Stay-At-Home vs Working - How do you do it?

There's only so much of this I can take. The boys are bickering constantly. Punching, pinching, fighting; I’m losing hair. I have done my best to occupy them so far, we’ve been to The Heights of Abraham, Blackpool, swimming (daily) and soft play centres. Big Prince has been to the local High School for a Nerf battle and Little Prince had friends around to play. Not one single day has gone by when we didn’t do something.

The tranquility of the water, the bright and quiet sky... dreaming comes to mind!

So why aren’t they satisfied? The words I have heard most often in these holidays are “I’m bored” or even “I don’t know what to do.” They have boxes of toys, computer games, Lego, craft supplies and a hundred other things but they can’t find anything to do.

This morning I spent half an hour in the kitchen making waffles for breakfast. The boys had theirs in peace while watching cartoons, the hubby had his while working. And me? I had to eat mine while helping LP with a Lego car and opening new toys for BP. I made everyone else drinks and didn’t have a coffee until all the Lego creation was over - about 10:30am. I don’t remember the last time I sat down and drank a hot coffee with no interruptions.

But it’s par for the course. That’s what the summer is all about; trips out of the house, bickering in the house and no peace for the parents.

One of our many creations - in progress...

I was talking to my sister-in-law the other day about being a stay-at-home mum and she said she couldn’t do it. She works in an office and had taken the afternoon off to spend with her son. As the evening came around she said she was more tired than when she went to work. She asked me how I do it every day and I paused for a second.

How do you answer that question when it’s something that you’ve always done? It’s my job and if I didn’t do it then who would? 

I told her it’s not that hard, especially when they’re at school. I love the days when they’re at school and then attend after-school clubs. The summer is hard (boy is it hard!) but after the six weeks are over they go back to school with huge smiles on their faces. That first day back is heaven. The school playground is entertaining; you can see the mums practically jumping for joy as they bring their children to school.

Even though the summer holidays push me to (and sometimes past) my limits I love being a stay at home mum. Regardless of how hard it is I will always be there for my children and can't imagine life going to work every day.

Are you a stay-at-home mum? How would you answer that question?

Do you go out to work? Do you feel the same as my sister-in-law?