Stayin' at Home

"So, what do you do for a living?"

I find answering this question to be kind of amusing, because I usually get one of three responses when I tell people I stay at home with my kids.

1.  "Ahhh, I see," some people will say with their eyebrows raised.  The subject is quickly changed and they do their best to mask their loss of respect, but I always catch it.

My quick translation of this response: what a waste.

2. "Good for you, that's what I did when I had little ones."  This response usually comes from the 60+ crowd.  I love this crowd, they know what I go through in a day and they respect me for it.  I get the feeling they don't often run into my kind anymore....

Translation: your job is important.

3. "I could never do that." This usually coming from working moms. Maybe they say this because they get a good dose of staying-at-home on their days off and think they couldn't do it full time or they just love their job and couldn't imagine quitting.  (If I would have had a job I adored, I guarantee I would still be working some and this would be my response.)


My translation: we are different people, but we could be friends :).


Occasionally I get a "oh, you're lucky, wish I could do that."  This response always makes me feel bad for not feeling more grateful that I can stay home.

So, I've told you what an idiot my brother is, well, he wrote this on my last birthday card:

"Tami, have a great birthday and don't work too hard.

No wait, you don't have a job so I'm sure you will be taking it easy. 

Have a great day." 

Love, Dan

Yes, he was trying to get a rise out of me.  And succeeded.  But, I really think this is what many people think when I tell them what I do for a living.  It's what I thought before I had kids.  Hmmm, how easy it all sounds, doesn't it?

Well, no matter what the response, I've finally embraced this as my job.

I'm here to tell you, I've never had a harder job.  It's the most mentally, spiritually, and physically draining job I've ever had.  And though it's not everyone's calling, it's something I feel the Lord calling me to do.  It definitely draws me nearer to him in desperation more than any other work I've done in my past!

I know I'm not the best at my line of work, in fact, I would definitely have 3 pink slips by now in corporate America.  And perhaps some jail time if thoughts could put you in there. I absolutely hated it when I first started my new stay-at-home role.  Imagine taking a totally selfish person and putting them in a selfless job. 

I was prideful. I felt insignificant - like I wasn't contributing to the world like I had been. 

I was lonely. At the time, none of my friends stayed home and I felt sorry for myself.

I was irritated.  My life as I knew it was taken away by someone who weighed 5 lbs and was super crabby at all times.

I felt this way for close to 3 years! Evidently it takes me a little longer to accept change than the average person....but I stuck with it and the Lord helped me get through that transition. I now love my job and can't imagine doing anything different. Every day is not a picnic by any means, but I feel very fortunate that I can stay home and be with my girls.  (...even if it does still feel somehow insignificant to write "stay-at-home mom" on forms I have to fill out that ask for my occupation.)

And as I sent that 5 lb. baby to Kindergarten this year, I realized how fast it really does go and how blessed I am to witness it.

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This week's verse:

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1