Do I have a Job?

Before Dan and I got married and had kids, I had a job. TWO, as a matter of fact.
After the kids were born I was BLESSED to be able to stay home with them and take care of them.
Then I lost my mind and I needed to figure out what to do with my life.
I went to college and got my degree in a field that was REALLY outside of my comfort zone.  I worked everywhere from paralegal, court mediation supervisor, mortgage office manager, cellular property data supervisor and Sunoco quality control manager.

During this time my friend, Lisa took care of my kids.  She drove them to school and picked them up. She made sure they were fed and taken care of. She made sure they did their homework and she cared for them.
She worked 80% harder than I did.  I got lunch breaks and overtime. I got to talk to adults during the middle of the day and after I got to work, I didn’t have to get out 4 times to drive anyone anywhere.  I only had to feed myself and the worst part of my jobs was the drive home.    For me to say, ‘You don’t have a job’ to her would have been the biggest slap in the face.

I was informed that I need to get a job.

This isn’t the first time I have heard this in the past couple years that I have been home with the kids.  It’s not the first time I have been pissed off because of it.

The first time I heard it it came out as, “She better get a job and stop mooching off the men in her life [my ex and Shaun]”
and this time it came out of a casual, “She should have to work too.”
Two different people though.

It got me to thinking last night before I fell asleep.  What job do I NOT have is the question?  The people that said these things put their kids in daycare or have people take care of them.  Do the people that take care of their children NOT have jobs too?

I’m a day care provider, taxi driver, chef, playground attendant, mediator, health care provider, role model, MAID, accountant, plumber, computer repair person, personal shopper, time management supervisor, warden…
Can you think of any more?

In a perfect world I would be able to take care of my kids, my step children, my neice and still have a ‘real job’.

Oh, that cute little photography business I have doesn’t really count.  The degree I EARNED doesn’t count for anything. The years I worked are forgotten.  The ‘job’ I have right now means nothing.
I hate bitter people.