Being a Stay-at-home-Mom

Today I am thankful for my job. It is a job with many titles:  CEO/CFO/COO/President/Dictator and Queen of the Verner-Waldner family, Domestic Engineer, Stay- at-home-Mom, or, simply, Mommy.   Although continuing education is mandatory and vacations are unlikely, the rewards are phenomenal!

According to the internet, my annual salary should be $167, 204.  Last year, I got paid in 324,567 kisses (10% of them were sticky), 423,900 hugs, and 1.5 million "I love yous".   I am not complaining!!

Today I was able to chaperone Charlie's preschool field trip to the local library and attend Ethan's elementary school swimming program.  I may not be stocking money away in my 401K, but the memories of being present for my childrens' childhood are worth more than money in the bank. 

I do not want anybody else's arms around my kids when they are sick, and I don't want somebody to have to tell me about how wonderful my son sounded at the preschool Christmas program, or how brilliant my daughter's violin playing was -- I want to be there.  The true perk of my job is that I can be there.  

I was there when my children first smiled, when they first rolled over, and when they took their first steps, and now I will be there to chaperone field trips, to be a room parent, to play chutes and ladders with Charlie at 2:00 in the afternoon, and to walk my kids to and from school every day.  I can drink tea from dixie cups at the school Mother's Day celebrations, and I can eat lunch with my kids and their friends in the school cafeteria.  I can take my kids to the park after school and I can cuddle with them when they are sick;  I am a Stay-at-home-Mom.

I do realize that my kids are my job security and that I may be downsized when Charlie is in school full-time.  When I apply for a "real" job, the skills part of my resume will read something like this: in my previous position, I was responsible for daily operations, including accounts payable, inventory, receiving, and personnel management.  My duties included, but were not limited to: sculpting and shaping the next generation, general maintenance, waste management, resource allocation,  procurement, food preparation & nutritional evaluation, health & wellness screenings, education and fixing all boo-boos.   I am able to type 60 wpm while simultaneously wiping a runny nose, and breaking up an altercation over the remote control.  I am not afraid of poop. 

My sincere hope is that I have made a difference in my childrens' lives by being home with them.  I want them to take it for granted that I will always be there.  I want them to know that whatever they do, they will always be able to look out into the audience and see my face.  I want their childhood to be as carefree as possible, and I want it to be happy.    I am lucky to work for the four most demanding, yet loveable bosses possible!