Wednesday, February 20, 2008

All in a Day's Work!

Today, I thought I would clear up any miconceptions of what a stay at home homeschooling mother of two actually does all day. First for the record, I do have my college degree. I am very proud of this fact, being I am the first one in my family to attain this goal. I used my degree and worked outside the home for many years before Regan was born.I went back to work when she was four and worked for a few years before having Nolan. At that time Bob and I decided that I would stay at home to raise our two children. I have loved every minute of it and have never regretted this choice. I am also aware that this is a privilege and that not all mother's have this choice and for that I am grateful.
There are a few things though that I would like to address. One is I don't know why there is this battle between working and stay at home mother's. I have never understood this and see no reason for it at all. Also, I am not one of those mother's who believes every mother should stay at home, I think as women and mother's we are all unique and every decision is based on a combination of desire and situation. I have friends and family members who love to go to work and some claim to be better mother's because of it!
For me it was a personal decision that was mine and Bob's. I thought that today would be a good day to let you in on a typical day in the life of a pilots wife stay at home home-schooling mother and answer the two questions that annoy me pertaining to my decision of stayin at home and the decision to homeschool. I have other questions that annoy me as a wife of a pilot, but I will leave that for another blog. Okay so #1.what do you do all day? and #2.Are your kids socialized? (what do they mean? when I take them to the park are they growling at the other kids? No, they are wearing their collars and muzzles to keep them from biting anyone! Be real people,another dumb question!). So here we go-
7am get up got showered and ready. Made school lunches and helped Bob find a pair of black pants(although he has 10 pairs in closet he never can seem to find the "one"he needs) for trip. Got kids up and ready for school. Made breakfast.Helped Bob find keys, phone and wallet (I swear if his head wasn't attached..)Get Bob out door on time,find kids socks(we never have two the same) and shoes. Gather t-ball equipment, Jr. Girlscout uniform, and school books for Regan because today we will have school in car and at various locations per fieldtrip. Take Nolan to pre-k program, drop off, go to theatre for play(Treasure Island) with Regan,do some schoolwork in car waiting for play, see play, go to borders to finish school work with Regan while waiting for Nolan to finish gymnastics, pick up Nolan, take Regan to Jr. Girlscouts(as she changes in car), go home for 45 min, go back to Jr. Girlscout meeting, (its my day to car pool), pick up girls take them all home, go back by house(I forgot part of t-ball uniform) go to ball field for t-ball practice,come home@ 630pm, make dinner, get kids bathed, have time to smooch on hubby when he returns home, put kids to bed,read story,prayer,get water.rest.Get more water, help someone to potty.rest.take Nolan back to bed for the third time-check on Regan. Then I get to clean kitchen from dinner, and get ready for bed. Fall into Bed, mumble something incoherrant to Bob. and on some occasions well TMI.... Some days we go to park, library,store,etc. Do not misunderstand me, I am not telling you all this because I regret my decision, I really love my"job". I just thought that the next time anyone meets or doubts that a stay at home mom works, well our job never stops. The next time you meet a homeschooling parent you will also know without a doubt that our children are very socialized!
Now I also want to take this opportunity to say to the working moms - I have so much admiration and respect for you. Not only do you work, but I also know that you do the same things here that I just described! I think as mother's we should support and encourage one another (instead of tearing each other down) for the things we do, or the decisions we make. Whether someone decides to stay at home or work outside the home,there is one thing I am certain about, we all want the best for our children ,we love them and want to provide for them the best care we can-for each one of us it will be different, and it will look different, but we all share this one common goal-To raise productive,self confident, self motivated, moral children in a society that is broken.

4 comments:

D's Mom said...

You go girl! As someone who is on the "working mom" side, I agree with you...preach it sister!!! Love ya!

Victoria said...

Welcome to my world!

jumbled up and complicated. very discombobulated. said...

If anyone tries to say that Regan and Nolan aren't social children... they have no idea what they're talking about.
And, let's be honest, they're probably just jealous bc their kinds aren't as cool as yours.

St. of Words said...

i hope no one is giving you a hard time. especially about homeschooling. i was homeschooled, look how cool i turned out!!

you are an incredible mom and you are so right. moms should all support each other, because they do so much...all of you guys do!!