When the family was smaller and we had fewer children Michael and I were like ships passing in the night. He would get up at 5am to go to work, then he’d return at 6.30pm and two nights a week I’d pass him by at the front door in order for me to get to work for 7pm. I’d leave the office at 11pm, diverting the phones in order to work from home until eight o’clock the following morning.
On Friday nights he would sleep over at his parents home closer to his workplace, so that he could work overtime on Saturday mornings. He’d return at 1.30pm, for me to pass him by the front door to begin work at 2pm until 11pm, again diverting the phones before leaving the office to work until 8am the following morning. Every alternate Sunday I’d work 2-11pm too, plus the night on call.
This meant we’d see eachother two evenings a week and alternate Sundays.
But then I also had a second, and soon after a third job working from home.
We did this right up until I was made redundant from my office job while on maternity leave with my sixth child. I would never have imagined us being able to cope without this income, but thanks to some tweaking and cutting back on the budget and to having my second homebased job we managed. We’d put the work in, we’d paid some debts off and things were getting a little easier financially, so even though I initially worried that I would have to try to find another out of the home job it soon emerged that actually, we were just fine!
Earlier on this year we made the decision that I would give up my job from home as a cloth nappy (diaper) advisor. I was pregnant with my eighth child, coping with the stress of not knowing whether he was healthy or not and consequently back and fourth from the hospital. We had also embarked on homeschooling during this period. The business demanded more of me than I was able to give and the income was becoming lower and lower. I was already under pressure and stress, and finally it came to a head when at 7 months pregnant I became ill.
I couldn’t be the wife and mother I needed to be within the home, and cope with increasing demands of work for which I was receiving decreasing benefit. I couldn’t be the worker the business needed me to be and couldn’t do what it needed me to do, and I was feeling pressure.
We had to make a decision. We sat down and talked about it. It had got to the point where my job was a hindrance to the family rather than a benefit to it. The money side was no longer an issue, due to the decrease in earnings over a period of time. With some extra frugality and the fact that our debts had also lessened over time we weren’t in a terrible position to be in. Not a great position but not in one whereby we didn’t have a choice available to us.
I quit.
For the first time in years I was not a working mother. Even writing that makes me wonder what kind of mother doesn’t actually work. What I mean is that I didn’t have a job which brought in an income. I have plenty of work to do within the home, thank you very much!
My days were no busier than normal. I would run the home as always. I would get up early, do the housework, cook the meals, get through the laundry, homeschool the children, pick up and drop off, do the shopping…. you know how it all goes. My priorities were now all within my home. This was my full time job now and the first few weeks of not having to sit at the computer in the evenings in order to work felt very strange!
After Oliver was born we had to register his birth. We sat in the registrar’s office and began to go through the process of answering the questions. It got the asking about our jobs. I looked over at Michael, and the realisation hit me that for the first time in years I would be answer “housewife”. It was quite a moment!
“We do have other options you could state.” said the registrar.
“Pardon?”
She then reeled off a list of other things that sounded more official. More important even.
And at that moment another realisation hit me. To be a housewife isn’t thought to be enough. It’s as if it’s almost something to be ashamed of. So now we can use another title for it. “Domestic Engineer” instead of home-maker perhaps? How about “Child Mentor” instead of parent?
When did being a housewife and mother become something to be embarrassed about? When did it become classed as a role of drudgery? Of something almost, dare I say it, worthless?
It seems as if unless I had a job and a title which said that I brought a wage into the home, it wouldn’t be enough. It’s not enough to run a home or to look after a family any more. Why is that?
Even from a young age we as a society spend more time encouraging our daughters to think of their careers. Whilst this is no bad thing, it seems to be at the expense of practical skills. Home-cooking? Too time consuming. Sewing and needlework and mending clothes? Too old fashioned. Living within a budget? But credit’s so easy!
And when asked what they want to do when they grow older, a young girl can’t simply answer of “A wife” or “A mum”. “Yes, but what else?!”.
I find it a very sad state of affairs that such an important role can be viewed with such disdain and sneered at. When we’re conditioning our children to think that you can’t be happy to have a successful marriage and strong family unit. To me, that’s an achievement to be proud of. My role in the running of the home and the raising of the family is one cog in the overall machinery. A car won’t work without fuel. A plant won’t grow without air.
My contribution to the home and family is important isn’t it? So why do I still feel I need to explain why I’m not bringing in a wage from outside the home?
When did it become “not enough”?
