I was approached this past week about returning to work...I was offered a job...and my first instinct was..."NO WAY!" But to tell you the truth...I mulled it over...inside that big science museum I was with my children ...I read the text message and really thought it over. I thought about the money...the adult conversation...hum...an actual lunch hour!!!!
Then...I looked at them...I looked into their faces and I was right back to my first instinct of "no." No way.
I know MANY working Mothers...COUNTLESS...so many women go into their jobs...and go home to still keep it all together under their roof but for some reason I cannot do it. It's not that I don't have the skill or the ability...I do...I did...I worked...I balanced it all on my own...but right now, in this season of life I'm happy with my bright yellow cleaning gloves...not surgical gloves...I'm happy (well, most days) with sharing my lunch with one of my children...I'm happy being in a science museum instead of a hospital...I'm happy with learning to make sacrifices and the art of this whole stay-at-home-mom thing.
There's something very warm...cozy...calming...and safe about the family raising the children...and in our current situation most of our family lives farther away...so having a grandparent watch the children just isn't an option. Staying at home is. Being here to witness the first steps of my little daughter is totally magical and a day I will honestly never forget. Building forts with Aiden is great...it's cozy...and it's right where I'm supposed to be. Trying new recipes that take all day...learning to sew...keeping my home cozy and clean...that's my craft...my job...my talent...and my ability. I know...so many people think stay-at-home-moms live this life of luxury...and yes, I do consider my ability to be here a luxury...but I will also tell you this...I don't eat bon bon's all day...I couldn't tell you the names of any daytime soaps on TV...I don't know the last time I went shopping at Macy's or Dillards...but, I can tell you that Aiden is learning to read...I can tell you my daughter is talking and loves saying "thank you" "thank you"...I can tell you my home stays clean and just so. And, my biggest struggle...I can tell you is this...I WANT A BIGGER HOUSE!!! I want more room...more space...but I can tell you this...there is so much love inside this house of ours. Nope...I don't have the luxury jacuzzi tub in my bathroom that I would so love to have...I don't have the BIG GIANT walk-in closet to house my clothes...but I've got the closeness of 3 people that I need...that I love...that I work hard for each day...and it's a job that I do not get paid money for...instead I get paid in love, and satisfaction.
And, lastly, this stay-at-home-mom business I do all day...every day...it's brought me closer to God. Yes, I was close before...my faith was there...it was strong...it did exist...but, these lessons I'm learning...God has brought each one to me. Some have been easy...some have been extremely difficult but God laid them before me and gave me a choice on how I would learn them. With my closeness...my Mighty Father...I can better serve my children...my home...my husband...I can better serve those that might not know Him. One other thing...my kids are able to see me doing this business I do with Him...they are able to see me on my knees in prayer some days...they are able to see me talking with the Mighty God that gives me strength when I really have none at all...they are able to see this faith of mine in action...THAT makes it all worth it. They are able to see me praise Him... My un-paying job is paying off in other ways....and for right now I'm right where I'm supposed to be.
Then...I looked at them...I looked into their faces and I was right back to my first instinct of "no." No way.
I know MANY working Mothers...COUNTLESS...so many women go into their jobs...and go home to still keep it all together under their roof but for some reason I cannot do it. It's not that I don't have the skill or the ability...I do...I did...I worked...I balanced it all on my own...but right now, in this season of life I'm happy with my bright yellow cleaning gloves...not surgical gloves...I'm happy (well, most days) with sharing my lunch with one of my children...I'm happy being in a science museum instead of a hospital...I'm happy with learning to make sacrifices and the art of this whole stay-at-home-mom thing.
There's something very warm...cozy...calming...and safe about the family raising the children...and in our current situation most of our family lives farther away...so having a grandparent watch the children just isn't an option. Staying at home is. Being here to witness the first steps of my little daughter is totally magical and a day I will honestly never forget. Building forts with Aiden is great...it's cozy...and it's right where I'm supposed to be. Trying new recipes that take all day...learning to sew...keeping my home cozy and clean...that's my craft...my job...my talent...and my ability. I know...so many people think stay-at-home-moms live this life of luxury...and yes, I do consider my ability to be here a luxury...but I will also tell you this...I don't eat bon bon's all day...I couldn't tell you the names of any daytime soaps on TV...I don't know the last time I went shopping at Macy's or Dillards...but, I can tell you that Aiden is learning to read...I can tell you my daughter is talking and loves saying "thank you" "thank you"...I can tell you my home stays clean and just so. And, my biggest struggle...I can tell you is this...I WANT A BIGGER HOUSE!!! I want more room...more space...but I can tell you this...there is so much love inside this house of ours. Nope...I don't have the luxury jacuzzi tub in my bathroom that I would so love to have...I don't have the BIG GIANT walk-in closet to house my clothes...but I've got the closeness of 3 people that I need...that I love...that I work hard for each day...and it's a job that I do not get paid money for...instead I get paid in love, and satisfaction.
And, lastly, this stay-at-home-mom business I do all day...every day...it's brought me closer to God. Yes, I was close before...my faith was there...it was strong...it did exist...but, these lessons I'm learning...God has brought each one to me. Some have been easy...some have been extremely difficult but God laid them before me and gave me a choice on how I would learn them. With my closeness...my Mighty Father...I can better serve my children...my home...my husband...I can better serve those that might not know Him. One other thing...my kids are able to see me doing this business I do with Him...they are able to see me on my knees in prayer some days...they are able to see me talking with the Mighty God that gives me strength when I really have none at all...they are able to see this faith of mine in action...THAT makes it all worth it. They are able to see me praise Him... My un-paying job is paying off in other ways....and for right now I'm right where I'm supposed to be.