Madly in Love Monday

I am madly in love with my Engineer this Monday because he does not begrudge me being a Stay-at-Home-Mom. 

When we moved back Stateside, our deal was that I would not work for a year so that we could all acclimatize to a new way of life easier.  My staying at home was a stabilizing factor for both Engineer and Diva and it did help us all adjust.

During that first year I had multiple people ask me, "What do you do?"  Americans are often defined by their jobs it seems so I didn't mind the question and answered, "I'm a housewife." 

The look on some faces was of horror and on others sympathy.  Nine out of ten times they would tut and say, "Aw, well you'll find something." 

I went from being offended to finding it comical after awhile.  Even to the point of answering with "Domestic Diva" instead of housewife...which went over like a lead balloon.

I had a school aged child so there was no reason for me to stay at home, right? 
I had people ask what my husband did and when I would say that he was an engineer, they would say, "Oh, that's how you can stay home."  Let me just say that although engineers have very important jobs, they aren't paid enough to warrant that kind of response. 

I didn't want to tell them that because we both drive older model used cars, use extreme couponing methods, grow our own food, drive as little as possible, purchase very little new, barter, live in a small house, do not eat at restaurants often, stockpile, and are generally uber-frugal that's why I can stay home.  :)

After a year, Engineer and I talked about our situation and we decided that I was more of an asset to him and Diva being at home than I would be if I was in the workforce. 

It would be so easy for Engineer to resent my being at home and not contributing financially to our family.   Instead he recognizes that my contribution, although not financial, is valid and valuable.

1-4-3 EM and thank you for affording the luxury of living the bonbon eating, soap opera watching, lady of leisure, stay at home mom lifestyle to which I've become accustomed.  ;)