STAY, sit, roll over

Becoming a stay at home Mom really has felt like a career change for me.  On Ben's first day of work, we joked that I was also starting my first day at a new career.  Sure, I'd been a mother for a little over 3 months, but during my maternity leave I usually had my mom or Ben around to help out; then there was some time back at work.

Now that we are all settled in Oshkosh and Ben leaves the house each morning in his suit and tie (I love it!) not to return until the late afternoon, now is when I actually feel like the career of motherhood has started.

Doing the dishes and laundry doesn't feel like a chore anymore -- one more thing to do on my long list of tasks.  Sure, there are days I wish a magic fairy would come and clean them up for me, but for the most part I'm starting to enjoy "keeping house."  On really rough days Ben is my magic fairy, and that helps me make it through to the weekend.    

I remember my college creative non-fiction writing course.  As with most English classes, I was a dominate personality in the room.  After grading our first set of essays, the teacher handed me back my "A" paper and simply said "I'd never had guessed you were a Sister Missionary."

"Why not?"  I inquired.

"You just don't strike me as the type to conform.  To the rules and the stereotypes I guess.  Your personality just didn't strike me as the type."

I took that as a huge compliment, and I knew that was exactly how she intended it.

Conforming to the rules, stereotypes, and demands of stay-at-home-mommyhood is a funny thing to me.  I'm sure it would surprise people (my mother included) to hear me say I enjoy my hours spent in the kitchen, cooking and cleaning.  But the joys of a stay at home mom are one that even the strongest of personalities can fall in love with.