(A Tribute To Moms: First of Three Parts)
Just a year ago, my best friend was venting about how she wished she could go back to work again. She had no choice but to stop working and be a full time mom since her husband decided to work abroad. She said she missed working again and the fulfillment that comes along with it.
I didn’t understand her predicament then, because I was wishing for myself to be a stay-at-home full time mom to my daughter, the rewards of taking care of your child and be there for all his/her milestones can never be replaced by career advancement or personal growth.
That was a misconception and I stand corrected. Being a full time mom is no joke. It’s not easy as it looks like. Staying at home, you are always a mom on duty. Even if you are so tired and worn out already, you have no choice but to fulfill your duties and responsibilities as mom.
I agree with what an author once quipped from a book I read (forgot the title, sorry memory gap), All mothers are working mothers.
POSITION: Mom, Mothers, Mommy, Mama, Inay, Nanay
JOB DESCRIPTION:
“This is a Long term position, meaning your entire lifetime. She must be a team players and up for challenging permanent work in an often-chaotic environment. She must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.”
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• This will be a job she has to handle the rest of her life.
• She must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
• She must be willing to bite your tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
• She must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
• She must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
• She must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
• She must be willing to be indispensable one minute, and embarrassment the next.
• She must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. She must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
• She must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.”
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
Virtually none, her job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, (okay maybe sometimes) constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
“Get this! She pays! She must be able to offer frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.”
BENEFITS:
“While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right. “
Quite challenging job isn’t it? Now, can you handle this kind of work?
If you are to choose would you be a stay-at-home mom or an office-working-mom? (Next topic, office-working-mom)