Following my dad’s advice, I stopped working for a few years after having two children.
During that time I had a real dilemma of what to write under “occupation” on the immigration forms.
I didn’t want to write “housewife” because it sounds uninteresting, like something from the ’70s.
That made me decide to get a job. I applied as a writer for the Philippine Star and Millet Mananquil hired me!
Since then I’ve been able to write “journalist” on my immigration forms. That usually means no hassle in the airport—except in China where I would call myself a “writer.”
But more than a writer, blogger, or journalist, I consider myself a house manager.
Here’s what the job entails:
1) enrolling the kids in school and activities
2) buying everything they need, including my husband
3) buying groceries and all sorts of supplies
4) hiring people to repair stuff
5) paying salaries and lending money
6) some charities
7) taking care of the kids when they’re sick (including the hubby)
8) sending the kids to doctors, dentists, haircuts
9) cutting nails and cleaning ears
10) travel agent
11) renovating
12) planning children’s parties and dinners at home
13) ordering uniforms for kids and staff
14) paying bills
15) organizing garage sales
16) hiring people (I don’t fire, I let someone else do it)
17) etc.
I am the last one to sleep in the house and also the last one to wake up 
Waking up late is my luxury because late at night is the only time I have that is quiet.
Thank God my husband gives me a good “salary” apart from my own income. It enables me to become an effective house manager.
When I became a mom I had to find to find myself again and it took some time. “Mom” is a great job description but I needed to be something more. For the longest time I envied office workers. But now I consider myself blessed by God to be able to work at home because the kids bug need me all the time.
Now if only I could find the drive to work out regularly, life would be perfect.
Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.