Sunday, January 27, 2008

Stay-at-home parents

I mentioned earlier that I wasn’t fond of this term. It says little about a job that encompasses the well-being of a new generation. In fact, it really says nothing at all. Sometimes it's even a conversation stopper at cocktail parties...

"So, where do you work?"

"I'm a stay-at-home parent."

"Oh."

Reality check...no stay-at-home parents just stay home—they go to parks, playgroups, libraries, grocery stores, doctor/dental/orthodontic appointments, and ferry kids to every imaginable sport and extracurricular activity.

Maybe we should call them stay-at-home-nanny-taxi parents.

Chances are, they’re responsible for most of the laundry, cleaning, cooking, and yard maintenance too.

Maybe we should call them stay-at-home-nanny-taxi-maid/lawn-service parents.

Many also pay the bills, fill out school forms, write letters, plan birthday parties, buy gifts, keep track of important dates, make Halloween costumes, do all household shopping, and cater to guests’ needs, meals, etc.

Maybe we should call them
stay-at-home-nanny-taxi-maid/lawn-service-secretary/catering service parents.

Most are up at night with hungry babies and sick children. They also comfort broken hearts, clean & bandage cuts and never take sick days.

Maybe we should call them stay-at-home-nanny-taxi-maid/lawn-service-secretary/catering service-urgent-care parents.

Whew, what a mouthful. Maybe we should just call them full-time parents. Parents who, 24/7, complete paid positions...unpaid...and often unrecognized.

Why do they do it? Because they have the honor of answering every question, kissing every hurt, sharing every joy and seeing every “first.” Moments in time that come only once and alter pathways forever.

Let’s just call them Moms and Dads. I think those titles speak volumes…

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

HI Dawn,
I sometimes think that I caved into weakness by going back to work. I could not handle the pressure of the stay at home mom job. Put me in a boardroom with an angry client any day. I do believe that the more educated you are, the better off you are when it comes to coping with the daily stay at home grind.