Super productive.

~ maryjunebrown

Today, a woman asked me what I do. I gave her baleful stare as my two sons alternately clung to me, jumped off of me, whined, and were your general, well, little boys.

I told her I stay home. “You are so lucky!” she trilled.

True, I am privileged to get to be home with the kids, but as any stay-at-home mom knows…there’s a lot about the job where the word “lucky” just doesn’t apply.

Staying at home for me means being a mom first, then topping off the day with a laundry list of chores, including the namesake laundry, dishes, errands, grocery shopping, cooking, LAUNDRY (it is never done), and about forty six other tasks. The difference about being a mom who works outside the home is that if I did not get to the laundry list, I didn’t sweat it–hey, I was at work. I didn’t feel the sense of guilt that descends now when I don’t get the work done. I feel a pressure, self-induced and societal, to be hyper productive since I’m in the home the majority of the day.

Truth is, this is the hardest work I’ve ever done. If you know me, you know I’ve had some…how do I put this delicately…challenging positions, but they pale when compared to the MOUNTAINS of laundry that face me every morning.

Did I mention, the laundry is never finished?

I love my job, I appreciate my job, and I———–

Sorry, got to run. A load needs to be moved from the washer to the dryer.

Published by maryjunebrown

5 thoughts on “Super productive.”

  1. Boy, can I ever relate to that! Well, gotta go get some of mine sorted to start another go-round. Looking forward to checking out your blog between loads.

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  2. Mary June,
    It is wonderful that you are doing exactly what you want to do at this point in your life! You are truly living a blessed life.

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  3. 🙂 I remember the year I took off to be a ‘stay at home’ mom for my two kids. There were 1 and 3 at the time. Having worked full time since 19, and with most of my friends being working women themselves, I found it to be a very challenging situation. I took in 3 children to help pay the bills. So I had 5 kids all under the age of 5 to care for. Do I still have a crazy glaze to my eyes? LOL KUDOS to you, MaryJune, for serving your children as you are. Let GO of the guilt 🙂 Dishes will always need washing but those little ones will grow up and leave home in the blink of an eye.

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  4. I find that question to be difficult to ask and answer–a tiny minefield of a question. When I ask the question, I always feel the need to acknowledge that motherhood IS an unpaid, full time job performed within the home (no private space to return to), especially if my girls aren’t with me, so the question comes out wonky: “Are you working as well as…along with..in addition to…?”

    When I’m asked and answer that I work full time, but that I do most of my work at night or on the weekends, I often get a sickened glaze, as people imagine what my life must be like, starting the second shift at 8:00 PM every night. “Wow. That’s…great,” they manage to say, casting a pitying glance as they scoot away. Truth is, work was never a choice for us–we need the income. But I LOVE my work and it has saved my mental bacon, and I usually feel compelled to tell people this as they’re slinking off. I know women who feel awkward “not” working, and those who are sheepish about admitting they work…it’s a tricky thing.

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  5. You know, I sincerely believe that alot of people view a “stay at home mom” as someone who plops down on the couch in the morning and does not get up until Oprah ends…
    I am a stay at home mom and my daughter graduated HS in June 2006.
    However, I have an English Springer Spaniel and 3 cats and a house to take care of. I do manage to take little breaks during the day. But I am sure the rest of you can relate…
    THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO!!

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