I hope you never need to explain why you don't earn a wage. You do more than most being a mother alone…
You have taught your daughters well.
xx
Great post! And so true. We are expected to have a job, or at the very least "go back to work" once our youngest child begins school. I do miss being a paid worker, but if I went back into the workforce I would have to employ someone else to care for my children. I think that is a job I should do, as I AM their mother.
The fact that you managed to take care of your whole family without going insane is more than enough from my point of view. Also, you don't have to feel ashamed about who you are or explain to someone why you don't have a wage. I doubt that the people who might look down on you could handle running your household. I really doubt it. So head up & walk proud because you're an inspiring person.
Great post and SO true! Neither my husband or I thought we could do it on one income either and are both amazed at how God provides. I have been "just" a SAHM for almost 3 years now.
you have the most important job of all, being a mom!!!
Stopping by from SITS to wish you a great weekend!!
I have a similar experience. I went back to school when my odest two were very young. I had my parents nearby to help out so it worked ok. After I finished my doctorate I taught at the local university. Full-time seemed too much, so after a couple of years, I went to part-time. Even that was too much. I found it was almost harder trying to work out of my home with no office and not childcare. I quit a couple of months ago and find myself home full-time with no other distractions (except blogging!) in 7 years. I love it! I'm basking in it! I think the attitude is more accepting here where I am, thankfully. I love that I'm not a frantic, stressed mess anymore. I love my "work" so much so that it doesn't seem like work. Life at home is such a blessing!
Thank you for sharing. We need more mom likes you to share our story and stand up for being "just a mom." I have two kids right now and am wanting more, but am worried about trying to make an income while having three kids. I have made it work with two, but not so much with three. You've definitely made me re-think my position…perhaps we could make it work!
Well said (from a mommy of 4 5 years and under)!
I think it's just because the times we live right now are a bit difficult. It's easy to get divorce and I think lots of parents want to protect their daughters that they can stay independent.
But it's true and you're right. Being a mum and a wife is enough. and should be!
I admire you! You're a mum of 8! That's a really large family!
Thank you for stopping by on my blog and leaving such a nice comment!
What a fantastic post! Firstly, I don't know how you could possibly manage with 8 children plus a job and housework and homeschooling! You are one woman, already doing an amazing job raising your family, to that there should be no shame in proudly stating that you are a housewife. It's not like some sort of demotion in life in my opinion, nor should it be treated as such.
I have a similar yet different problem. I've worked from home since my arrival into the UK working for the same company yet self employed. When they ask me what I do for a living, I try getting away with just ''self employed'' yet they always ask what. My reply ''I'm a Psychic''. Yes that is honestly what I do. I've gotten laughs, chuckles, disbelief and one person just flat out told me ''Shall we just put homemaker down?'' Can you believe it? I don't make bad money, it's allowed me to work from home around my children and be there each day to do the normal housewife duties – just make some money to help support us. It just gets thrown in my face. On the other hand, sometimes I just want to say homemaker since I've even had nurses while in hospital after a C-section recovery asking me if I can pick up anything about them or do a reading. Honestly. The flipping hassle!
stand proud Tania, a housewife and mother IS more than enough! xx
I love this. It's so true. I freaked out after we first got married b/c I didn't have a job and people acted as if I was such a loser, living in a new city without a job!
I completely know what you mean when you say being a house wife isn't enough. I do have a home daycare (which still leaves me less children than you) LOL the state says you can't care for more than 6 total with out a helper. Different states say different things I previously lived where I had 10 to 11 children in the house from ages 8 – 4 months. But again different states different rules. I love that you are staying home I wish my husband had the income to do it. But alas I am able to watch my daughters grow up to school age and then I will go back to teaching hopefully! But I wan to go back to teaching to help show kids that you can be anything, house wife, mother, anything. YOU should be proud to have stay at home mother as your job!! BECAUSE YOU ROCK!!!!
Housewife is a term that has negated downward, like cheap which used to mean good quality at a low price. The Proverb 31 woman is a more holistic, more dimensional than "housewife." The term housewife is only one dimension. Stay at home moms are multi-dimensional women like the Proverb 31 woman. What a great start for a conversation you have!
Great post! If more people valued the jobs Moms (or Mums!) do in the home, I don't think our society would be in the shape it is in. It is a great blessing to the individual, the family, the nation, and the world when moms are in the home training their children to be productive members of society, investing in the home and the marriage, encouraging husbands and childen, ministering to those in need. Keep up the good work in your home! You are investing your life in something that counts for all of eternity!