I met one of my ex-colleagues today and was chatting quite nicely until I got that killer line again: "You're still at home? That's nice, you have an eternal holiday." I don't understand why that line is always necessary. I get that all.the.time. Yes, I am at home with the children. Yes, I was sitting next to the playground reading my newspaper. Does that an eternal holiday make? Not quite.
I am so tempted to go back to work in September. I have been offered the perfect job. It is part time, it is doing what I want, and it is two streets away. It's perfect. I would love it. BUT! Big but(t)! (Hihi.) It would involve sticking Marie in the creche more than she's ready for, and letting Jack go to this after school thing where they basically dump them in the playground and then... nothing. Which I'm not doing.
When I was teaching a couple of days a week, before I had Marie, the hours at work felt like the holiday. I got to interact with adults. I got to teach interesting stuff. I got to take BREAKS. Don't get me wrong - I feel privileged and happy to be home with the kids. I wouldn't have missed out on this for anything. However, it is not all a happy holiday, and it can be tough going sometimes. The reason I was at that playground in the first place was because I was slowly losing my mind at home...
(Yes, I realise this is a standard SAHM blog post. Humour me. It's what's on my mind today. I should have kicked the guy.)
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People just do not get it. I have always said that being home with children full time is the hardest job in the world and I really mean that.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor, who is 70 and never had children, once said to me, 'Well Christy, if I could stay home in my bathrobe reading the newspaper all day too....'
ReplyDeleteI was in shock. Is that what she really thinks being a stay at home mom is all about? I haven't read a newspaper OR a book in ages. (blogs - well that's another story!) But because I chose to be non-confrontational, I just went 'hmmmm' and kept my thoughts to myself.
@Ms. Moon - People really do not get it. But you do, so it's ok.
ReplyDelete@Christy - I was non-confrontational, too. I tend to just change the subject. I just have fantasies afterwards of the pithy things I could have / should have said.
Work (in my case) is a total vacation compared to a full week with children. My friends who had the privilege of staying home with their kids do not regret what it cost them career-wise. Time lost with your kids can never be regained like a job.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing the right thing to be concerned about how your kids will fare at a creche especially if you know they will do better staying with you!
@geeksinrome - Welcome!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the comment and the support. I do realise I am completely privileged being able to stay with them.
First, the grass is always greener and anyone who says this deserves a good and hard kick. The "holiday" means you're on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 356 days a year. If you paid someone to do what you do everyday (in the states at least) is very close to $120,000 a year. I certainly didn't make that much as a teacher...
ReplyDeleteAND giving your child your time and values...how can you put a price on that? You can mention that next time someone says something so idiotic.