yummy mummy reality

i used to think that being a stay-at-home mom meant dressing up in white capris, pastel tops, and cute sandals. well at least in the philippines or during the summer here. i also thought it only meant being an active PTA president or having tea parties with my daughter and her friends. or teaching my young infant sign language to make her the next baby genius of her generation.

then i woke up to domestic-goddess-yummy-mummy reality.

being a SAHM means constantly preparing food, snacks, bottles, and diaper bags; picking up toys around the house at least every 6 hours; cooking dinner; cleaning and disinfecting toys and surfaces at least everyday; and walking several blocks to the library for baby playtime. no one-hour lunch breaks, 30-minute showers, or cute capris and sandals (not really good for walking 5 blocks!). in this new world i find myself in, throwing on whatever is clean and on top of the closet pile is the norm. if i'm lucky and amori is sleeping before we have to leave, i can actually eat like a normal person versus wolfing down everything in 5 minutes. or if i feel i look like a zombie, i squeeze in a minute or two to put on make-up. (make-up is another mommy discovery - i've never been one to wear make-up religiously but these days, there's a LOT of black circles to hide!).

don't get me wrong though... i'm not complaining about the chores - i love what i do for amori and aldo. nothing coffee, a little concealer and a good pair of shoes can't fix. =)

i'd like to think that if we were in manila, that wouldn't be the case. to begin with, hampers in manila are always magically emptied and clothes reappear in closets neatly pressed and folded. (i was so shocked and amused when our trusty old yaya even pressed amori's burp cloths and pants in manila - i've never pressed any of amori's things! LOL.)

which brings me to the point of this whole rant. i absolutely hate it when new moms in the philippines complain about how stupid their new maid or yaya is when they are "in training". or how some even whine about being tired when really, all they have to do is mind the baby or feed it once in a while. at least no cooking, cleaning, or folding laundry involved. i nearly choked on the piece of toast i was eating when one mom's concern on her impending delivery was if the bikini cut on a CS delivery would be visible if she wore superlow jeans later on. i mean come on, the reality is that you'll have a muffin top for the next year at least... or the next logical goal is to fit into your pre-pregnancy jeans and still look the same way. what she should be really concerned about is how to take care of a newborn... but i assume there's always a yaya or her mom to do that.

i guess it's because that's how we all grew up. princesses, albeit in a third world country, but royalty nonetheless.

i just had to say that out loud. no offense meant to anyone.

oh and if you're wondering... amori's taking a nap and i had time to sit down in front of the computer. hehehe.