"Calgon, take me away!" by Maureen Locher

Oh, how I remember “Calgon-take-me-away days.” Boy, I used to have a lot more of those in years past than I do now, thank goodness. You know those days. You just want five minutes of peace to yourself when you’re raising little ones. You are always on call.  There is not a minute when you are officially off-duty.

When asked for my occupation on forms I was never quite satisfied with my responses. Housewife? I am not married to my house. Homemaker? I do so much more than that. What mom doesn’t? The phrase I finally settled on was “wife and mother.” It actually became easier when my children were all in school and I began teaching again, part-time. Then I had a “real” occupation to write in that little space. Isn’t that silly?

Have you ever listened on various talk shows when a viewer is asked what she does? It seems like whenever a woman responds, “I’m a stay-at-home mom,” the host or hostess nearly always takes on that condescending tone of, “Oh, good for you. That’s a full-time job.” No kidding, Sherlock!

If a woman has no choice but to work when her kids are young, then she must. Her responsibility is to provide for her children, and that’s it. Those who are fortunate enough to have a choice, however, sometimes don’t choose very wisely, in my opinion. Be with your kids. Know them inside and out. Are you working out of necessity or for some luxury? Choose wisely because new cars are mass-produced everyday. Your child’s childhood has a definite end. You can’t get it back once it’s gone, and it goes by so very fast. Anyone who has lived through it will tell you that. 

While you are living it though, you think these people are a little nuts. As you change diapers, make dinners, wash dishes, you wish for it all to go a little faster hoping there’s a bit of a break on the horizon. And then there are no more babies to hold tight. I remember feeling incomplete sitting in a room without a little one on my lap for quite some time after my boys got a bit older.

If my mom said it once, she said it a thousand times, “These are the best years of your life.” I listened but I had my reservations. My mom would say it again and again until I finally opened my eyes, ears and heart to the true meaning of her words. Those were the happiest times of my life (so far, anyway!) Thank goodness I finally realized it before it was gone. Thanks, Mom.

©2006 Maureen Locher

Maureen is copy editor for Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine as well as holding the most dubious titles of wife, and mother to four boys aged 17 – 22.  She hopes you enjoy the upcoming antics of her life with her five men.

Comments

[Paula]

I couldn't agree with you more Maureen and you know what? Mamas always right :)

Paula