Respect
Tara Paterson
June 19, 2007
"Understanding is a two-way street." -Eleanor Roosevelt
What is the one thing all moms have in common, regardless of their walk of life? The need to be validated! We all want to be respected for the work we perform on a daily, hourly and minute-to- minute basis.
This past week I had a disagreement with my husband over his need to go out and do something on his own after work. He was frustrated that he only had four hours this week of "his" time…. FOUR HOURS!!! I had just returned from a trip to the Pumpkin Patch with the kids, a trip which he viewed as "something fun"… "WITH THE KIDS! I reminded him"
It amazes me how men can be so sure that what they do all day is "real work", while what we do is simply expected of us. How many times has your husband said to you - after he's been with the kids all day - "I don't know how you do it!" I hear it every time I am gone for more than two hours. We don't want to be let out of the role we are in, we just want to be validated for doing it day-in and day-out.
I enjoy alone time as much as the next person, but it seems that women have become too comfortable in the thought that although we need a few minutes each day for ourselves, it is still a luxury. More than true time for ourselves, it is a few moments to collect our thoughts and figure out how we are going to finish the laundry, the housework, the errands, give the kids a bath, help with homework if you have school- aged children, and make dinner.
We just want to be respected for our full time job. And for the women who do work outside of the house, hats off to you, because on top of the list of chores I mentioned above and your full work day, you have to commute to and from day care.
"When we accept tough jobs as a challenge and wade into them with joy and enthusiasm, miracles can happen."
Arland Gilbert
Somehow, we make it through, and because of the friendships and camaraderie we share with other women, we begin to realize we are not alone. It's been this way for many generations...
And that all we really want is a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T and V-A-L-I-D-A-T-I-O-N is what it means to me!
Tara Paterson 2003-07, All Rights Reserved
What is the one thing all moms have in common, regardless of their walk of life? The need to be validated! We all want to be respected for the work we perform on a daily, hourly and minute-to- minute basis.
This past week I had a disagreement with my husband over his need to go out and do something on his own after work. He was frustrated that he only had four hours this week of "his" time…. FOUR HOURS!!! I had just returned from a trip to the Pumpkin Patch with the kids, a trip which he viewed as "something fun"… "WITH THE KIDS! I reminded him"
It amazes me how men can be so sure that what they do all day is "real work", while what we do is simply expected of us. How many times has your husband said to you - after he's been with the kids all day - "I don't know how you do it!" I hear it every time I am gone for more than two hours. We don't want to be let out of the role we are in, we just want to be validated for doing it day-in and day-out.
I enjoy alone time as much as the next person, but it seems that women have become too comfortable in the thought that although we need a few minutes each day for ourselves, it is still a luxury. More than true time for ourselves, it is a few moments to collect our thoughts and figure out how we are going to finish the laundry, the housework, the errands, give the kids a bath, help with homework if you have school- aged children, and make dinner.
We just want to be respected for our full time job. And for the women who do work outside of the house, hats off to you, because on top of the list of chores I mentioned above and your full work day, you have to commute to and from day care.
"When we accept tough jobs as a challenge and wade into them with joy and enthusiasm, miracles can happen."
Arland Gilbert
Somehow, we make it through, and because of the friendships and camaraderie we share with other women, we begin to realize we are not alone. It's been this way for many generations...
And that all we really want is a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T and V-A-L-I-D-A-T-I-O-N is what it means to me!
Tara Paterson 2003-07, All Rights Reserved