So, What Do You Do?

I have trouble answering a very simple question: What do you do?

As a new parent, I would answer, “I’m a stay at home mom,” while exuding a matronly glow. A couple years later I’d say, “I stay home with my daughter, but I also do a little consulting” (which was true enough at the time).

These days I ramble, “I’m home with my kids, which is great, I wouldn’t miss it for the world, but what I’d like to do is start my own business, maybe next year, but maybe not until the year after, when my son is in school full time…”

Is it just me, or does this scream woman-in-conflict?

One of the great blessings of parenthood has been learning to live in the moment. But now I’m letting myself look into the future, and I’m getting a little confused. Clearly I don’t know how this is all going to play out.

So do me a favor. If you meet me on the playground or at a soccer game, please don’t ask me what I do.

-Michele Golden, The Reluctant Momtrepreneur