Power of 10

So, has anyone been watching "Power of Ten" on tv? This is the time of year that Jeff calls "the duldrums," after the NBA finals and before college football starts (our lives revolve sports way too much), and between the end of our summer shows and the beginning of the new fall lineup (our lives revolve around TV way too much). We have been enjoying"Don't Forget the Lyrics," and "The Singing Bee," and I think it would be so much fun to play a variation of either with a group of people ("Don't Forget the Hymn" on a Sunday even), and I'm waiting for someone to plan, and host, the activity for me (any takers?). In the meantime, we have been passing the time trying to figure out what Americans (U.S. Americans, even) think about a variety of topics.

If you haven't seen the show, basically contestants try to guess what percentage of Americans polled answered a question a certain way. For example, "what percentage of people polled said that their parents explained the birds and the bees to them when they were kids?" (42%), or "What percentage of Americans say they floss their teeth every day?" (45%). They have to guess within a 40 point range on the first question, a 30 point range on the second question and so on until they either get a question wrong or walk away with the money they have. Kind of fun.

A couple of the questions last night on the show had me thinking. "What percentage of Americans think people are born gay?" (51%). "What percentage of American men would leave their partner is she gained 100 pounds?" (29%). But the one I have been thinking about the most was "What percentage of Americans think it is harder to be a stay-at-home parent than a working parent?"

How many of us have had a conversation like this with your husbands:
Husband: "Today was a long day. I'm so glad it's over. I just want to sit down and relax. "
Wife: "Today was a long day for me, too, and I would also love to sit down and relax."
{Maybe this next part goes unsaid, or maybe it is acutally verbalized}
"Unfortunately, dinner isn't going to finish making itself. And after we eat, all those dishes aren't going to magically disappear. And then the kids need to be bathed, changed and put to bed. Then the baby is going to need to be nursed and played with for a while before she's ready for bed. Oh, and the house is a disaster, despite the hundred thousand times I have straightened up, and it would be nice to go to bed with a clean house. So, even though I would love to sit down and relax, my job isn't done."

*I realize that I am not giving any credit to the husband for the role that he will, inevitably, play in the rest of the evening, but by and large, it is the mom who does most of those things, day in and day out.*

In my opinion, everyone should agree that it's harder to be a stay-at-home parent than a working parent. It is. It's a lot more fun, but it's a lot harder. There is no escape, and there is very little relaxing on the job. I love being a mom and I can't imagine anything being more rewarding than staying home with my kids every day and experiencing life with them. But just because it's rewarding doesn't mean it's easy. There are days that I envy Jeff as he walks out of the house, able to trade in the whining and complaining for actual adult conversation. There are times that I feel that if I have to put clothes on a naked Allie one more time I might actually lose my mind. There are moments when my head aches, yet still one (or more!) of the kids won't stop crying and I feel like crying myself.

But those moments pass, and are replaced by things that I would never want to miss: Damon's face lighting up when he tells me he gets to have a trophy on his desk for being student of the month; Allie talking incoherently, in what I can only assume is her "voice of authority," explaining who's in charge; and Kyla discovering her hands as if they are the most amazing moving objects she's ever seen. Being a stay-at-home parent is the best. But it DEFINITELY is the hardest. That's why I was more than a little surprised to find that the number of Americans who agreed with me was only 43%. A little low, don't you think?

So, here's to all the moms who have had a long day today. You're doing an amazing job, and the hardest, most important, work you could possibly be doing. Let's band together and figure out a way to pawn off some (or all) of our responsibilities for one night. Maybe not tonight, but some night soon. I know I could use it. And now if you'll excuse me, I hear one of my many responsibilities crying and my brief moment of "me time" is over.