The Employable Mom

My life is a little crazy right now. I'm watch 3 kids Monday through Friday. Two toddlers and a 4 year old can teach you a lot about yourself, your patience and your willingness to give when your, well done giving.  I had someone recently pass judgment on me about how I chose to put my kids before a "real" business position. I'm writing this one, because well I feel like until  you have kids, please don't talk to me about life priorities and until you've been through my life, walked in my shoes, please don't tell me I'm not doing "enough" for women in our society. In fact, our society is screwed up and a lack of mom's sacrificing for their kids is a huge part of the problem...

Until you have kids you don't realize how real this term is "Its better to give than to receive". "Above all else, love". Before I had kids, the first thing I thought of in the morning when rolling out of bed was myself. I thought of how I would get through another "grueling" day. Now, I'm not saying my life was without challenges, but truly it was completely about me.

Every day was about me. How I looked, how I felt, how I couldn't face another day without this thing or that thing I didn't have. I was quite honestly very selfish. I had a heart for other people sure, but it was with the premise that I was the good one. I had accomplished some great feat by helping someone in need. What a crock.

Today my life is filled with shit. Diaper shit, crying babies, dancing around a room like an idiot with my girls, cleaning up snotty noses, waking up often 5 times a week at 1AM when my little girls are sick. I got the guy of my dreams, the independence I sought and yet so little of life is "mine". Everything I have, all of my energy goes into these sweet babies. But why? Why give up my 4 year degree? Why not pursue "my goals". Now, I grew up with a career mom and I truly believe she did an amazing job given the circumstances. However, here is what so many young women are missing these days... today, your kids are young. You can teach them. YOU can raise them. You can mold their character and build stability in their lives like no one else. These years, they won't come back around. For this reason,  until my children are in full time school, I won't be working as anything but a nanny God willing.

Being a mom is not easy. If it was, A LOT more women would be choosing to stay at home frankly. I had a pediatrician (female) with two little kids tell me the other day that she thinks staying at home would be way harder than going to work every day. Work has structure, work doesn't have little people screaming at you for a baba randomly, pulling at your nerves. Work is work. Kids however, they are a little more unpredictable. They will mess with your computer, make huge messes on the floor, scream and hit and cry and on and on...so if your looking for an unpredictable job, that will build your character, be a mom.

You have no escape from these little people who have taken over your lives, when your a mom. The cool thing though, is they take over your heart as well. You rejoice when they learn something new, laugh when they are being silly and commend them when they are doing something that takes character. Today, so many moms have chosen not to engage with their children. Partly because I believe society looks down on us Stay at Home Moms. I don't look down on anyone, but I don't like to be judged for my life. I will work one day. But your not in my life and if you choose to judge someone who prefers the sweet smile of their children each morning to a desk and a computer in an office, then you've missed the point all together. I am college educated, I am very employable, I am a hard worker, I am a mom.

I choose to put my kids first. I hope so many other women out there do too, if they are able. Life is about loving people first, not about the amount of money we have in our pockets. Do what you have to do, but if you are given the opportunity to stay home with your kids at least for a season, take it. It will make you and them such deeper people. It will build in you love and patience you never thought possible. I love my kids. Period. Word.