About Guest Blogger
Pop in when you have a few spare moments for a cosy chat. Read about real-mom experiences and contribute your own slices of life at our Drop-In Centre.
Not So Sweet
drop-in centre canada
(Aug.11.10)
As a four-year SAHM survivor, I'm always hit with odd comments from the outside world. Comments like: “Wow, you have it easy staying at home.” Or “You must be a great housekeeper. I wish I had time to clean and bake like you do.” Or my personal favorite, “What is happening on XYZ soap?” I am in awe of what most people perceive staying at home means. Or it’s possible I could be doing it wrong.
As a mom of two girls, one and three, I barely sit down during the day. I wear makeup once a week. My wardrobe consists of the same clothes it has for years. No matter my best efforts, I always have a messy house. Dishes may stay in the sink till noon, or laundry gets done and remains in the hamper to be picked at for days to come. The cookies that I bake are started by Betty Crocker. I do not make my kids' clothes. My sewing machine is somewhere in the crawlspace.
The one thing I do make sure is that the floors are tidied and the bathrooms get cleaned on a frequent basis. So if a visitor sneaks their way into my home, it is clean enough for my kids but not for company. I do not have a housekeeper. I am not June Cleaver.
What I do all day is play. In between snacks and mac n’ cheese, I run around playing trains or coloring at the kitchen table. I read to my girls several times a day -- sometimes the same book over and over again. I know every moment of their day.
My dear friends, if you wonder why I do not invite you over for playdates often, it is because I am ashamed of my messy house and pre-packaged foods. I confess, I’m doing the stay-at-home mom thing wrong.
This is the second of four Drop-In Centre guest posts by Danielle Christopher. Last week's entry, Nice Things, can be found here. Check back next Wednesday for more from this SweetMama.
Danielle Christopher is a stay-at-home mom of one- and three-year-old daughters. Her writing can be seen at www.justdworld.wordpress.com. She lives with her husband of 17 years and their girls in Langley, BC.