The phrase “Motherhood is a thankless job” is all too familiar. However, I must assert that this notion is fundamentally flawed. While it’s true that motherhood can often feel thankless—your contributions frequently recognized only when something goes awry—it’s crucial to clarify that motherhood is not a job.
Consider a recent experience: my four-year-old had a spirit day at school, requiring a specific shirt. I distinctly remember laundering, folding, and placing that shirt in his drawer, yet today, it was nowhere to be found. The misplacement turned into a significant ordeal, resulting in my child attending school in an incorrect outfit. Meanwhile, I was left feeling as though my daily existence involves lounging on the couch, indulging in snacks, while vital items mysteriously vanish.
By definition, a job involves performing tasks in exchange for monetary compensation. In fact, the current unemployment rate is arguably more akin to a job than motherhood. Employment typically comes with benefits such as vacation days (which I have long forgotten) and sick leave (even now, while battling a sinus infection and a double ear infection, I continue to fulfill my parental duties). Mental health days? Don’t get me started on the need for one of those.
Motherhood does not function like a traditional job. There is no severance package, no end-of-day whistle, and certainly no lunch breaks. Some evenings, as I lay my head on the pillow, I reflect on heartwarming moments with my children—a shared laugh, a heartfelt “thank you,” or a genuine “I love you”—and these memories provide a sense of fulfillment. Yet, on most nights, I collapse into bed, my body weary from the endless physical and emotional labor that motherhood demands.
This experience is more akin to being a janitor at a busy mall, constantly cleaning only to see it soiled again immediately. The difference? That janitor is compensated for their efforts.
Despite the wisdom shared by well-meaning strangers—those who gently squeeze my baby’s cheeks and advise me to “enjoy it, darling, it goes by so fast”—I find it challenging to appreciate those fleeting moments. Motherhood consumes my life entirely, and while I sometimes wish it were a job so I could throw in the towel and declare, “I QUIT,” the reality is that I cannot. This is my life.
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In conclusion, motherhood is not categorized as a job but rather as a lifelong commitment filled with unique challenges and rewards. While it may lack traditional job benefits, the emotional payoffs can be profound.