Let’s just say it—being a stay-at-home mom is not a 9–5 job. A 9–5 has hours. It has a start time, an end time, and if you’re lucky, a lunch break where you actually sit down. Being a stay-at-home mom? It’s more like a 5am to “how is it already midnight?” kind of shift. There is no clocking in, because you never clock out. There are no sick days, no weekends, and no “I’ll get to that tomorrow,” because tomorrow is already booked with snacks, laundry, and someone yelling “mom” from another room while you’re just trying to drink your coffee before it goes cold… again.
And the hats—oh, the hats. Because this isn’t just one job, it’s every job rolled into one chaotic, coffee-fueled day. You’re the chauffeur, running kids from one place to the next like a personal Uber service that somehow accepts payment in goldfish crackers and backseat chaos. You’re the short-order cook taking highly specific, ever-changing meal requests—and not just any short-order cook, you’re basically a Michelin-starred chef of chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and that one meal they loved yesterday but suddenly hate today. And just when you think you’re done in the kitchen, you clock into your next role as the maid… cleaning up the exact same mess you just cleaned five minutes ago like it’s some kind of extreme sport no one warned you about.
But we’re not done there. Not even close. You’re the gardener trying to keep something alive outside while keeping everyone alive inside. You’re the electrician when something stops working, the plumber when something is leaking (and it definitely shouldn’t be), the pool technician and lifeguard making sure no one drowns during what was supposed to be a quick five minutes outside. You’re the entertainer, constantly creating fun out of thin air, and the teacher—especially in a homeschool home—explaining math, guiding lessons, and somehow making it all click. You’re the dog walker, the poo scooper (yes, we’re saying it), the referee breaking up sibling disputes, the nurse, the therapist, the event planner, the grocery shopper, the laundry specialist, the schedule coordinator, and the full-time finder of things that were “lost” but sitting right in front of everyone the whole time.
If you actually added up the salaries for all of those roles—chauffeur, chef, cleaner, teacher, childcare provider, maintenance crew, and everything in between—you wouldn’t just be making a living… you’d be making a fortune. We’re talking millionaire status, easily. And yet, there’s no paycheck, no bonus, no clock-out at the end of the day.
Because the truth is—we don’t do this for the money. We do it for the love of our families. For the hugs that come out of nowhere. For the “I love you, mama” moments that somehow make the chaos fade for a second. For the privilege of being there through it all—the mess, the milestones, and everything in between.
So yes, it’s harder than a 9–5. It’s exhausting, unpredictable, and some days feel like survival mode. But it’s also meaningful, beautiful, and full of moments we wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.
Even with the cold coffee.
Even with the endless laundry.
Even with being called “mom” 47 times in five minutes.
We show up anyway. Every single day.
And the truth is… we love what we do.
Add comment
Comments