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!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Okay, so we aren't the most romantic couple in the world. I don't have any beautiful roses, or a box of chocolates, or a sexy nightie, or a new piece of jewelry to mark this Valentine's Day. And my gift to the hubby was a bottle of Crown Royal and a 2 liter bottle of coke. But times are tough right now and I am a firm believer in the little things. So I'll tell you what I did get.

A morning snuggle followed by a little something, something. (wink, wink)

Coffee and the Sunday paper (with a cute little card he made for me folded in it) in bed while we watched Meet the Press.

A warm towel after my shower (because he took one down to the dryer and warmed it up for me)

Biscuits and gravy for breakfast (My favorite)

As long as I wanted to do my hair and makeup without him asking me if I was ready yet.

A day of NASCAR with our friends and family.

And a bowl of my favorite ice cream in bed while we watched the Olympics figure skating (rather than the usual documentary on the Military Channel about World War II)

The most romantic Valentine's Day ever? No. Not by anyone's standards. But I didn't marry him because he was the most romantic guy I'd ever met, I married him because he's the type of guy who, on Sunday's, makes his wife feel special. Valentine's Day or not.

MIND YOUR OWN BEESWAX!!

Today my 9 year old daughter came home from school and said

"Mom!! You would not believe the drama at school today!"

"What happened?" I asked.

"Well, at lunch recess Margo went and told the teacher on duty that Kenzie kissed Brandon on the playground by one of the buildings! She got Kenzie in trouble, and I didn't see Kenzie do it, so I told Kenzie that Margo was the one that told on her! And you know what happened?"

Shaking my head and biting my tongue so that I can hear the rest of the story, I asked her "No, what happened?"

"Well, Kenzie walked right up to Margo, pushed her to the ground, then grabbed her neck and punched her in the face!" (big sigh from me) "Then me and Kylie ran up to get the duty and tell her that there was a fight! Anyways, when we took of running to tell, Kenzie tried to run away, so the duty had to chase her down! Crazy, huh?"

I felt at this moment that it was time for me to fill my daughter in on how to deal with drama in the future and to mind her own beeswax!! I know that if my mom had done that for me, it would have saved me quite a bit of drama during Elementary School and Junior High!

So I sat her down and explained to her what she had gotten involved in, the possible repercussions, and the extra drama that she caused by making herself a part of it. Luckily she understood, and now knows one of the most important survival lessons that a young girl can learn. Mind your own beeswax!!