SAHM, and Other Misnomers

SAHM

I will forever hate the term “stay at home mom”.

When it’s said aloud I picture someone sitting on the couch, feet up, enjoying an afternoon snack. And I think to myself, as a stay at home mom, that is so far from my reality. First off I hardly stay home, and our couch doesn’t offer a seat without a poke from some odd toy.

Unemployed

I sat in the waiting room filling out forms my daughters doctor. Are you employed? I reluctantly check the box-unemployed. I am unemployed? My midwestern roots twist at the thought, I haven’t been unemployed since I was 16 stocking shelves at the grocery store. Knowing full well that I am hardly unemployed. That my “work week” is never ending, hundreds of hours never invoiced. Yet they want me to say unemployed? 

Since I was a kid I have known one thing-I want to be a mom. I am now living out that dream; I have been blessed with three littles, and have the privilege to raise them. I did not think that a cloud would hang over me about not doing it all, about my other dreams-what about my college degree, my aspirations, me.  Then, on one of our daily walks with all three babies, a women shouted out her car (a very normal thing in the city) “you are exactly where you’re supposed to be, you’re doing what you should, what ever else you want to do, that’ll come.” I have taken that to heart, cause that stranger is right. Amongst all my dreams and goals, raising our children to be kind, generous, gritty rascals will by far be the most important.

But what label do I give myself, a title to sum up the chaotic, ever changing days of raising three children. 

I am raising the future generation. I am raising our children. I am a mother. I will say it with joy, and am learning to say it with pride. 

P.S. I’m skipping over the employed question from now on.