There are few things that really, truly eat away at me. I usually just brush them off with an eye roll or an internal “shut up.” Then there are the occasional comments that fester inside of me and make me question how people can be so rude. Maybe they just want to make conversation. But sometimes no conversation is better, you know what I mean? Truthfully, I don’t think people realize how their comments come of…or maybe they do.
Case and point…lately on numerous occasions, I’ve been asked, with squinting eyes and squishy foreheads “Do you really like staying home with your kids?” It would be okay if just one person asked, but when it becomes the topic of several conversations within a short span of time, I just get annoyed. Period. Especially when the tone takes on a sympathetic one implying that I must be some miserable soul because I don’t have a typical job.
So, how do I answer these enquiring minds? The short answer is, “Yes, I do really like staying home with them.”
The long answer is…Yes.
There are days when I wish Doc McStuffins would stop fixing her toys and Dora would realize maps don’t talk.
There are days and moments that I want to rip my hair out.
But, the same can be said when I was a working mother. So, no difference there. Staying home works for me and my family now. Will it in the future? Will I go back to work? I can’t give you that answer because I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t have a psychic friends’ network like Dionne Warwick to help me figure that out.
Perhaps instead of a simple, “yes”, I should fire back with questions like “Do you really like going to work everyday? Do you really like not seeing your kids all day?”
How rude, I know. But isn’t it rude to ask SAHMs the same types of questions?
I just don’t get what is so fascinating about a woman wanting to stay home to take care of her own children. I’m not turning back the clock on women’s equality because I chose to stay home. In fact, I think it is rather empowering. As a SAHM you are the CEO of your house. You schedule and pretty much pull all the strings. Sure you answer to whining co-workers (AKA your kids), but in the end you’re the MIC (Mom in Charge).Not too shabby.
It can be frustrating. I had a grocery cashier ask me what I did once. I told her I stayed home and she said, “Well, THAT doesn’t pay much, does it?” I don’t think she knew how she sounded, so I just said, “The payoff of staying home is better than any paycheck I’d ever get.”
I think a lot of people don’t mean it badly, they just don’t know what to say. 🙂
I agree! Thanks for stopping by!
Lol, I always felt it was rather rude for people to ask that question. And it’s not an easy question to answer. Like you, there are days when I can’t get enough of being a SAHM. And then there are other days when I’m practically counting down the minutes till bedtime.
Ah, motherhood 😉
Stopping by from the SHINE Blog Hop! <3
Thanks so much Erin:)
I want to be honest, sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t …. by saying I don’t is that I miss being working full time and interacting with my coworkers, but then I love the fact that I don’t miss any school events from my kids. #shinebloghop22
I think in general, many people lack the “niceties” and general common sense. The implication that one might not enjoy staying home with their children is very strong. I would love to hear someone say, “Wow! That’s awesome, good for you!” Instead of treating me like I’m some kind of martyr or worse yet, less of a woman because I chose to stay home with my kids instead of pursuing a career.
Thanks for sharing and linking up to the #SHINEbloghop.
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
xoxo
I know exactly what you mean!