"SAHMs-- I understand that you're super busy if your child is still young, but what will you do when your child gets to junior high and high school, when they can be entrusted with some responsibility to take care of themselves between the hours of 3 and 6ish? I believe it's best for younger children to have a parent around as much as possible, but I have met a mom who actually got pretty insulted when I asked what she does as a homemaker taking care of her kids.. when her son is 16. I didn't mean to insult her-- I just wanted to know what she does all day with a child that old. When I was younger, my mother worked full time, but the house stayed clean, and there was always food when we were teenagers, because my siblings and I were responsible enough not to mess up the house. :) When I have a kid, I would want to spend a lot of time at home, because I think it's important for a young child to have someone there all the time, but if he or she gets to be in junior high or high school, I need something else to do-- like work. So, if you're still a SAHM when your kid's a teenager... what do you do?"
Answer:
My mom was not "merely" a SAHM, but a homeschooling mom. My two brothers and I never "went" to a traditional school (well, older brother did for a couple years out of his 13, but anyway. . .). She had to make sure we were getting our schoolwork done (which meant helping us with things we didn't understand as we got older, but was a lot more involved when we were younger. And I admit, none of us were as studious and obedient as we should have been.), cooking, doing dishes, laundry, going grocery shopping, paying the bills (in person, because she's old fashioned like that), driving me to dance classes from the time I was 5(by the time I was 11 dance was twice a week), driving my brothers to basketball practice, taking us on field trips (sometimes by ourselves, sometimes with our homeschool support group), taking us to outsourced school classes over an hour away (things like science and art), mowing the lawn, sewing dresses for me. We (the kids) helped in the area of dishes, laundry, and cooking when we could, or needed to, but other than that it was all put on her since my dad was a submariner in the Navy, and away at sea for multiple months at a time.
She did not take the break that many seem to take when her youngest turned five by sending him off to school. When her youngest was five she was teaching him to read, while helping her seven year old with her handwriting lesson, and her ten year old with his math. And lets not forget the phone calls everyday. I'm sure people thought that she was not doing much and surely had time to help them out with their problems. This woman asks about teenagers. . . let's fast forward to when my mother's children were all teenagers, ages fourteen, sixteen, and nineteen. The oldest was not in high school anymore, although he was working and taking classes at community college (thankfully he had his own car). The younger two were still in school, dance, and basketball, and on top of that, work was added to the list (my younger brother and I started work at age fourteen, or before, if you count yard work and babysitting. . .), all of those, except for school of course, were all things she needed to drive them to. She would drive us half an hour (one way) to take us to church every Sunday (sometimes just in the morning, sometimes also at night). School also did not ever seem to end for the year, because, as I mentioned earlier, her children were not as studious as they should have been. (Sorry, Mom!) Whenever the teens wanted to get together with friends who were not in the neighborhood their mother always drove them to the friends' houses, because the other mothers were too busy, weather was too bad, or some other reason. It is a wonder she ever had time to play a quick game of minesweeper on the computer, read her Christian romance novels, or go for a 2-5 mile run (doesn't everyone need a break "after work"?) . . . . I don't know why, but someone would always call, or one child teen would tattle about what another did to hurt them right as she was going into the shower, while in the shower, or right after getting out of the shower.
My mom is now the mother of a twenty-one year old, almost twenty-three year old, and a twenty-six year old. None are at home. The oldest is now in the army, the middle child is finishing up college and trying to plan her wedding, and the youngest lives five hours away while still figuring out what he wants to be when he grows up. She recently got a job at a fabric and crafting store. She was not just "trying to keep busy" when she sewed for her home and her family. She was showing her family that she loved them, which in essence, helped her build up a portfolio.
My mom is amazing, and was never lazy. Whether I have more or less children than she did, I hope to be the example to my children that she was to me. I hope to be able to show my children what a homeschooling SAHM does. I hope to let my children know that I will (Lord willing) always be there for them.
Thank you, Mom, for always being there for us,
Love, Hayley
My mom is amazing, and was never lazy. Whether I have more or less children than she did, I hope to be the example to my children that she was to me. I hope to be able to show my children what a homeschooling SAHM does. I hope to let my children know that I will (Lord willing) always be there for them.
Thank you, Mom, for always being there for us,
Love, Hayley
