Just a Homemaker

The other day while doing some telephone banking the person I was talking to referred to me as "just a homemaker."

I'm going to let that sink in.

If you're reading this and you don't feel a slightly prickly feeling, let me explain why I do.

I did really well in High School.  I was the student who got the A's and worked hard.  When thinking about what I wanted to do Post Secondary, I literally could've applied to any school and any program [except professional athlete].  My average was well over the minimum requirements.  I decided to enter into a Bachelor of Arts Program and ended up graduating with a Bachelor of Education.

(Teachers and Moms.  Two foundational career paths that are often shrugged off, ignored or taken for granted.)

Throughout the course of my degree, I learned about childhood development, risk factors that prevent learning and classroom management 101 [on my practicums].  I diligently studied classic literature, learned popular culture theory and different frameworks for learning networks.  I memorized the six streams of English Language Arts, their implications in the classroom and how to activate them within the classroom in a contextualized way that makes learning relevant.  I spent hours every night fine tuning class activities because I learned something new about one of my classes or heard about a new technique that I thought would help them learn better.  Marking became my ever constant companion  [Thanks, practicums].  I spent hours emerged in current events, trying to find a way to incite passion in students as we discussed historical topics such as colonization, white privilege and the beginnings of trade in North America.

To me, all of my experiences, and educational background gets dismissed by a phrase such as "just a homemaker."

You wouldn't say "just a doctor" or "just a lawyer" or "just a dentist" or "just a therapist" or "just a designer."

I could've chosen any career path and I chose that of a homemaker.  There's no such thing as just a mom because moms do it all.  We wear several hats throughout the day.  Being a mom is physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting.  Also - terrifying.

I've encountered the "just a homemaker" attitude several times which is a shame.  Instead of taking up the attitude that any set career path is better than the other, I think we should ask ourselves this question:

Where would I be without my mom?

I am not "just a homemaker."