My Career

On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I teach preschool at the YMCA. I enjoy it well enough, but the main thing is that I get to be home with my children most of the time (and the free membership doesn't hurt). I did not go to school to teach preschool, but as it turns out, with my elementary ed. degree and experience, it works.

So yesterday at work the (college student) Americorps volunteer, who was subbing for my assistant, asked, "So, is this, like, your career?"

Hmmm...the question took me aback. Career? I responded, "Well, no, not really. I'm a mom." To which she responded, "Oh, well, yeah, of course." And I could tell she was a bit embarrassed.

So I started thinking today about what my career really is. It sounds odd to say that my career is being a mom, but I certainly don't consider my career being a preschool teacher--and I have not taught in an elementary school for five years.

Here is what I have done in the course of a day as a mom: cleaned, laundered, mediated, bathed (children!), fed, clothed, entertained, loved, taught, cuddled, read, disciplined (hate that one!), dressed, encouraged, chauffeured, and more, I'm sure. I don't know what my "career" is, but I KNOW being a mom is much more demanding than any other "job" I have ever had. My Americorps friend can look at me and wonder what in the world I'm doing with my life, but I believe that I have the most important job/career in the world!