(I thought this picture was cute...found it on the internet)
Our 13 year old is home sick today. There is a nasty bug going around and while my kids are fairly healthy and usually steer clear of these bugs, I knew one of the boys who wrestle would likely get it since it seems to be going around the team. I also knew that once I mentioned to a group of ladies last night at our battalion coffee that my kids never get sick, one of them would!
So this morning when my son walked into my bedroom and told me he just felt awful, I sent him back to bed. I waited until I knew the people I volunteer for would be in the office and I called in to let them know I would not be able to come in and teach. Thankfully I volunteer....key word VOLUNTEER....for wonderful people who know that my family comes first...ALWAYS.
I posted on my FB status that my kid was sick and I would be home all day. I received a message shortly after from someone I vaguely know asking me if I was supposed to teach today. I replied back that yes, I was going to but I would not be able to and the person who is in charge of the program would be teaching (he is fully capable, I mean that's what he gets paid to do). She replied back that she thought my son was old enough to stay home by himself, so why was I staying home with him when I had another obligation. Excuse me?
I know that there are many people in this area who think I actually have a job where I earn wages. I do quite a bit of volunteer work around this community and I am often everywhere. My children go to school full-time and so I take the time they are away from the house and I go in an volunteer. I try hard to always be home with them when they are home and I try to always be there for their various activities, programs, conferences and whatever else might come up.
That is the reason I choose to be a stay-at-home mom. To be here for my kids. I was a working mom and I loved my job, but it was hard for me to be away from them so much or to hope that my bosses could be understanding enough when my kids were sick. Sometimes I had to find someone to watch my sick kids because I HAD to go to work (I was in the Army, you don't just get to choose to not go to work). I just didn't want to do that anymore, I didn't want to be in a position where I had to ask someone permission to take care of my family. I didn't want to be in a position where I had to make a choice.
I feel so blessed to be able to stay at home with my kids, I am grateful that is an option for our family. I know that there are many working mothers out there who balance it all out and I respect them for that. This is the right choice for ME.
My 13 year old may not need me to cuddle him the way a toddler would but he still needs me and I'm grateful that I can be here for him.
I've tackled this topic before in a post I wrote a couple years ago...Maximizing My Potential
So this morning when my son walked into my bedroom and told me he just felt awful, I sent him back to bed. I waited until I knew the people I volunteer for would be in the office and I called in to let them know I would not be able to come in and teach. Thankfully I volunteer....key word VOLUNTEER....for wonderful people who know that my family comes first...ALWAYS.
I posted on my FB status that my kid was sick and I would be home all day. I received a message shortly after from someone I vaguely know asking me if I was supposed to teach today. I replied back that yes, I was going to but I would not be able to and the person who is in charge of the program would be teaching (he is fully capable, I mean that's what he gets paid to do). She replied back that she thought my son was old enough to stay home by himself, so why was I staying home with him when I had another obligation. Excuse me?
I know that there are many people in this area who think I actually have a job where I earn wages. I do quite a bit of volunteer work around this community and I am often everywhere. My children go to school full-time and so I take the time they are away from the house and I go in an volunteer. I try hard to always be home with them when they are home and I try to always be there for their various activities, programs, conferences and whatever else might come up.
That is the reason I choose to be a stay-at-home mom. To be here for my kids. I was a working mom and I loved my job, but it was hard for me to be away from them so much or to hope that my bosses could be understanding enough when my kids were sick. Sometimes I had to find someone to watch my sick kids because I HAD to go to work (I was in the Army, you don't just get to choose to not go to work). I just didn't want to do that anymore, I didn't want to be in a position where I had to ask someone permission to take care of my family. I didn't want to be in a position where I had to make a choice.
I feel so blessed to be able to stay at home with my kids, I am grateful that is an option for our family. I know that there are many working mothers out there who balance it all out and I respect them for that. This is the right choice for ME.
My 13 year old may not need me to cuddle him the way a toddler would but he still needs me and I'm grateful that I can be here for him.
I've tackled this topic before in a post I wrote a couple years ago...Maximizing My Potential
3 comments:
I too, am a stay at home mom. I volunteer more hours than some of my working friends sometimes.
I love volunteering and I love the freedom that comes with it. However, my family comes first too.
I can remember someone asking me, years ago, if I could head a committee (yet another one) because I had more time than she did... a working woman.
I resent people who judge my decision to stay home.
I love that my husband makes enough money to allow me to stay home and lets me take care of my family.. a job that is so important and is sometimes thankless.
Hang in there. What you do is more important than any other job you could have.
Thanks for sharing this post. I can't believe you got a message like that! It's sad how society portrays the image of women these days... that if you're not out of your home and working to earn money, you are just weak. I'm totally behind you 100% and yes, being a SAHM is a wonderful blessing! Many of which are in disguise. :)
Nadine I love this. My heart just aches for this young soldier who has a sick little guy and had to make arrangements for someone else to watch him. I remember being 13 and sick and wanting my mom home with me! You are a wonderful mother and a wonderful example to me and so many others!
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