When I heard it, it made me laugh.
My son asked me, “Mom, when are you going to get a job?”
I figured one day I would have to have this conversation with my children. I had been thinking about what my answer would be when they asked me why I “don’t work”.
The prospect of being asked this question never scared me, in fact, I looked forward to sharing my answer. I just didn’t think one would ask at such a young age.
My son’s question was sparked from his experiences in the first couple days of Kindergarten.
When I dropped him off on his first day my daughter started crying about wanting to go to her own class. I told her we would have her school at our house. I would be her teacher. My son said, “You’re not a teacher.”
I replied, “I am a teacher to you and your sister, and I was a teacher like your teacher before you were born.”
The conversation went deeper.
My son’s school has an after school care program. He views it as longer playtime with his schoolmates that he is missing. He asked me, “When will I get to go to the after school care?”
I told him, “I don’t know if you will have to. I am home and able to pick you up after school.
The moms of the kids who go to the program work and are not able to pick them up to take them home until later.”
The conversation stopped here until another evening after dinner.
(Strange how kids have amazing memories at times, but then other times you have to constantly remind them…)
We were relaxing after dinner together as a family. On a television show my son saw women working in a paid job. He turned to me and asked, “Momma, when are you going to get a job?”
I replied, “My work right now is here in our house taking care of cleaning and cooking and
washing clothes, and caring for you and your sister, and Daddy, and paying bills and making sure we don’t spend too much money.”
You’ll love his response.
He said, “Oh, that is a lot!”
I am sure that will not end any future questions about my choice of work, but it was an honest answer. And, of course, his response is very true! It is a lot.
For this season of my life, it is enough…and, it is WORK.
We moms have a lot of options when it comes to our choices of work. Staying at home, working outside the home and working at home building a home based business are all options. I chose strictly to focus on staying at home and a home based business fell into my lap later on.
Building a home based business is great when you want to stay-at-home with the kids as long as possible.
Have your children asked you about your “choice of work”? What was or will be your response?
This post is featured in A Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: When You Need Encouragement
For More Mom Motivation:
Why is the Grass Greener?
Motherhood is Self-Fulfillment and a Calling
Building A Family Is Work
Enjoy your time at home!
Brandy Wilcoxen says
November 5, 2018 at 7:31 amI asked my daughter what she wants to be when she grows up, which practically changes daily, and this time around she said she wanted to be a mommy but that she didn’t have a baby the way I did, but that she was going to get her’s from a nursery lol.
Jaimi Erickson says
November 24, 2018 at 4:47 pmSo sweet! I love those conversations with kids.
joanne says
April 1, 2015 at 9:09 amI recently went for a job interview. I told the children I was going. I didn't get the job and the children were thrilled 'because you can spend more time with us Mummy. My son especially does not want me to get a job.
Katherine {Proverbs and Pacifiers} says
March 3, 2014 at 3:11 amThat is a lot! I recently filled out a survey and they wanted to know how many hours a week I worked. I was so tempted to put 119. You know, all the time save that 6-7 hours or sleep I get a night. It's a wonderful life!
Thanks for linking up at Babies and Beyond last week!
Jaimi says
March 4, 2014 at 3:27 amThanks, Katherine! The link-up is a great resource. Fun for me to look through and read and pin bunches! Thanks for stopping by.
Dolly says
February 24, 2014 at 9:53 pmSuch innocence and such intelligence your little boy has! I have to say, this post really put a smile on my face! 😀
Alice says
January 23, 2014 at 6:12 pmSuch a wonderful discussion between you and your kids! Yeah, this is really interesting when kids ask this sort of questions and for that parents always need to be alert to give answer in according to their questions. So whatever it is I think your kids are growing well and another thing is that your son's school has after school program that's really helpful for kids development. Thanks for sharing with us your personal information:)
knowledgemaven says
January 20, 2014 at 5:00 pmToo-too funny! My 8-year old likes to ask me, "…are you STILL working?" Working, mind you, doesn't necessarily mean me performing duties for my 9 to 5, it could be any domestic duty. I know he wants to know so that he can determine how much time we have to play. Now when I'm doing dishes, without even being told, he grabs the broom and starts sweeping. I haven't determined yet if it's because he truly wants to be mom's big helper or he needs me to hurry because we have a Lego empire to build. Hmmm.
Jaimi says
March 4, 2014 at 3:26 amEither way, sounds like he knows the work must get done and he can help make it move a little quicker! That is so great that he jumps right in to help. Enjoy those Lego building times!
Stephanie says
January 20, 2014 at 3:17 pmOne of my boys has asked me what I want to be when I grow up. I told him I was exactly what I wanted to be "a mom." Concept was lost on him though, "No, like I want to be a firefighter, what do you want to be?"
Jaimi says
January 20, 2014 at 4:45 pmThat is funny, Stephanie! How kids interpret life and the world around them is pretty entertaining. One day they will understand what our job is. Thanks for sharing!