A Job vs. Working

photo cred: alamy

I was talking with someone a while back and during the course of our conversation it came up that I homeschool my son.  I told this other mom some of the other things I'm doing right now and asked if they thought they could handle doing those things. 

"Me??  I have a JOB," they said rather haughtily.  

{crickets}

I was like, Oh, you have a JOB?  That you get PAID for?  That you work at 40 hours a week, sitting behind a desk, answering phones and filing papers?  Wow!!

I may not have a JOB, but I WORK my butt off.

"Salary.com aimed to market price Mom in the same manner it prices a job. For 10 titles, a nearly 100-hour work-week and a six-figure annual rate, moms may be the most valuable workers in the country." (www.forbes.com)

Ten titles.  100 (plus) work weeks.  No monetary pay.  I get paid in hugs and kisses, headaches, heartaches and never get a vacation.  Even when I'm on vacation...I'm always a mom. And there is no harder, better job I'd rather have!!  Along with the other dozens of things I need to be, I am:

a scientist
a teacher
a friend
a therapist
a nurse
a professional organizer
a taxi driver
a referee
a medical professional 
a psychiatrist
a financial manager
a veterinarian (for my fur-bearing children)
a counselor
a disciplinarian
a boo-boo kisser
a chef
a nutritionist
a housekeeper
a maid
a missionary

and so much more.  

So stay at home, homeschooling moms, whether you work OUTSIDE the home or not:  I see you!  I know how hard you work!  God sees you, and sees you investing in the future generation for the good of His kingdom.  So the next time that person in your life tells you (haughtily and with smug self-appreciation) that they have a JOB, you go ahead and tell them that you work harder than anyone you know, and that according to forbes.com you SHOULD be making $115,000 a year.  

And you are worth every. single. penny.