I am alive! And I am back from an overall successful and pleasant business trip. I'll tell you about all of it in my next post.
Right now I am a little bit grumpy. Turns out that while I was gone, the Bishop asked the YW and YM to provide some volunteers to go to the Bishop's Storehouse. This is a good opportunity for some of the older youth to participate in a service experience. I have no problem with that. Except that no one told me about it until yesterday. I have three YW planning on going (our designated amount) and one of the girls gave me the impression that the Bishop was going as well. So today I asked the Bishop about it and he told me that the assignment needs to be three YW, three YM, plus leaders (and he's not going). And, since the YM leaders work during the day, the leader needs to be from the YW. Super. It is this Thursday from 9am to 2:30pm (not counting driving time). There are only three leaders in the Young Women who do not work away from home during the day. And guess who is probably going to end up going? Yep... me.
Don't judge me too hastily. I am normally a service-loving gal. In fact, I am very aware that there are things that we do just because they need to be done. And that part of being a member of our Church is donating our time to help others. But right now, I am feeling less than excited about this. I have now had three days notice, and I have a preschool meeting already scheduled that day that I will have to miss. I need to find a babysitter for three children, one of whom has never been left without either Mommy or Daddy for more than four hours. But I will figure all of that out.
What is really bugging me right now is the whole "stay-at-home-mom" thing. I kind of feel like more and more women in my Church are working outside of the home, either out of necessity or out of desire. Because of that, so many times things that happen during the day are taken care of by those who are SAHMs. And yes, part of the reason I am a SAHM is so I can be available to help others. I just get a little tired of people thinking that if you're a SAHM you have nothing better to do all day than cater to the things the "working" men and women can't do. Like because I'm at home, it's no big deal for me to rearrange things and fulfill assignments. Because I'm too stupid to have a full time job, I should not ever complain if I have to leave my kids with someone or pay someone to watch them so that I can jump to every need with very little notice. We are living on one income so I can be at home to raise my children and sometimes I feel I am looked down on or even penalized because of my choice. Does anyone else feel this way or am I on a selfish soap-box? Don't worry; I won't shirk my duty, but I'd just like to feel appreciated once in a while. Like a simple thank-you from "smart" moms with full-time jobs. What do you think? If you are a SAHM, how do you deal with this situation? And you're welcome to tell me to buck up and stop being a baby :)
Comments
I know how you feel. Like everyone asking me why I don't join the PTA. I like uncomplicated. I like no stress, i don't deal with it well. It has nothing to do with not wanting to support my childrens ed. I just do it from home, and on the school work home work level. That is all i can muster right now, haveing 2-3 kids still at home. Some day, i will do the PTA and field trip thing. I am involved with every aspect of their lives, and i couldn't maintain that, and work. So luckily i have the choice not to.
And no, i don't like leaving my kids with people. And frankly, unless someone is dying. I won't
Even without the pre-k meeting, which is reason enough, I would not go through the hassle of an all-day sitter right after being gone for a week from your older kids. You are not expected to do that any more than someone with a "job" is expected to take a day off. Even less so. There, you have my opinion :)