Stay-At-Home-Moms Don’t Exist

Why in the actual world do they call us Stay-At-Home-Moms? I mean, Ok, I actually know. But, the last thing I do at home is “stay”. Every day I have moments (or hours) where I am struggling to keep my head above water. Some days are a total cluster. Some nights I go to bed feeling like a failure; other nights I have the clarity to forgive myself. I’m actually not staying anywhere, I’m working my a** off.

“Homemaker” is a better word for my job title, if there has to be one. But don’t be fooled by the simplicity of that word, either. Homemaking is no walk in the park. Add a spouse, kids, maybe pets, a job…and the task grows. Somewhere, sometime, it was decided that women are mostly responsible for everything involved with “keeping the home”. Whether or not she’s working inside or outside the home she’s still working…HARD.

It’s no secret that homemaking involves a lot more than laundry and meal preparation. The other day I actually decided to record everything I was solely responsible for thinking about that day. Subjects that required thought, plans, and sometimes action like a phone call or online task. Here’s a sampling of responsibilities on my mind that day.

Here is the thing, my husband is a load sharing partner. He is great and is happy to help anytime I need help, but, am I right in the fact that we are still bearing most of the mental (and sometimes physical) load? Tyler would even agree. He is sitting right here and he is eager to tell you that not ONE of those things crosses his mind on a daily basis.

All I’m saying is that I am officially done listing “SAHM” in my bio sections. I’m working, a lot, even if my income is only slobbery kisses and finger paintings. So, hey, I’m Katie and I am a “WAHM”.

Thank you, choir, for letting me preach.