I don't work

The question was posed innocently enough, but as always, caught me off guard. I called for an annual appointment. "Are you still not working?". Yes that's right! I'm not working. But it pricks me just a tiny bit. I don't work. Nope. Idle. Just waiting for time to pass. I did work! Can I tell you about those days? I started babysitting first chance I could. Worked in high school scooping up slop and putting it into old people's mouths. Washed their dishes. And I loved it. Worked at a turkey plant. A place hanging window parts to paint. Various jobs with Target headquarters doing sometimes important (and not so important) duties. And now, I don't work. But I do! And all of you SAHMs know this. I know it. But we need to feel justified. Cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. Washing faces, towels, floors, empty drawers, dishes... you name it. Filling the cabinets with food. Putting on healthy, homemade meals day after day after day. Answering calls. Paying bills. Tending the sick. Weeding gardens. Writing a note to a lonely one. And that doesn't even touch the happy husband, the cherished children, or the ditzy dog. "They" are my job too. Making sure they're heard, fed, helped, loved.

I do take 'me time'. I love scouring FB for pictures. Looking at some dandy blogs that encourage me. Walking with our dog every day. And at those moments, I'm not 'working'.

And so... the answer is I don't work. But I have the best job there is.