Lori:
I understand that being a stay-at-home mom can be exasperating at times because I know more than a few mom's doing it and they have the same complaint, which is perfectly understandable. Allow me to offer another perspective.
My wife and I only had one child (we knew our limitations) but he was raised exclusively by us...no day care We couldn't have afforded it even if we wanted to go that route - which we didn't. We managed this feat by her working a corporate day job (7 AM to 3:30 PM) and I worked nights as a radio broadcaster. Between us, we made a decent living. I had our son (Christopher) in the daytime, she took over when I left for work at 5:30 PM. I
still recall watching
The Muppets, Danger Mouse, Inspector Gadget, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and the other kiddie TV shows. My wife basically taught our son his letters and numbers and went off to Kindergarten very well prepared...and did well all through his school years. Although those days are long gone now, my wife and I had the pleasure of sharing our son's childhood and we still have a great parent-child relationship to this day.
I realize that having one child (and two involved parents) is a whole lot easier than raising two or three or more (with or without a live-in spouse) so I'm not trying to compare. I just want to assure folks that, for the most part, the daily aggravations and frustrations of child-raising are quickly forgotten as they grow up. I recall thinking that my boy was
never going to able to do anything (like eating) without my supervision (he was 4 at the time). Ha! Before I knew it, he was a high school student, then a college student (working 3 part-time jobs to help pay his tuition) then, a college graduate and young adult. Now, our son is pushing 30 , has a responsible job and a life of his own, although we retain a solid relationship based on mutual respect and admiration.
My point is that while being a stay-at-home parent may seem to be - and is - mind-numbing at times, childhood passes quickly and they'll be grown and gone before you know it. That may seem like a wonderful thought right now, but you'll be without them a lot longer than you'll have them and I would hate to see any parent waste those years feeling deprived of intellectual stimulation and, in effect, blaming her children for it. I
know you don't, Lori. I recognize that you (and other AN moms) use motherhood as a source for humor (our own Erma Bombecks) but I wanted to use your post as a vehicle for reminding frazzled parents that they have a special gift (children) and even though the kids may seem more like a burden than a gift at times, they'll be gone and living lives apart from you before you know it. Don't let the petty frustrations of child-rearing obscure the good things parenthood offers.
End of sermon. Amen.
Jim 
