My Favorite Story

You know how people always say (patronizingly) how "being a stay at home mom is the hardest job in the world." And then they say "I don't know how you do it. I just couldn't. . ." But you can tell by their faces that they are really thinking that you are a lazy bum that doesn't contribute to society and that you are SO LUCKY that you GET to stay home and do nothing all day?

You know how your husband always SAYS how he is so amazed by you and what a great job you do with the kids, but then he comes in the door at the end of the day and makes a face at the fact that there are toys on the floor?

Well, I have a response to that--which is this: When was the last time you mopped the floor at your office? Just because this building contains my job, doesn't mean it is my job. Your office building isn't your job--there's a cleaning service for that. This house isn't my job--the kids are. Get me a cleaning service if it is that important to you. And--while yes, you may have had a long day at work--at least it's freakin' over! Mine started at the same time yours did, and it still has a good 5 hours to go by the time you walk in the door.

My husband (the one who is literally climbing the walls on Sunday afternoon because he has been home for 2 days) said not long ago that "it wouldn't be that hard" for him to stay home with the kids. I absolutely disagree, but obviously that won't ever be tested.

Anyway--this is my favorite story that illustrates what I am talking about when I say "I spend the entire day picking up and cleaning up. It takes 5 hours to clean my house and 20 seconds to make it a disaster area again. That 20 seconds is usually taking place at the same time that I am trying to clean in the first place!"

To all the stay home moms out there--I quote my friend VN--"It is absolutely a full time job. It's just that the benefits are delayed by about 20 years and the pay sucks!"

Here's the story:

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in
their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers
strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house
and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an
even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was
wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a
cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various
items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on
the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the
floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was
spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over
toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she
might be ill, or that something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the
bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and
more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and
toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the
bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and
asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What
happened here today?" She again smiled and answered, "You know every day
when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all
day?"

"Yes," was his incredulous reply.

She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."