What Do I Do All Day?

At the beginning of the school year, Jordyn was selected to take part in a government study about kids in the kindergarten class of '10-'11, and would follow them through the next 5 years of their education, testing them and generally picking their brains to get a good sense of how kids learn. Part of this is that I, as her mother and caregiver, have to also be surveyed to get a feel of the kids' home life and the circumstances they come from.

Yesterday I had my first phone interview. The lady is nice enough, and has a voice the reminds me a lot of my grandma. So she gets to asking me about things at home, how many people, etc. Then, she gets to the work and education part of it. I tell her all about Matt's work and education as Jordyn's father, then she gets to me.

"In the last week, did you work at a job for any pay?"

"No."

"In the last week, did you attend any education or work training classes?"

"No."

"In the last week, did you look for a job?"

"No."

"In the last four weeks did you look for a job?"

"Nope!"

(Lady gives awkward chuckle) "So, what do you do all day? That just makes me laugh, I don't understand it. Just tend kids and keep house all day long? Is that what you do?" (chuckle again)

"Uh, yep, that's what I do, I guess..."

I'm sure she didn't meant it rudely, and I wasn't that offended, but it left me wondering for the rest of the day- what do I DO all day? Am I really doing anything? I mean, I feel like I do LOTS, and that I am always busy, but what am I DOING?

I went back through my day. Bathed kids, dishes, laundry, take one kids to school, come home help other with finishing homework, take care of stuff for our family, pick up Jordyn's carpool route and take her to school, at the same time pick up Tyler and his carpool route and take them home, read to Tyler, make sugar cookie dough just so kids can cut out shapes and have fun, read some more, family night, more dishes and laundry. I definitely stayed busy, but what was I really doing anything? I'm sure every mom knows what I'm talking about.

When Matt came home from work, I expressed my concern in my doing nothing-ness to him. Luckily for me, my wonderful husband has the foresight to know that what I am doing at home is very, very important. Working in the juvenile court system especially has definitely opened his eyes to the exact depth of importance and influence that a mother has on her children. After talking to him, I remembered that he's right.

Sure, sometimes the endless laundry is a boring chore, and dishes seem to multiply faster in my sink than I can wash them.

But goodness, my children have a home, where they are happy and content to explore the world. To be creative, to play and laugh and learn. Here I can help them grow into confident, happy, healthy people who can make a difference in the world.

That is what I do all day.