I was thinking about the term SuperMom today. I’ve talked to my husband about it in the past and he of course said that I was a supermom (but that’s beside the point). To me the definition of a supermom is a mom that can do it all and not just do it all but be happy doing it all. You have to enjoy it and live in the moment. That includes changing poopy diapers while the older child is on the potty yelling “MOMMY!!! Come wipe my bummy!” and the oldest one is asking you to do laundry all at the same time your husband is walking through the door asking for dinner and the kitty litter needs to be changed and the dog needs to be fed and the phone is ringing and I need a major dose of Excedrine or percoset.
To me it’s not about working inside or outside of the home, it’s simply about doing it all.
My view on working and putting children in daycare is that most of the time it is not worth the effort. Quite often the expenses of a daycare are so close to what a parent might earn, and then adding in gas prices, work clothes, extra cost of quick meals, stress, and missing out on your kids during the day-to-day stuff, that it isn’t worth it. After all of that calculate how much you earn an hour and see if that’s really worth it. Sometimes we just need to scale back on how new the car is, how big the car is, or how big our vacations are. Sometimes it’s cheaper to live simply and enjoy the day-to-day life with kids, animals, cooking, and all that goes into a stay-at-home mom’s life.
I certainly don’t think it’s awful that moms work outside the home. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I’ve been there…I was in school full time and had a job when my dd was a toddler. It’s tough work. I’m thankful I don’t have to do it anymore.
What gets me is when a mom and dad both work busy jobs to “keep up with the Jones’s”. You know, when the neighbors have a brand new car, so “we” need one, too. When the neighbors go to Europe “we” need to go, too. That kind of stuff. It’s just not necessary IMO.
Anyway, enough of my ranting 😀
So, moms, good luck this week. Draw your strength from your kids and have a good one 🙂
I agree whole heartedly with this post. I also worked outside of the home until we had Jake and then two kids under 2 in childcare had us weighing what was important to us. After all expenses $100 a week was not worth it to us.
I do know some women though that are much better mothers because they do work outside the home. I think a lot has to do with how we are wired. I have homeschooled my sons the last 8 years and that seems to boggle many minds. lol However, it’s worked great for us and given us all opportunities and experiences that we would not have had otherwise.
I agree, I’m not fond of those keeping up the Jone’s types, and feel like many of them are to blame for the mess our country is in.
Anyway, I agree be happy and enjoy what you have!
Have a great week!
Cheles last blog post..My Forever Child
I’ve done both and I can honestly say I appreciate being able to stay home with my kids, I missed out on a lot when I was a working mom, but there’s been a lot of sacrifice both financially and mentally, to being a SAHM 24/7. It’s a constant pull. I wouldn’t trade it though, just give me the occasional mom’s night out and I’m recharged for a good couple of months.
mrsbears last blog post..HELP, My Shirt is Trying to Eat Me
You have just summed up my life. It’s crazy, but I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I share your opinions on day care and staying home. That was one of the main reasons I decided to resign from my job. It wasn’t financially worth it. Plus I get to watch my little one grow up and spend time with her. Thanks so much for the FB friends request. It’s nice to put a face with the blog. Hope you have a great week.
Hugs
Michelle
Michelles last blog post..The Secret Society Of Moms
It all depends on how much you can let go. That’s what it gets down to. Can you ignore the messy house, the inability to go on your kid’s field trips, the piles of laundry, the running crazy that comes with a working mom? Then there is the letting go of the fancy cars, the huge house, the college and retirement fund well-stuffed that goes with staying at home. I stayed home and gave up all the money stuff and never regretted it for a day. I’m working part-time now, and I hate all the running we do now. And the money just never seems to be enough for the trade-off. It’s hard to be the Mom, isn’t it?? We have too many decisions.
Lins last blog post..The Kitten Stash
I agree, I have a friend who just had a baby and I get the feeling that she really does want to be a stay at home mom but that her husband won’t “let” her because he wants to have a lot of money. They could afford it, but act like they can’t, and I think that’s sad. Choosing material things over a child doesn’t seem worht it. But then again I’ve always known I would be a stay at home mom from the time I was a little girl – because my mom couldn’t (she was a single mom) and so I was raised by daycare. So I don’t take it for granted, I feel very lucky that I’m the one who gets to spend the majority of my time with my son and to be the biggest influence and to get to see every moment of his life. I will never have any regrets, this has been the best year of my life. And, thankfully since I did find our first babysitter for him to start going to at 11 months old, one day a week, I will be able to continue to enjoy every second because I get time to regroup so that I can still give him 100% when I’m with him which is why he’s such a happy baby. He absolutely loves his babysitter and the kids he gets to play with, but any more than 8 hrs a week would be too much for us.
Andrea Singers last blog post..He’s Walking On His Own!
P.S. Also – Thank you for the comment on my blog about the babysitter working out!
Andrea Singers last blog post..He’s Walking On His Own!