"So, what do you do all day?"

I worked as an election inspector for the NY primaries in February and one of the women I worked with asked me this question when she found out I stayed home with Adam. She wasn't being sarcastic or snotty, she genuinely wanted to know. It has bothered me ever since. Not that she asked the question, but that I was unable to answer it in any sort of satisfactory way. I kind of stumbled over a few sentences about reading books and going on walks which made me sound like a woman of leisure from the Regency era. I feel like she left our conversation having had suspicions confirmed that stay-at-home moms really don't do anything.

I'll admit there are days where I feel like I've got it pretty good. Those days when Adam takes nice, long, leisurely naps and wakes refreshed. He doesn't throw his food at me or rub it in his hair. He brings me books and we read together. He doesn't scream in short, high pitched bursts to get my attention, but instead comes and lays his head in my lap. I shower, blow dry my hair and put on make-up. We go to the library and he plays contentedly for an hour while I read a good book sitting in the beanbag chair in the corner. These days do happen but they are few and far between.

I usually start the day sleep deprived because Scott and I stayed up late the night before watching a movie. My fault, right? We are still relishing the idea that after 10 months of middle of the night waking that our son sleeps for 12 HOURS STRAIGHT. Forgive us our jubilee.

Adam usually wakes before 7 a.m. I don't get to shower, eat breakfast or brush my teeth before work. It begins with a high pitched squeal as an alarm clock. For the next 2-3 hours we play, read books, change diapers, eat breakfast, throw breakfast, smash breakfast. Then Adam naps and I shower, find my living room floor beneath his toys, do the dishes, change the laundry and yes, I read blogs.

After Adam wakes up we eat lunch, change his diaper, play and usually go somewhere. While he takes his afternoon nap I make dinner. When Scott gets home we eat dinner, bathe Adam and put him to bed. Then we usually have a couple of hours to spend together before we go to bed.

So, in thinking about this over the last month I've decided that my job is "being there". While most of what I do could be done by an illiterate high schooler for minimum wage, I'm the Mom. I am there for Adam when he needs something whether it be a hug, a diaper change or a walk. While my day isn't filled with important business deals or lifesaving operations I still know that what I am doing is important.

So, my question to you is, what would you have said? If you had to make what you do sound important and meaningful to a skeptic, how would you describe it?