It's all in a day's work for a mom. I'm a mom of a toddler and an infant and I bet Mike would be thrown for a loop in my shoes. They poop all day and you get to clean it. The younger ones poop nasty mustard-like stuff. The older ones get lovely consistencies based on their intake. All of them smell awful. Not to mention the squirming that goes on when you try to clean it. Add to it the regularity that it leaks out of the diapers. Some are great, like my youngest who has managed to send poop out the diaper, up her back, and up her front, reaching just below the neckline on both sides. You clean the kid and then you get to clean the workspace. Then you get to clean the clothes before the stain sets. The younger ones all have issues with spit up. You'd swear more was coming up than went in. As they get older they tend to do this less unless they are sick. Instead, they play with their food. They experiment with texture and when they are not doing that they have a natural talent for gettting it everywhere. In their hair, their ears, all over their face and neck, all over their clothes, the eating area, down their pants, it's all over. So after you feed them you get to clean again, them, then the workspace, and then the clothes. Some talented children manage to go through several outfits a day. And this does not include the numerous outfits you go through. Just think of the types of foods they eat - mashed fruits, vegetables, and pureed meats... ugh!
Then take into account the pay and time off. None. Okay... so the average cost a stay at home mom equates to (were the family to have to pay for day care, etc) is around 30K. So there is an unseen pay, sort of. But there is no time off. No days off. No weekends. No clocking out at 5pm. No lunch hour. No 15 minute coffee break. A mom of young ones is lucky to even get a shower. It's a dirty job but definitely coveted. I don't think Mike could handle this one... especially were he to take on a family with twins or triplets. Now that's a lot of diapers!
While I agree with most of your post, I take offense to the comment about not getting paid. There are many mothers of terminally ill and challenged children who need to stay at home with their kids but can't afford to do so. Be grateful that you are one of the few who can.
Originally posted by hannahbissell: It's all in a day's work for a mom. I'm a mom of a toddler and an infant and I bet Mike would be thrown for a loop in my shoes. They poop all day and you get to clean it. The younger ones poop nasty mustard-like stuff. The older ones get lovely consistencies based on their intake. All of them smell awful. Not to mention the squirming that goes on when you try to clean it. Add to it the regularity that it leaks out of the diapers. Some are great, like my youngest who has managed to send poop out the diaper, up her back, and up her front, reaching just below the neckline on both sides. You clean the kid and then you get to clean the workspace. Then you get to clean the clothes before the stain sets. The younger ones all have issues with spit up. You'd swear more was coming up than went in. As they get older they tend to do this less unless they are sick. Instead, they play with their food. They experiment with texture and when they are not doing that they have a natural talent for gettting it everywhere. In their hair, their ears, all over their face and neck, all over their clothes, the eating area, down their pants, it's all over. So after you feed them you get to clean again, them, then the workspace, and then the clothes. Some talented children manage to go through several outfits a day. And this does not include the numerous outfits you go through. Just think of the types of foods they eat - mashed fruits, vegetables, and pureed meats... ugh!
Then take into account the pay and time off. None. Okay... so the average cost a stay at home mom equates to (were the family to have to pay for day care, etc) is around 30K. So there is an unseen pay, sort of. But there is no time off. No days off. No weekends. No clocking out at 5pm. No lunch hour. No 15 minute coffee break. A mom of young ones is lucky to even get a shower. It's a dirty job but definitely coveted. I don't think Mike could handle this one... especially were he to take on a family with twins or triplets. Now that's a lot of diapers!
All I can say is Gimme a break...really! I would LOVE to be able to do this on a permanent basis!!! I did it for 4 whole months and it was one of the most wonderful times in my life!!
