I've ALWAYS told my SAHM moms that I admire them. There will always be a debate about if working or staying at home is 'harder', but I know their job is. They don't get a break from whining. And they don't get to pee during the day without a kid staring at them. Sure they don't have deadlines or annual assessments to stress over, but they have to stress about their children all day and to me, that's much harder.
I was invited on Friday to spend the morning with some of my SAHM friends. I debated about keeping Drew home from school and ultimately decided it would be fun to have him there and have a nice 'stay at home day with mommy'. I figured it would be stressful juggling both kids at a park and then at a splash pad, but if moms across America can handle multiple kids every day, then I can too.
And really, it wasn't too bad. Ady doesn't even count yet seeing as she slept the entire time with the exception of a quick nursing session. And chatting with friends is wayyyy more fun than having Drew in daycare and cleaning the house while Ady sleeps. But it did give me even more admiration for SAHM's. To haul only 2 kids to 2 different places was a bit stressful and these moms do it daily, and sometimes have 3+ kids. (Why couldn't women have been born with 4 arms instead of 2?)
So here's to you SAHM's, or 'Domestic Engineers' as my friend Desiree would call you. Whatever term you use, they are all still friggin saints.
Now, everyone smile for the camera....
... or not.
Love this! My husband calls me "director of operations :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband calls me that too! And I am equally amazed by how working mins pull it off. It's all hard!
DeleteIt's definitely all hard. Since I get to be a SAHM in the summer and a working mom the rest of the year, I see it all. I wonder how women handle the stay-at-home thing all year long, and then I wonder how working moms manage without as much vacation as I get.
ReplyDeleteLove those photos!
Both are definitely hard, but as a SAHM, I certainly appreciate the shout-out :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely appreciate this. Sometimes I'd love to just have a break. I'm trying to go back to work and my main concern is how I'm going to do it all. You working mom's are time management gurus.
ReplyDeleteI love this! Thanks for the little bit of encouragement and validation. You too are a stellar mom.
ReplyDeleteI love this! I only have 1 at home, but goodness. There are some days I get NOTHING done but taking care of her! My husband says he's the lucky one because he gets to leave the house and get a break. Amen brother! Yes you do, and enjoy that break! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love this and so needed this! Thank you. Seriously thank you. I haven't ever done the working mom thing so I can't compare. I do think however we do this mom thing - it is hard. We just have to figure out what works for us to make our hard less hard. Lately it just feels like there's been some SAHM backlash (at least in my circles) and I really appreciate the shout out! I think we're all doing the best we can in whatever situation we're in! Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteps I think you're amazing for parenting two kiddos - something I could never do! :)
Thank you! I can't tell you how much I needed to read this after having most of my friends go back to school and teaching this past week. I feel like as a SAHM I can't complain about anything that has to do with being home because my friends will think to themselves that I have nothing to complain about or that I'm crazy. I love being a SAHM, but it's hard. I may get to sleep in a bit more than my friends, but I'm still up with Cam and spend the rest of the day cleaning, playing, etc. My day doesn't "end" until he goes to bed and sometimes it doesn't end there. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteLove your honesty! I know being a nanny was rough, but rewarding. I was basically the SAHM for three kids and I was never more exhausted in my life!
ReplyDeleteI love this!!! :)
ReplyDeleteStaying home full-time was too hard for me unfortunately. I really loved being with the kids all the time but I was stressing waaaaay too much. Splitting my time working at home and at work is the perfect balance!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this post. It was so nice to read & exactly what this SAHM needed this morning. :)
ReplyDeleteAmen. I agree 100%. SAHMs are pretty amazing. I don't think I have that gene.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this!
ReplyDeleteWhile I am a domestic engineer ;) there are days (most of them, if we are being honest) that I'm not sure I was designed to be one.
Love this post! I would love to be a SAHM, but I know it would be more work than what I do now. Working full-time has it's own challenges, but at least I get breaks to go get a lunch by myself, or spend time talking to co-workers if I want. I truly admire stay at home moms.
ReplyDeleteOh man, an extra set of arms/hands would be so helpful most days! I don't think one job over the other is harder/better/more satisfying. Everyone has their own way, everyone wants things for a different reason. Both ways are challenging, for sure.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got out w/ your friends!
This is really great!! I'm glad you got to have a fun stay at home day with the kiddos at the pool!
ReplyDeleteI mean splash pad!
DeleteIt is a tough job lol those kids never stop or never stop asking for things EVER!
ReplyDeleteDomestic Engineers - Ha love that!
ReplyDelete