By Emilie Plants | Columnist
When I left teaching to become a stay-at-home mother, I did it for one reason — to be with my babies.
According to Salary.com, which asked thousands of mothers to complete a detailed survey about how they spend their days managing a household and raising their children, Pajama Mamas are worth more than $112,000 annually, in today’s dollars.
Aside from my side job as freelance journalist, I’ve earned more than $500,000 in paychecks never received.
It seems shocking, but I wear a lot of hats.
I’m a chef, a personal shopper, a maid, a lawn service, a chauffeur, a nanny, a beautician, a referrer, a doctor, a counselor, a teacher — and the list goes on.
It seems there is still a group of people in America who thinks that stay-at-home moms sit on the couch eating Cheetos and watching Oprah all day. There may be some — but not those who truly embrace their calling.
With the presidential election just 20 days away, there has been a “war on women” waged. Stay-at-home mother Ann Romney — wife of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney — has taken a few blows for her career as a stay-at-home mother who raised five boys.
According to Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen, Ann Romney “never worked a day in her life.”
In response to Rosen, Ann Romney tweeted, “I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work.”
Rosen’s statement makes my blood boil, and I’m sure it infuriates every stay-at-home mother across the country.
I would never criticize a woman who chooses to be a career woman over a stay-at-home mom, or the mother who is financially unable to stay at home and must work.
However, just as I respect your job, I would appreciate the same respect for mine.
I do have the privilege of wearing my pajamas until noon, but sometimes, I may not even have time for a shower. When my kids were babies, I smelled like formula and baby puke most of the time.
I get to watch television all day; however, cartoons really can get to me after a while — especially when I find myself singing melodies from the shows when I finally get my shower.
I don’t have to deal with rude co-workers, but, sometimes, it gets so lonely that I start to miss any kind of adult interaction.
My husband will never truly understand what I go through every day. (Although, I’ve left the kids with him on weekends just so he can get a taste.)
Working mothers get to escape the insanity of motherhood for eight hours a day. They have more money to spend on vacations. I haven’t had one of those since before the kids were born.
They have a more active social life and can feel the satisfaction of balancing a career and a family.
It’s the eight hours of the day that they have to miss of their children’s lives that make the escape from insanity not worth it for me.
I would gladly give up trips to Disney for the memories I have of my children’s first steps and first words. I realize you can’t get back moments in time after they happen.
I also realize there’ll be time for embracing me in 14 years. That seems so long away — and so close — all in one.
One day, they will move out, and I will have all the time in the world to pursue my own desires.
I love America, because, as women, we get to choose our path, whether it be a working woman or stay-at-home mother.
I have been richly blessed being a Pajama Mama, and no six-digit salary could compare.
The love and appreciation of my children is priceless.
Emilie Plants, a Plant City native, is a stay-at-home mother of two, freelance journalist and a former Florida Strawberry Festival Queens Court member. vzlom-pochty