Dear Stay at Home Mom

*Originally posted on E, Myself, & I on (1/28/14).

Dear Stay-at-Home Mom Friend,

I’m an all cards on the table kind-of gal; and, right now, I need to confess something to you… I’ve been a little jealous-y and a little unfair to you lately.

I’m in a bit of a funk (we’ll call it the late-January blues) and have been playing the “grass is always greener” game BAD.  I’ve been telling myself some version of this the last few days: “If I just stayed home with Sam full time I would actually have time to…  exercise/ organize the basement/ go on play-dates/ cook healthy meals/ put away my laundry/ really PLAY with Sam.”  You know, fill in the blank…

Almost every morning these days I throw myself the same little pity party where I ache to stay in my bed just.a.little.bit.longer, to wear my pajamas until noon, and drink coffee out of a real mug while watching cartoons with my boy.  Once I’m here, I’m good, but mornings are the worst.

Just once, I think, I’d like to be in a season (ahem, I think they call it summer) where there are no “due dates,” no “appointments,” no set schedule.  I’d like to wake up in the morning with a list of Pinterest recipes and crafts to try, “meetings” scheduled with friends over lunch, and all the time I need to finally put away the laundry.

But, here’s the thing friend (are you even still reading?),  I KNOW I’m being ridiculous.  I know the imaginary life of a SAHM mom that I’m making up in my head is just that – imaginary.  I know that you don’t spend your day lounging and lunching and kicking your feet up.  I KNOW that, many days, even the life of a high school English teacher feels a lot more glamorous than yours.

Sure, you might meet a friend for lunch once in a while, but you are toting seven bags and three kids and eating nuggets, while I’m quietly eating a salad at my desk and listening to a book on tape.  You might get to sleep in for an extra hour in the morning, but then you are ON all day.  There is no “planning period” or “lunch break” or chance to run a quick errand alone on your way home.  And, let’s be real, you might be drinking your coffee from a cute little mug (instead of my ugly thermos), but it is cold and a little stale from too many re-heats.

Dear Stay-at-Home Mom, I’m SORRY for letting myself believe (if only for a few minutes) that your life is somehow easier than mine.  IT IS NOT.  Yes, we have different obstacles to overcome (and mine might involve more panty-hose and pencils than yours), but we both have obstacles.  We both have mornings where we desperately wish we were in the other one’s shoes. BOTH of our jobs have good days and bad.  BOTH of our jobs are hard.  BOTH of our jobs are important.  I know these things.

Please accept my apology.  I’ll sit in silence for ten minutes for you if you’ll brew another pot and color another picture for me. 😉

*For the record, I still love my job.  It’s just… January.

E