We stay-at-home Mom's don't get paid. . . or do we?

With Mother's Day approaching, I thought it was fitting that I was lying in bed, completely wide-awake and thinking about being a mom. I was so wide-awake that I came down to the computer to write. I've had a rough few weeks - really a month. Since he was sick in early April, we've struggled with the ever-popular strong will of Jack (I mean it should have it's own room in our house), and some behavior problems too. It's been challenging for me as Sam works long hours (not his fault). I feel like my days are sometimes endless.

This is my job. I run the house. I'm a wife and mother, I cook, clean, child-rear, grocery shop, do the laundry (which is a bottomless basket), night-time crying usually goes to me, I rotate the toys, I talk to the teachers, do the routine and acute Dr. appointments, pay the bills, keep up the checkbook (sometimes not so well), etc. The list is really endless, but who really wants to read it all? "It's the hardest job in the world" some have said - and I believe them. I'm living it and I don't get paid. . . or do I?

As I was lying awake thinking about Jack and what it means to be his mother, I came up with this:

• I get to wake him in the morning and hear the first thing on his mind (he's very chatty in the a.m.)
• I get to watch him eat his "moggle" (waffle) that he so thoroughly enjoys for breakfast. Then he says in the throws of his enjoyment, "are you going to sit with me, mommy?"
• "mommy toys?" is his way of asking me to play with him. (I wish you could hear the intonation)
• I get to have discussions about Cheerios while he eats them dry on his place mat. The excitement of finding a "sad Cheerio" (thin and dark), he kisses it and then eats it. Major excitement over doubles and triples (two or three Cheerios stuck together), and moons (which are half Cheerios). The things they get excited over cracks me up.
• I get a hug or kiss any time that I request it, sometimes unsolicited.
• I'm who he wants if he's hurt or feeling bad.
• He is always seeking my smile of approval or praise when he does something good or independent, (which might mean he recognizes that I'm the boss of this job, he's just not ready to accept it).
• Sam reads books to him each night, but he always comes to give me a kiss before he goes to bed (even though I kissed him before I left the room), and he wants to discuss with me the books they read.
• He says, "I love you, mommy" without me asking.
• He asks, "Are you happy, mommy?" I say "yes, are you happy, Jack?", he thinks about my question for a second and says, "yes, I'm happy mommy".
• He says, "I want to snuggle with you on the couch."
• He asks, "Am I your buddy?" (I'm always telling him he's my little buddy)
• He says funny things and he has the best belly laugh when he is laughing really hard.
• He prays (and if Sam and I forget to pray at a meal, he reminds us).
• He gets excited about reading his toddler bible and learning the stories.

I feel so completely and unconditionally loved. I can look or be at my worst and Jack loves me the same. He just wants to be with me. He loves me so much. This is exceedingly better than direct deposit, better than any 401K retirement plan or other benefits. I'm paid in full.

(I will be prepared with a 'why the toddler stage drives me crazy' narrative for when all this comes back to haunt me)