At the Florida/Tennessee game a few weeks ago, Julie and I were in the most ridiculously cramped seats, ever. There was a guy to my right, and I was practically sitting in his lap, poor guy! He said to me, "As long as we are so close, we should get to know each other," and asked me what I did for a living. I told him I am just a mom.
Julie got on me for that, saying that there is so much more to what I do than "just a mom". It made me think- when did I start buying into the societal idea that stay-at-home-moms sit on the couch eating bon-bons and watching soap operas all day? Heck, I don't even know what bon-bons are! And I haven't watched my soaps in ages. So I started thinking, what is it that I do, really?
I started as a vessel, carrying life inside me, nurturing it and loving those unborn babies. It was a good trade off- they got life, and I got an excuse to consume as many cheeseburgers and chocolate milkshakes as I wanted for 9 months. I gave birth, bringing those tiny babies into the world, and knowing my life would never be the same. I nursed them until their bellies were full, changed their diapers and rocked them to sleep in the dead of night.
I am a teacher, giving to them all the knowledge that my parents gave to me. I am a cheerleader, giving encouragement as they rolled over, sat up, crawled, walked, ran, climbed for the first time, and the second and third.
I am a Sunday School teacher, teaching them about God, where they came from and where they are ultimately going. I am teaching them to love Him as much as He loves them, as if that is even possible.
I am a maid. If I hired a cleaning service to come in, they would send a team of four to do what I do on a daily basis. I am a handy(wo)man, fixing little things around the house. I work hard on a daily basis to maintain the home that my husband works so hard to provide for us. Except for those days where I stay in my jammies and cuddle with my kids all day.
I am a vehicle, giving piggy back rides all day long. I am one-third of an all day rendition of Ring around the Rosie. I have bruises on my knees from falling down. I am a little teapot. I am a hider, and a seeker. I am a comedienne, I am a tickle monster, I have cramps at the end of the day from laughing so hard.
I am an archeologist, unearthing fossilized milk cups from deep inside toy boxes. I am a gourmet chef- of chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. I am a narrator, reading stories our loud all day long. I am a pop star, belting out Disney songs and nursery rhymes.
I am their best friend, their best advocate. I am their voice to the outside world. I am imparting on them now the most important things they will learn in their lives. Because one day Savannah will be a mom, and she will have learned how to do it from me. And Landon. The lessons I am teaching him today will shape the man he will become tomorrow. It is my hope that one day, his wife will thank me for who he is, the way I am so thankful to Janice for the man Brad has become.
I have loved God my whole life, in the way that your parents teach you to pray and praise and love Him. But it wasn't until I became a parent that I had an inkling of how He feels for us, His children. And when I became a parent, I developed a real relationship with Him, talking and praying to Him. And I hope more than anything that I can instill that love into my children.
To the outside world, it may look like I don't do a lot. And in the grand scheme of the world, maybe I don't. But to my kids, I am everything. And they are everything to me.
The next time someone asks me what I do, I will tell them I am a mom. Not 'just' a mom, but a mom. Because my resume is too long to give to a stranger passing by. I will say I am a Mom, and I will know it is the most important job I will have in my life.
