Stay at home mom. Or SAHM, in the vernacular. Housewife. I loathe these terms as I am not married to a building and am in the damn minivan waaay too much to be considered "stay at home." So how to handle the inevitable cocktail party question: What do you do?
What do I do? I am still a professional psychotherapist, but with no employer, it's hard to explain to people that I didn't surrender my license with my office keys when the lease was up. I just gave up running my own business, not being a counselor.
Oh, I imagine I'll garner a paycheck again in the future. But I looked around and asked myself about my values, and I found that growing this offspring of mine into healthy and happy creatures is number one with the proverbial bullet. Something had to give, and it was the shop. So for now, I'm creating a new business title for myself that more accurately reflects my occupation.
Yes, ladies and gents, I am a People Engineer. Yup. You heard me. I am a human rearing specialist. I'm a walking encyclopaedia (under 21? Look it up) stuffed to overflowing with information about child development and psychology, organic cheffery (I just made that a word), local attractions and distractions, arts and crafts director. I have acquired the diplomatic skills of a UN peacemaker (have YOU been to a PTA meeting? Sheesh) and the ability to change a diaper with one hand (don't ask).
And as you all know, that's just a short list of mad parenting skills. Don't sell it short: all the unseen expertise you're providing daily. We ain't "staying at home." We wouldn't recognize a Bon Bon if one bit us on the butt. And "housewives" only really exist on Bravo and ABC. You're crafting tomorrow's citizens. Let's all embrace the People Engineer title. I'm ordering the business cards now.
