You may have girlfriends that have successful careers with distinguished titles and they may make about $50,000 a year or more. And, you just try to make ends meet by clipping coupons and shopping at second hand stores. They might be able to take nice vacations to Hawaii once a year. You and your family take that annual camping trip and you call that a “vacation.” Maybe you don’t wear the latest fashion, go out to eat at fancy restaurants, and get your hair done at an uppity salon. But, you do have a family that is glad to have you around because they need you. You’re the teacher, mentor, friend, chauffeur, nurse, financial manager, maid and chef of the home—how can they manage without you?

Sure, your kids go to school and have real teachers, but who is there to help them remember their multiplication facts? And, they have a real doctor to take care of that annoying ear infection, but what about those kisses to make it feel all better—they really do work wonders. They may have friends at school, but what friend knows them better than anyone else and who also knows what is truly best for them? You are a woman that wears many hats and you are a “Jack of all trades.” You might be exhausted at times, but at the end of the day you know the time you spend with them will never be recaptured when they get older and so you find that it is worth it.

You may have to sacrifice many things in your life. But, you know deep down inside that those small sacrifices are temporary. You will still have some time to take that art class or join a women’s softball team when the kids get a little older. But, right now those little ones need your loving hands and heart to guide them. It may not seem significant but sometimes the truly insignificant things in life are those things that keep us and our families steady. Just being steady is truly hard work at times, but somebody has to do it.

Don’t hold your head down when somebody asks you what you do--simply tell them, “I’m a mom and I work at home.” It is a truly honorable deed because you are the best caregiver in the world to your kids. They’ll be glad that you did stay at home with them and you gave them your best. You will find it rewarding one day, even though right now it may not seem to be. Your reward for staying at home could be that teenager that didn’t get pregnant or take drugs. Or, it could be that brilliant musician that became famous because you took him faithfully to his guitar lessons. Maybe, your daughter might say to you, “I want to be a stay at home mommy, too, when I grow up.” And, then you would know that you did succeed in life when you hear that statement.