Best Job Ever

I love my job.

In fact, just last week as my husband stopped home briefly from work,

I yelled up to him,

"I have the best job in the entire world!!"

I truly believe that I do.

I've had jobs where I made actual money.

I started babysitting at a young age.

I worked for my father at his hardware store starting when I was 15.

I worked summers there every year up until I turned 21.

I bussed tables at a local small town restaurant.

I made espressos, lattes and wraps at a tiny coffee shop.

I wiped noses and played with toddlers at a day care during college.

{short lived--I got wayyyy too sick to keep up with my school work!}

I got my first "Big Girl" job when I was 22.

I held that position until I chose to leave at 29.

I really loved that job.

Teaching Jr. High, that is.

I felt that I had found my 'calling'

But as the years progressed,

teaching changed,

and well,

that's just another blog post entirely.

But I loved my students...

Fortunately I married an "old school Italian man"

and we decided to run our house like it was 1950.

You see, 

Joe's grandparents are right from Calabria Italy,

and Joe has had it in his mind that he'd marry a woman

and he would be the breadwinner
and she'd take care of him, the home, and the kids.

At first I scoffed at the idea,

What kind of woman would I be if I chose to stay home?

Just be a housewife??

Absurd.
I can only imagine what people say behind my back.

The only one who voiced an opinion to my face,

was my father.
I completely understood why;

I was his oldest daughter,

but I'll always be his little girl.
He taught me to be strong, independent and work hard.

I think he was afraid if something were to happen,

with Joe and I,

where would I be?

I just spent the last 9 years getting my undergraduate and graduate degree.

He was nervous.

Well, he got to know my husband better.

He now sees how we work;

keeping a house clean, maintained, three full meals a day..

I don't sit around watching soap operas.

{I barely watch RHO...wherever!}

I take it seriously.

So, as summer 2011 approached 

and I was becoming increasingly miserable

 at my once upon a time 'dream job,'

Joe kept saying,

 "Just quit. Don't go back. Stay home."

Well, I did.

It didn't help that with budget cuts, 

it looked like my position would be eliminated eventually...

And besides, we wanted me to stay home and raise our family.

So I did it. 

In 2011, I decided to be a housewife.
Best. Decision. Ever.

I haven't slept in past 7am on a weekday in so long.

Why?
I take good care of my hubby.

Ironing work shirts.

Letting dogs out/feed them.

Preparing a breakfast of eggs, juice and fresh fruit.

Laying out our daily assortment of vitamins to maintain health.

Walking him to the door, 

kissing him goodbye.

It took some getting used to,

you know,

being self-employed.

There are days where I don't feel motivated...

I just want to be a bum.

I reeeeeeeally wanted to lay around and read yesterday.

But I always get up and shower

word to the wise: the earlier the better!

It takes self-control and discipline to clean.

All the time.

Two crazy furballs in the middle of winter make for a lot of vacuuming!

Before I had Brooke I felt a little funny if someone asked me,

"What do you do for a living?"
Because it seems a lot more acceptable to be a "stay at home mom"

vs.

"stay at home wife"

But at the end of the day,

I always know that Joe and I are doing what's best for us.

And you know what?

I'm happy I had a year under my belt to 

just be a housewife.

I learned a lot more about the two of us,

and in my gut, I have a feeling that since I was not stressed out,

driving 45 minutes to and 45 minutes from work,

coming home to make dinner,

grade English papers,

clean the house,

find time for friends,

family,

and my man...

I got pregnant.

Naturally.

We, not just as women, but humans,

cannot do it all.

So?
Choose what makes you happy and figure it out.

Just like any job,

there will be annoyances and I will want to vent.

#thatswhatgirlfriendsarefor

But it's about perspective and choosing to be happy.

Yesterday I spent most of my day buried in our 

crap room  I mean craft room/office.

I have been avoiding that room like the plague.

I finally tackled it and I feel great.

I actually love sitting in it as I write this!

I'm grateful that we have this lifestyle.
I couldn't imagine it any other way.
My man works so hard to provide for us financially,
it makes me want to work hard to keep this house a happy home.
My reward to myself for cleaning this messy room:
Playing dress up with my little doll.

 Waking up to this precious little angel
and knowing that she's mine to take care of all day...and night.
Makes me the happiest and luckiest girl in the world.
I love being a mommy!!

Enjoy your day!