Thursday, May 25, 2006

Soapbox: "How is NOT working?"

The dreaded question: "So, Joy, How is not working?"

What can one possibly say to that question? Uh, it's hard! I don't get to leave at 5:00 or get an hour lunch break, or two-15 min breaks a day... I look forward to the times I can actually go to the bathroom by myself and to shower or bath without a toddler in there with me??? I dream of those times.

Oh, did I mention I have 5 children (6 counting my hubby) that I care for? Can you imagine cooking for 8-10 people every single night?!?! Yep, not working is GREAT!I get up a few times a night to care for my babe, sleep in with him and go-go-go all day long, into the evening and sometimes clear until 10:30 when he crashes in bed - with us!

Don't get me wrong, I love my life and I can't imagine doing any of this while holding a job outside the home, but it's the question that gets me... NOT WORKING?! Are they insane??? I got the question yesterday at the YMCA - "Hi!!! Are you still not working?" I laughed and said, "I am not sure who you have been talking to, but I am working - 5 kids and our own business that I do all the books for... did I mention I have 5 kids?" With eyes popping out, she did reply that she just meant "not outside the home" and I said, "Oh, okay, yeah, I'm still home." All the while, smiling sweetly and replying in a kind tone. Promise!!!!So, this is my soapbox topic today. Not as H-O-T as last weeks (see:http://mamacitalujan.blogspot.com/2006/05/soapbox-nurse-here-now.html) topic but one that came to my mind as I thought of a post for today.

I just wished people thought about their questions before hand, you know? I work more hours now than I ever did at the College. MSNBC has the great article, "Stay-At-Home Moms Would be a High Paying Job"

Employed mothers reported spending on average 44 hours a week at their outside job an 49.8 hours at their home job, while the stay-at-home mother worked 91.6 hours a week, it showed. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12613676/ for the full article.

So, I'll get of my soapbox, for now, and go back to "not working" since the kids will be home soon and Paco will awake before that!

Ta-Ta for now!

2 comments:

  1. Okay, I would be PO'ed about that comment too. There are so many things I let go since I have to work outside the home right now - if I was able to be at home, my time would be spent doing those things, in addition to taking care of DS, dinner, blah, blah, blah.

    People rarely think before they speak...I am perfecting the art of not listening while people spew their comments... ;)

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  2. Anonymous12:21 AM

    Your are Nice. And so is your site! Maybe you need some more pictures. Will return in the near future.
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