I'm not worth much at all.

I came home for lunch today. As I stopped and checked the mail, I scanned thru the assorted envelopes to see if we had won a million dollars, or if anyone had mailed us a huge check. What I found was a letter from the Social Security Administration. While tearing it open, I had visions in my head of what I was going to do with all the money they were returning after mistakenly taking it from me over the years.

What I found out was that I am pretty much worthless.

I have been a stay at home mom for the last 9'ish years. Oh, I may have worked a "real" job on and off... I spent 4 years at the Y watching other people's children. I gave birth - twice in under two years, mind you. I have rocked my babies, cleaned vomit, wiped noses, sat up all night with a crying child who had a 105 degree fever. I have cleaned butts, listened to sob stories, fixed breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner. I changed 1,209,863 diapers. I hugged, I kissed, I tickled and I sang. But, that is not a real job.


These tasks are not considered to be worth any money. See, I found out today that IF I met an untimely death, my sweet husband would only get $583 a month. He couldn't even feed these kids with that. And, IF I so happen to make it to age 62, my retirement will be a whopping $210 a month. I will be age 62 in the year 2037. Imagine the economy. That is going to be a tank of gas. Or a Big Mac.

So, I am not really worth anything. But, someone tell me this. Why couldn't I get retirement on mothering? Should I not get any retirement for choosing to stay at home and raising productive citizens? How about a quarter a diaper? Or a dollar bonus for every doctors visit?

Isn't mothering the most important - and most difficult - job in the universe? It sure is, but it will not get you retirement. All I get is a paper in the mail that says that when I am old, I will be broke. I guess that is why my kids better be productive. I am going to have to live with them.