As many of you know that follow my blog I love being a mom, but I also love working. I am not the kind of person that wants be a stay-at-home mom. While I could do it, it's just not for me. There are lots of things that I appreciate about working. So here's my shortlist of what I appreciate about my work (and what it can't do).
My work doesn't throw tantrums
I am in the middle of trying to raise two toddlers and an infant, so needless to say, tantrums are my life. Those 9 to 10 hours that I am at work or commuting to and from work means I get to be tantrum free!
My work doesn't roll its eyes
I think tantrums are bad, but I can only imagine the frustration I will feel when I have a bunch of teenagers in my house instead. Work will be looking great in those years too.
My work doesn't cry because it wanted to wear the red shirt instead of the blue shirt
This is just a parenting rite of passage I think. I spent 20 minutes trying to convince my 3 year old that he couldn't wear sweatpants to church. I managed to win that one, but lost the one where I tried to get him to wear red on Valentine's Day. You win some, you lose some.
My work doesn't wake me up in the middle of the night because it's hungry or needs a drink
I'm fortunate that I don't have a job that requires saving lives, so all "work emergencies" can wait until the morning when I wake up and check my phone. My children on the other hand apparently can't wait until the morning for a drink.
My work doesn't embarrass me in the middle of Target and make me threaten its future existence (not naming names)
There is nothing like trying to keep some form of order when browsing in Target. I usually try to shop online instead. Thanks Amazon Prime!
My work doesn't refuse the dinner I slaved over for 90 minutes, ask for something else, and then refuse that meal too
I would rather let them starve than make another meal. Good thing work isn't picky about dinner.
My work doesn't require nap time and simultaneously refuse it
They know they need to nap, I know they need to nap, so why don't they nap? Work doesn't take naps. That makes it easy. It's now on 24/7, so I don't have to worry about it getting its required amount of sleep each day.
My work doesn't need to stop 6 times to potty even though we're just going 20 minutes away to town
There is nothing like stopping on the side of the road to potty... again. It makes my 1 hour outing to the store 3 hours.
My work doesn't color on the walls and then tell me it didn't do it
How the heck did they get crayons and markers? I mean who left that out? Haven't we learned this lesson?
My work doesn't ignore me when I ask it to put its shoes on for the 50th time... literally
If you just listened the first time I wouldn't be yelling by now.
However...
My work can't curl up on the couch and ask me to read it a book
How can you say, "no" to, "Mommy, do you want to read this book?" Precious! It makes me so proud of my avid little readers.
My work can't tell me how delicious my food is
It is so rare that they like what I serve, so I do mental cartwheels when this happens.
My work can't tell me a terrible joke that leaves my sides in stitches from laughing so hard
Child: Knock, knock
Me: Who's there?
Child: Jamaica
Me: Jamaica who?
Child: Jamaica me crazy!
So bad, I know, but I made him tell that joke 50 times because well... out of the mouth of babes.
My work can't ask for just one more hug (even if it should be going to bed)
The bedtime struggle is real, but my husband reminded me that some day they'll stop asking for those hugs. I've chosen to join his camp and enjoy it.
My work can't shriek with glee about going to the park
What kid doesn't love the park? Or the kids' museum for that matter. They get very excited about going to the park and I can't blame them!
My work can't excitedly tell me all the things it learned at school
He basically tells me the same three things every day (played with blocks, made some friends, went outside), but I cherish it anyways!
My work can't show its curiosity of the world with big doe eyes
There is a wonder in a child's eyes that is innocent, and yet, you can see the wheels turning as they learn and put things together. Work just can't match up to that.
My work can't ask me to sing sweet bedtime songs to it
Work doesn't rock me to bed at night, but we certainly take the time to sing our kids a song before bed. It is now something our daughter comes to expect. She runs to daddy and says, "Sunshine," which means, I'm ready for bed, please sing, "You are my sunshine," so I can go to sleep.
My work can't run to me as I walk in the door and embrace me with the biggest hugs and sweetest kisses
Work gives me a lot of satisfaction and it makes me feel incredibly accomplished, but its lack of arms really makes it fall short to the children that rush into my arms when I get home from work.
My work can't say, "I love you mommy!" in the most tender way
This will sometimes come out without a prompt and the sweet voices of the children that say it really makes my heart melt. Sorry work... you just can't match up to that.
While I love working because dealing with tantrums (and the like) is more exhausting than I can handle most days, I wouldn't trade my job title as mom any day. It’s probably all those sweet kisses, warm embraces, and I love you's that make it worth it.