An Honest Day's Work

Woke up to a sick child's distress, quieted others fighting over nothing (really), and then downstairs to make the coffee - all before the sun rises.

The hundred questions, along with some complaints, remind you that you're in charge. Last minute adjustments, like search-and-rescue missions and ironing out wrinkles, remind you that you're the go-to person. Taxi service, menu planner, and budget manipulation suggest that there's nothing you can't (or is it won't?) do to make ends meet.

By 11:15 a.m., you're ready to sit down to your breakfast, but there's a knock at the door. A neighbor is anxious to inform you of a program to help beautify the playground area for the children. One thing leads to another and your soggy bowl of cereal is good for nothing but tempting the cat. So, where is kitty - upstairs with your child on sick-leave from school. Time to attend to the care and feeding duties of "Nurse Mommy."

By 2:35 p.m., you're definitely ready to grab a sandwich to fuel your housework efforts. The phone rings with a reminder of the Home and School meeting and the importance of your vote on a pressing measure. This, of course, necessitates a call to the CEO to establish child-care protocol and schedule an early dinner meeting.

It would be great if you could get your hair and nails done for the meeting(s), get that stylish outfit dry cleaned and even squeeze in a brief rest; but you'll be lucky to get a shower and something to eat.

Honestly, you don't really know why you allow yourself to be responsible for so much but, even less, why you feel guilty when you don't. Honestly, you know that a woman's work is never done, but never appreciated is another matter. Honestly, you could scream and demand, but it would bother you more than anyone else. And honestly, you have never done an honest day's work; for a lifetime is as a day in the sight of the Lord.

Faithfully, not passively, you decide that it's enough to be the servant of love, the handmaid of health and the darling of domestic harmony.

Thank God you didn't work a day of your life, when our lives needed you 24/7. Forgive us, then, and know that we'll never think of, let alone value more, anything or one else - once you're gone.