My dream job ...

Still is, always will be.

When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, My answer was always, “I want to be a mom.”

Always.

My mom was a stay-at-home mom, and I never imagined doing anything else. The value of her presence was not lost on me.

So when I became a mother, there was no question that I would be home with my kids.

But when I became a mom, it was MUCH cooler to be a working mom.

Perhaps it hasn’t changed much.

Over and over, I was asked, “What do you DO all day?” There wasn’t a pat answer.

What did I do all day? Never what I planned to do when I woke up, that’s for sure.

The days were a blur of meeting never-ending needs. And snuggles. Lots of hugs and sticky kisses, which made the messes and tears a lot easier to manage. And playing. So much playing. So much fun!

But always the question—asked in a group no less, “What do you do?”

“I’m a stay-at-home mom.”

“Aren’t you bored? I could never do that. I have to use my brain.” (Yes, that was a real response.)

How does one describe a 24-hour-a-day-with-no-breaks, emotional, exhausting, hilarious, dirty, fun, smelly, sleepless, satisfying, dream job?

When my kids went to school, I had extra time during the day. I planned to look for a job, but those plans changed. Instead, I created a few side hustles and shuttled kids to endless activities. With my husband’s crazy law-enforcement/Army Reserves schedule, I wouldn’t compromise being there for our kids.

But I had big dreams for myself.
I wanted to be a writer.

I tried to write when my kids were little, but I felt the Lord telling me to wait, focus on them.

He knew how obsessive I can be when a story takes over.

So I waited.

I wrote Christmas letters, but that was the extent of it.

And then the last kid graduated, and I dove right in. I’m so glad I focused on my kids rather than a story. I would have missed so much.

I am so thankful that God gave me my kids! I’m so grateful to my mom for being a beautiful example to me. I’m thankful for my husband for supporting my desire to be home with our kids. And I’m grateful for my children - for loving me and honoring my efforts (mistakes and all) by being the wonderful, successful people they are. I couldn’t be prouder.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there in the trenches of raising littles. I hope you’re enjoying this precious, fleeting season! It’s a job that will never end this side of heaven, but it keeps getting better and better.