"What do they do all day?" asked Laurie in Little Women, about the March girls. Today many women, including myself at times after a long day without having “finished” anything, ask the exact same thing about us "just a mom" type moms. What in the world do we spend so much time doing, since we don't work? It is true that sometimes there is no measureable progress through-out the day, but remember, that child won’t always be little, looking for cuddles and a re-read of the same book. Let’s enjoy it.
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Enjoying a leisurely afternoon at home
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"Motherhood is the most elusive profession in the world. All mothers know that it is futile to try and convey to the casual observer what their job is like. A woman who does not have children could easily sit with a group of mothers and children and watch as the mothers wipe away a few tears, change a couple of diapers, or discipline their children -- and wonder, what could be so difficult about motherhood… pg.19 of 7 Myths of Working Mothers.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:
Thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
Psalm 128:3
I have such a beef with the term "working mother". To me it just implies that a mother that stays home doesn't work. Ugg.
ReplyDeleteAubri - That's so true. I just was talking to someone yesterday who said "Working mom? You bet I'm a working mom, and my work hours don't start at 8:00 and end at 5:00!" I'm still encouraged by comments like that, because many days there is nothing to show as "accomplished" in my home. The same laundry and dishes will need done tomorrow. A constant supply of dirty diapers need to be changed, etc. My husband reminds me that the happy faces of my little ones at the end of the day is a wonderful accomplishment though!
ReplyDeleteThere is a lovely story I read, long ago, in a magazine, about a day when a mother stayed in bed all day long just so her husband could see what she did in a day.
ReplyDeleteWhat he actually saw, when he came home that night, was spilled food everywhere, laundry on the floors, broken items, horrible trails of a wrecked home, an open front door, and everything in disarray. The point was that no one really sees what a mother does all day long, but they do see if she is not there, and it is all neglected.
Blessings
Mrs. White
The Legacy of Home
Mrs White, Thanks for visiting our blog. That's a funny story you mentioned. It's true that much of what we do is unseen. These type of stories remind me of how fortunate I am to have a husband who actually encourages me in my daily vocation, the housekeeping and child raising.
ReplyDelete