Monday, February 15, 2010

As a mom, there are times when you feel unappreciated. Sometime in the midst of doing the housework, the cooking, the running around, between the fights over homework and chores, or while you are cleaning up all of life's little messes, you may wonder, if only for a moment, if this truly is the best job in the world.

Then one day you get lucky, and your sweet little angels say something to you that lets you know that not only are you doing a good job, but that they appreciate the job you do!

I had one of these moments just the other day.

Due to the recession, sadly, my husband is in the process of closing down his small business that has not only supported our family, but has allowed me to stay at home with our two beautiful children for over 8 years. The other night at dinner, we decided to break the news to the kids.

Hubby: "Kiddos, I want to let you know that Daddy is closing down the company."

After we got over all the Why?'s my daughter asked. "But Daddy! What will you do? How will we get money?"

Me: (jokingly) "Mama's gonna go make the money now. Daddy is gonna stay home with you."

Both kids: "No!!"

Our Boy: "I don't want you to go to work mama. Who will wash my boyscout uniform?"

Our Girl: "Yeah, mama. Who would get us snack and do our homework with us after school?"

Our Boy: (a little tearfully) "I just want you to be our mama. Don't go to work!"

Our Girl: "Please mama, I want you to stay home like you do now. "

Hubby: "Mama is going to stay home. Don't worry. Daddy will do everything I have to to make sure she can be home for you guys." (then to me) "Awww! Mama, doesn't that make you feel good?"

And you know what? It really did.

Sometimes my kids have asked me why I don't work like so and so's mom does, and I always tell them that I do. That this is my job, and it's the best job in the world. It's made me wonder though, what they think of it.

For the past couple of years, both of our kids have been in school all day, and I have really been struggling with whether I should go back to work or not. But my husband has encouraged me to stay at home and only wants me to go back to work if I really want to, and only doing what I really want to do.

So here I am, at home all day. A little bored sometimes, but happy, and pursuing my dream of becoming a writer with the full support of my husband and kids.

And yeah, I'm going to have those moments where I wonder if I should be out earning a living instead. Or those days where I don't think I could possibly tell the kids to stop fighting one more time, or I get frustrated over the new muddy footprints on my clean kitchen floor. But now when I do, I will remember that night and know that, even though they may not always say it or show it, my husband and kids recognize my role in our little family, and wouldn't want it any other way!

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