SAHM Vs. Working Moms...It's Not What You Think

I have no beef with working mothers.  I applaud you for doing what it takes to keep a roof over your head and provide for your family.  I know many working mothers who would like nothing more than to stay home with their babies.  And there are other mothers who love their jobs and love working.  Being a SAHM just isn't for them.  And that is fine.  That I don't have a problem with.  Being a SAHM is not for everyone.  The same goes for being a working mom....its not for everyone.

Again, let me clarify, I have no beef with working mothers.

However....

It royally pisses me off when I hear a working mother talk about "staying home" like its some kind of vacation.  While at my OBs office today, waiting for my 6 week post partum check up, another woman was at the desk with her 6 week old baby girl, signing out and chatting with the receptionist.  I don't make a habit of eavesdropping on a conversation, but the woman in question, I'll call her Ms. Blackberry, was standing right next to where I was sitting.  I see her reach into her bag and whip out her cell phone (a Blackberry, naturally) and start texting then glance over at her sleeping baby in her car seat and say, "Ready to go to the sitter?"  The receptionist had asked her if she was returning to work, or if she went back to work early.  Now I should have prefaced this by saying this woman was dressed in business attire, so it appeared she was back to work already.  Ms. Blackberry answered with a chortle, "Oh, I went back to work after 4 weeks!  I couldn't last the full 6 weeks.  There is no way I could be a stay at home mother.  I simply can't just sit around watching TV and doing nothing all day."

WTF?  Did I just hear this chick correctly?  Does she really think SAHMs just sit on our fat asses all day and watch TV doing nothing?  I nearly stood up and let her have it, but I retained my composure as I rocked my screaming colicky baby who was farting up a storm and making a huge blowout.  I do not think I'm an overly sensitive person, but damn...that statement got way deep into my crawl and I think my eye was twitching a little because Ms. Blackberry gave me a look, as if I was going to beat the ever loving crap out of her and she sped up as she walked past me.  Either that or she was trying to get away from Little C's deafening screams and ripe diaper in a hurry.

I know working moms get a lot of flack.  But you are not alone.  And hey, if you ever need a break from work, call in sick, bring your kiddo(s) over for a play date and we can both sit on our asses and do nothing but watch TV.  What would you like to watch? :)

-MoM-