The only payment stay-at-home parents get is an occasional "thank you" and the satisfaction of knowing the whole house would collapse without them.

You are a babysitter, chauffeur, and teacher.

As kids, we really don't notice how much our parents do for us. In fact, we expect them to do everything for us and don't really think twice about it. A stay-at-home parent has evergreen roles like cooking, feeding, washing clothes, folding clothes, scheduling appointments, driving kids to school, practices, rehearsals, and games, as well as teaching manners and raising a citizen who will positively contribute to society. No pressure or anything.

Once they have school-aged kids, their role expands to attending back-to-school nights, hosting sleepovers, helping with projects, making sure homework is done, and being a shoulder to cry on when other kids are mean.

You are a house cleaner.

Do you have any idea how time-consuming and downright grody it is to keep a house clean? I'm not talking about making sure toys are put away and floors are swept. I'm talking about scrubbing grime off bathroom tiles and removing spilled juice stains.

And who else do you think is going to clean the vomit off the bathroom floor and toilet when their kid has a stomach virus?

You are a spouse.

Let's not forget one of the most important roles a stay-at-home parent plays—spouse. Among all the chores she/he has, the errands that need to be ran and little youngsters that need to be cared for, they also need to effectively communicate with their working spouse.

That includes everything from cooking for them to listening to them complain about their less than pleasing manager. It's possible to give your kids more attention than your working hubby, and yes, he will resent you. Kids aren't the only ones who need attention ya know.

A stay-at-home parent is the glue that keeps the family together.

A stay-at-home parent's work will almost always go unnoticed. The only time it's noticed is if it isn't done.

"Mom, my uniform isn't clean!"

"Honey, the kitchen is a mess."

You almost never hear, "Thanks for having my uniform ready for me," or, "Wow! The kitchen looks great babe!"

And what ultimately makes staying-at-home one of the most difficult jobs is this: no one takes care of you. Because of all the roles a stay-at-home parent has, it's hard to find time to take care of themselves. This can often lead to burnout and depression.

So next time you refer to a stay-at-home parents as a "non-working" parent, just remember how ignorant you sound. Staying at home might just be the hardest career there is.