"Do you work?"

Why yes, I work. During the night, I get up to feed or soothe my fussing baby (sometimes a dozen times), and during the day I change diapers, bathe, feed and play with my baby, carry her around during most of her waking moments (only way to keep her happy right now), and soothe her to sleep at nap times; plan meals, go grocery shopping, cook; pay bills, reorganize budget, reply to emails; vacuum, mop, clean toilets, scrub floors, wash dishes, pack my husband's lunch for the next day, etc.; wash, dry, and put away laundry; wash, dry and put away diapers; wash, dry and put away baby clothes....the list could go on. I'm pretty sure if I was employed by Molly Maids as a housekeeper, or by Little Happy Smiley Faces Daycare (or whatever) as a childcare worker, or Coastline Accounting Services as a secretary, people would have no problem considering me "employed." So, how about I work for my husband, clean my own house, and take care of my own child? Am I any less "employed"? After all, the definition of employ is something along the lines of "to hire or engage the services of a person or persons" (Dictionary.com).

I was recently asked that question, "So, do you work?" No big deal, right? Well, I have been silently observing an online longstanding debate between working vs. "non-working" women...and I must say, I just don't see how sitting in an office, in front of a computer, working for a boss, is any more special or dignified than me working for my best friend (my husband), in our own home. Besides, you (that's the generic "you") are "just another employee" and if you left your job, chances are, no one would remember you a decade later. On the other hand, if a devoted wife and mother "resigned" her position, there would be some real impact.

This is not a stab at working mothers who have to support their children. This is not a stab at anyone. But I remember all those years that my mother tirelessly devoted to caring for her family, only to have people constantly make remarks like, "So, all you do is stay home with your kids?" "You mean you don't have a job?" "You should do something with yourself." Well I think she DID do something with herself. She lovingly raised 7 children!

Now for a couple quotes from a book I'm reading. If you'd like to know the title of the book, please email me.

"What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow." -- Martin Luther

"Of course, much of the world would agree that being a housekeeper is acceptable as long as you are not caring for your own home; treating men with attentive devotion would also be right as long as the man is the boss in the office and not your husband; caring for children would even been deemed heroic service for which presidential awards could be given as long as the children are someone else's and not your own." -- Dorothy Patterson

The purpose of this post is not to talk about how much stuff I do. All I do is the normal stuff that any mother/wife does, whether she's a working mom or a SAHM...the exception being that a working mom *generally* (though not always) has someone else care for her child while she is at work. My point is, because I choose to stay home and care for my child myself, and you go to work in an office (or wherever) while someone else cares for your child, does not mean you have a real job and I don't.

Rant over. Again, this is not directed at anyone. Mainly just some thoughts I wanted to share (aww, I'm so kind, huh? :-)) after reading the book I mentioned earlier.

It is not my intention to offend anyone; it is not my intention to hurt any feelings; but neither is it my intention to spend my life smiling and saying, "No, I don't work. I'm just a housewife."

Thank you for your time. :-)