Life's Cross Roads

As a woman I have been taught about the struggles women have over come to be able to have the same rights as their male counterparts. I am proud of those women who fought to acheive this. However, I am saddened that today a woman that does not work outside of the home and chooses to to do so is seen in a negative light. Motherhood and wifehood was once seen as a profession. Now it is seen as the easy life or that housewives are lazy. This to me is crazy. I have worked outside of the home, I have been self-employed working from home, and I am now a "housewife". Each has its benefits and challenges, but none of these options is for a lazy woman.

When you work outside of the home you have to pay for childcare. You are often tired and opt for quick fix dinners, and feel that you don't have the energy you wish you had to spend with your spouse and children. When you work from home you have to balance childcare while working, which is one heck of a balancing act. Being a "housewife" does have the benefit of not having to upset your boss with a sick call in or time off work for children's appointments. Instead your life operates around the care of your family. All of your focus is on them. You run errands, pay bills, schedule appointments, run kids to the eye doctor, soccer practice, school performances, friends homes, the mall, etc. You also run errands, schedule appointments, and perform tasks for your spouse. If you have pets you walk them, feed them, bath them, take them to the vet, etc.That's just the people and pet care. Now clean the house, schedule home repairs or DIY them, gather groceries, prepare meals, clean up after meals, make sure clothes are washed, dried, ironed, hung, folded, etc.

If one considered the many tasks performed by a housewife and split those up you would have a maid, a personal cook, a nurse, a day care provider, a preschool teacher, a chauffer, a dog walker, a companion, a personal assistant, a therapist, and more. All of this with no monetary comensation, no vacation, sick days, or bonuses. Instead you get snotty noses, pet vomit, dirty diapers, dirty dishes, etc.  So why would a woman or even a man choose to remain at home?

The benefits of staying at home don't mean the same to everyone, but for those housewives and househusbands it is the satisfaction of carring for those you love. It is the enjoyment of a hot meal you prepared. It is the satisfaction of a clean home and happy, healthy pets. It is every moment shared with your children, even the PB and J fingerprints on the counter top. We may not have a fancy title or end of the year bonus, but it is the little joys that we experience each day that make this profession so very special and enjoyable. So the next time someone asks you what you do for a living or what your occupation is, don't feel embarassed to be a "housewife".  You should be proud of caring for your family and your home.