I am human therefore….
By KK on Apr 25, 2006 in Thinker
I am complex.
I went to a birthday party of a friend who turned 70 earlier this month during my family’s vacation in the Philippines. One of her guests happened to be my senior high school teacher in Technology and Home Economics(it’s the class in which they taught us cooking, sewing, bookkeeping,etc.- it’s a girl’s school, ok?) 14 years ago . I tapped the shoulder of my ex-teacher said my hi and hello’s. I re-introduced myself and told her that I am a former student. She asked me what am I now(she meant what have I become), and I said I’m a stay-at-home-mom(I purposely didn’t mention that I have have graduated from BS Computer Science( I worked hard for that diploma while partying in college) then had been in the workforce and that I have been an IT Technical Head(rubbing elbows with top executives) for an ISO 9002 certified semiconductor company at the age of 23). She looked disappointed and didn’t spend more time with me. I kinda feel sad for people who think so little of housewives or stay-at-home-moms(SAHMs). I feel that they just think that SAHMs do not have enough intelligence to make something out of themselves and that they are not important enough to talk to. Being a SAHM, I have come to realize plenty of things and I appreciate my own mother more everyday. Unlike being in the workforce, we SAHMs don’t have time-in and time-out, we are 24/7 365 days a year on duty. We don’t get over-time nor night differential pays. We don’t get awards nor promotions. We get our satisfaction from knowing that our families are given the best care only a mother can give.
Manang | Oct 6, 2006 | Reply
and the real reward is when the kids are all grown up, and they LOVE and RESPECT you because of what you have given to them all those years…that is priceless!
I have seen my “successful” uncle build his businesses (of clinics and diagnostic centers), but one moment spent with his children (particularly the first two) and them parents and you sense the lack of respect…bitterness and rebellion are there…Even my uncle’s voice often have that tone of regret, but it is too late to turn back the time now.
Sometimes people are so determined to reach “sucess” in life despite having children as “hindrance.” What they do not realize is, after they have reached that success, they still feel empty, but their kids have grown and stayed “far away” from them. In then end they have so much money to spend on empty cruises and world tours, then they resort to charitable deeds, perhaps as a means to unburden their guilty conscience.
You go, girl! You (and I and many other SAHMs) have just one chance for every child. Let us do it right. I measure my success in bringing up good citizens out of my chidlren. If they still do not turn out to be what I want them to be, at least I can honestly say I did my best.
The Phoenix | Oct 7, 2006 | Reply
Hi Manang,
Thank you for your insightful comment. It’s so true that LOVE and RESPECT of the kids can’t be bought. I feel very fortunate to be able to stay at home to watch my child grow.
I also admire the mothers who have to work outside the home because they need to support their kids. Unfortunately, here in the US most families need 2 working parents to make ends meet.