So what about the Stay at Home Mom?

A gentleman acquaintance asked me a couple of years ago - So what do you do Sophia?  I replied with - well, not much, I'm just staying home with the kids now.  Kindly, he responded that that is far beyond 'not much.'  He at least regarded my work AS work and more then that - some of the most important work in the world. 
That was nice to hear but sadly, not everyone seems to regard it in this way.  And I understand the situation is quite complex.  With today's cost of living, I can imagine what people must think when they hear about a mom that chooses to stay home to raise the children.  It sounds like a luxury - to not have to rely on that second income to be able to pay the bills etc. 
However, our life is far from luxurious and I know of plenty of SAHMs that have made the sacrifice of the second income for the sake of choosing to be present in the upbringing of the children - especially in the early years. 
Most people - even those without children, can see and understand very well, the  dedication, strength and patience it takes to do the work of a SAHM yet it seems our society doesn't place much VALUE on this work.  Rather, instead, the pressure is placed on the woman to go back to work in order to produce value in THAT way.  
Whilst my heart goes out to all the working mamas out there, my words today are for those mums that choose to stay home.  I speak for them because, in spite of the financial burdens and risks that are taken in order to pursue this path, in addition to essentially taking on the HARDEST job on the planet (generally speaking), not to mention feeling like the odd one out because 'going back to work' is the norm these days - they choose to do this work anyway! 
And without much social support (I mean thank you to the Facebook groups out there) but in general, SAHMs are in a league of their own, which is why I feel compelled to offer support specifically to these women.  They carry the weight of the world of their shoulders.  They have chosen to take direct ownership in the raising and educating of their offspring.  To instill principals and values in them that matter most to their families, again, at the risk of the above.  But in the end, this is not a risk.. they are in fact making INVESTMENTS.  They are choosing to invest in the future of their children by being present in their lives especially in those crucial early years. 
The difficulty in this work is real though and requires support.  I've had my own struggles and have managed to find ways to cope with this life and in fact am learning to thrive.  There are many elements to this however, especially when you want to achieve a Holistic lifestyle, for yourself and your family.  I would be pleased and honoured to join you in your journey as a remarkable SAHM that has made an extraordinary decision.  It is tough, yes.  The struggle is real and intense, there's no doubt about it.  But the suffering does not have to happen alone.  Sometimes it's about gaining some practical, implementable tips.  Sometimes it's just about a little mindset shift.  Sometimes, it's simply about accepting the utter shitty-ness of the situation but understanding that it WILL come to an end.  But again, it's also about letting someone hold your hand, making space for you to have a good cry and then having a good exhale so you can carry on to make the next meal plan, cleaning rota and hey - maybe even booking a little spa treatment!?!
SAHMs RULE! :)