Burnt Bacon

With all of the hub bub surrounding Ann Romney and stay at home moms, I have been thinking about why motherhood generally is under appreciated in society and not considered "real work."  Bill Maher recently said ". . .there is a big difference between being a mother, and that tough job, and getting your a-- out the door at 7 a.m. when it's cold, having to deal with the boss, being in a workplace, or even if you're unhappy you can't show it for eight hours." Obviously Mr. Maher has never been up all night with a crying baby, or cleaned up puke off the carpet at 2 am, or listened to the incessant quarreling on a 12 hour road trip, things that can almost push you to the breaking point and quite literally send you to the psych ward (speaking from personal experience). Motherhood is the most difficult job on earth because unlike Mr. Maher's 8 hour job where having to pretend your happy is the hardest part of your day, it is a 24 hour job with no time card you can punch to leave it all behind, and no weekends off either.  It quite literally takes every fiber of your being just to cope with the multi-tasking, mental gymnastics required and you can't quit if you don't like the job and  sign up somewhere new.  Phrases like "you can pick up your check" or "you deserve a raise" are non-existent when you are the CEO of your home.  Not to mention that for some, motherhood is a sacrifice of personal careers and goals, and an exposure to the weakest parts of ourselves.

Case in point, Sydney told me last night she wanted some bacon for breakfast in the morning,  "but please could you make it not burnt?"  Apparently I'm not very good at making bacon.  It seems like such a simple job to do. I guess when you sign up to be a mom you are expected to be a cook.  Admittedly I do come from a long line of great cooks,  but somehow that gene to not only be a great cook but to also love doing it  passed over me and  landed firmly on my sister's chromosomes.  With motherhood you have to engage in so many kinds of jobs (nurse, accountant, counselor, seamstress, clown, etc.)  that you are bound to be lousy at a few of them.   In a 9 to 5 job you typically choose a profession that you are interested in and naturally good at.  Yes, it was hard getting up at 7 am every morning and getting my behind out the door to teach school, but I knew exactly what I had signed up for, and I felt capable to accomplish it.  Motherhood is an adventure with twists and turns I never imagined.  I guess the unpredictability and unfinished nature of the work is really why it is so difficult. 

 Funny thing is, there is nothing I would rather be doing.  It is the most rewarding and fulfilling experience of my life.  That, my friends, is the craziest part of all!