by Jennifer Moll

Created on: May 20, 2008

I lost count on how many people I have heard tell me that they wish they could be like me, a stay-at-home mom. The best is when a friend asks for a favor since I "don't have a job!"

Mothers choose to stay at home for various reasons. In my case, it really isn't a choice; I have a six year old autistic child that I need to care for. Sure, I could put him in child care, but does anyone understand how difficult it is to first, find child care for an autistic child and second, make sure all his needs are covered? Probably not unless you are a parent of an autistic child.

Autistic children have unique needs; they can not communicate well with others about their wants and needs, so it is a guessing game most of the time.

While people think I am just sitting around "doing nothing", I wake up in the morning, make sure my thirteen year old son gets his breakfast and is off to school, then comes the tough part. My autistic six year old needs to follow a strict daily routine. First, he gets his breakfast, and then I use games to help learn his colors and numbers. Next is bath time and he gets ready for school. At noon the bus picks him up and he returns from school at four.

Once my six year old is off to school it is time to get all my household chores done. The laundry, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, bill paying, etc all need to get done in this time.

By the time the kids are home from school, feeling exhausted, I need to make sure homework gets done, dinner is served, quality time is spent with my children, bath time, and bedtime stories are read. By the time they go to bed, I am ready to drop.

I go to sleep and start all over the next day. I don't punch a time clock, get personal, vacation or sick days; I don't work Monday through Friday with weekends off. My job is twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and three hundred sixty-five days per year. I don't make a good salary, I am lucky if once in a while I get a "Thanks mom" from my teenager. I do get frequent hugs, kisses and smiles from my six year old and that is all the thanks I need from him! Then I remember how lucky I am and would not change anything for the world!

So next time you think, stay-at-home moms have it easy, you really should think again. We don't just sit around and eat bon-bons and watch the soaps! And Remember that staying at home is a job just like yours.

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