I'd like to thank that lady who wrote recently to the Straits Times Forum to let people in Singapore know that Stay at Home Moms need not be given financial "assistance" because we chose this luxury of staying at home instead of going out to work, and the life of a SAHM is anyway, less hectic. Even less so if the mom is highly educated. She should be using her education in more "productive" ways. Since we chose this luxurious way of life, we must not be needing any help! ;O)
SO here I was, graduate that I am, lying in bed at 8.30 in the morning (whilst all my working counterparts were already on the road, trying to beat the morning rush hour traffic on the highway) thinking about all the leisurely things I'd be doing this day whilst my 2 yr old was hugging me his good morning hug, and the 4 yr old nestled himself between my comfy legs.
It's a good morning. No one's whining, fussing, crying, fighting. And so my leisurely, less hectic day began.
Whilst having breakfast, I prepared my 4 yr old to get to pre-school on time. Walked him to school and back, to find my older 2 trying to finish their chinese homework in time for their Lao Shi to come later in the morning.
Before starting worship time, I had a quick talk with the eldest (8 yrs) about trying his best to memorize all the new words of each chapter of his chinese text book because the words are just going to accumulate and snowball on him in time to come if he doesn't keep pace.
Here I am twiddling my thumbs, as we start morning devotion, enjoying (perhaps too much) the Word of God. I did a very dramatic reading of David and Goliath in 1 Sam 17 that the children and I enjoyed tremendously. It was so fun, I might have felt guilty for my peers who were slaving away at their offices...
Off to fetch Lao Shi, teach a teenage homeschooler whilst Lao Shi is here, get no. 3 from pre-school, feed them lunch, have lunch myself, send Lao Shi off, send a book that hubby forgot to his workplace nearby. Oh.... it was tooo hot today. Simply scorching. All that rushing around is so unbecoming for someone who's less hectic. tsk tsk. I need to live up to some (imagined) expectations of SAHMs here!!!
It was so exhausting for this SAHM. I took a nap.
The children continued school work while I half snoozed to the sounds of screaming over a toy, a son asking me how to spell "purpose" and a daughter telling me someone spilled water on the table. A dear friend and fellow homeschooling mom calls me in the middle of my beauty nap to arrange a dinner together soon. After that call, I am fully recharged to tackle more thumb twiddling.
I sit in my school room, helping the 8 yr old on my right to compose a poem, the 6 yr old on my left to do her corrections, and the 2 yr old on my lap, asking for kisses again. The 4 yr old is on the floor reading to himself, thankfully.
So now as I write, the children have finished their work and are off playing outside. I've swept the floor from all the eraser shavings, punished and corrected the 2 yr old for hitting his brother when he didn't get his way, the laundry pile is still screaming to folded and kept away and I'll be off to fetch dear hubby from work.
Now I ask myself, Why do I, a graduate, want to sacrifice a career, an income, "prestige" and stay at home and be with little children all day? Because this is my present station in life and I shall not move until my job is done: Mothering.
No, it is not a glamorous job, and the returns are slow in coming. Sure, I could work and with my money, pay someone to cook my children's meals and wipe their buttocks when they're done in the toilet. But can the job of Mothering be "sub-contracted" out?
I am thankful that God has been true to His promise of providing for us when we obey His commands. I am not in need of help from "Ah Gong". What has been given to us in terms of tax holidays has been really good already. I may not be able to speak for other SAHM moms who decide that they ought to be the ones to raise their own children, and suffer a loss of income, and despite that, carry on with their responsibility of Mothering. There are so many scenarios to paint! What about very well-off SAHMs who do not need to work and have two maids at home?
What I'm trying to say is, I'm not saying I'm so overstretched that I should rightly get more "aid". Just don't broad brush SAHMs, ok? :O)
Proverbs 31:10-31 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
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