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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

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!

13 comments:

  1. You are one lucky lady! It is a great job you have and you do it like a pro!! Your little co-worker is pretty darn cute!!

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  2. Such a great post Jenn! I hope to one day be able stay at home as well. Kudos for your family being able to do that!

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  3. You are amazing and I am honestly JEALOUS of this job you've chosen!! I always dreamed of one day being a stay at home mom. I'd love to have a family to take care of, a husband to cook for and iron clothes for...honestly it's something I've *always* wanted to do! Keep up the awesome work, you're a rockstar SAHM/W :)

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  4. Thank you for writing this. I feel like being a "stay at home wife" has such a stigma to it. I have been miserable working always. I am not programed to hold a normal job--not because I'm lazy--it just doesn't ever matter to me. The husband and I talked, and I am now a SAHW. I'll also be writing--but we will no longer be depending on my income. I know it's the right move for us--but you should hear the comments I get! Especially about how nice it'll be to be lazy, etc. Uh? It seems like I'll be much busier as a SAHW than I was working (well, I mean for what I DID at work--I still had to maintain the house and work--so that wasn't fun). I've made the decision to just ignore what people say. I know what's right for me and my family and my marriage. I actually seriously thought about you when the hub and I had the conversation!

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  5. i am SO SO SO jealous of your job!!!!! It is my dream job and I only wish we could make it work. Believe me, I have thought about every single way possible, but sadly I just don't think we can. I DREAD taking baby boy to daycare every day. I hate it. I love teaching, but I loved being home with my lil guy SO MUCH MORE. So happy you can do this and your little girl can be around you 100%.

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  6. What a great post. I so admire how you are up and at em while at home. I'm home with the kids right now and I feel so lazy! I wish I were more disciplined like you.

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  7. I love this post! Financially I don't think I could not work right now but since it isn't the 1950's and you as a family made the choice to quit paid employment (house work is WORK) then that's awesome. I think we should all have to work and have those ethics but its not like you never worked or finished school and don't do anything. I'm so jealous and happy for you at the same time :)

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  8. My husband is Italian and he was pretty set on me being a SAHM. I still get judged. I had a pretty good thing going for me with sports writing. But the simple fact was, I was always doing events and on the road. It was hard to focus on both things, being the best mom I could be, a good wife and also a good Mom. It was a personal choice for me to stay home. I've honestly never regretted it. It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done.Nick never tried to pull me in any direction, just told me that if I wanted to stay home the option was there. My heart breaks for those Moms that have to leave their babies! I'm so glad you're able to stay home..and P.S I bought the same blue sparkly dress for Savanna at Target! I thought it would be adorable for the 4th of July!

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  9. I love this! Once Kenzie comes that's our plan too.. I'll ride out my maternity leave and say adios! I can't be more excited, because this is what I've wanted for so long. My hubbs is also italian and when we first started dating this is what he'd tell me too he wanted.. Now that it's coming down to it, he's getting scared. But financially I know we'll just figure it out. somehow we'll make it work! :)

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  10. I wish I had your job as well. Our apt is a mess and my husband is the one who stays with her all day while I work and then he works after I get home. It's a hectic schedule! I wish it was easier!

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  11. It's the best job in the world for sure!!

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  12. I think that's awesome! Sounds like you are the perfect wife.

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