My journey toward motherhood began at a Hardees. My parents made the decision to move to a one stop light town in the middle of nowhere. The town consisted of a handful of eating establishments, some schools, two gas stations, and a farm equipment rental store. I was quite the oddball, since I was not a native to this bustling metropolis. Not only had I recently lived in New York, but I originally hailed from an unknown land south of the equator.

I decided the best way to fit into this town was to get a job at the local fast food joint. I donned my brown polyester pants and matching beret with pride as I walked down the hill toward my new job. I was free to make some money and make some great friends.

Though I actually enjoyed the job, I realized after the first home football game that it was not the place to work. The cool kids hung out there after games and the nerds provided the greasy fries and watered down soda pop. I did not want to be a nerd. I quit.

I denied ever having worked there and decided to find some cool friends. It was the only way to make it as the strange South American girl with a New York accent. I was lucky enough to catch the eye of one of the best looking boys in my class, co-captain of the football team and all around nice guy. We dated for two years and I never went back to Hardees.

My experience at Hardees made me realize I needed a cool job, with good hours, and decent pay. I found it working at the local daycare center. I always liked kids, and I knew I would never have to work on a Saturday or Friday night. It was a perfect job, and like my relationship with Jason, it lasted two years.

I enjoyed working in the infant room. I liked to cuddle the little ones and feed them bottles. I would rock, burp and soothe their cries. I also witnessed their first smiles, steps, and claps. I realized early on that their parents were missing the best days of their infant’s life. These small children were six weeks old, and were left in the care of strangers for twelve hours a day. I vowed I would never chose my career over my children.

I am now a stay at home Mom. I left my not so lucrative job as a middle school teacher to feed, burp, soothe and smile at my own children. I have four of them. Is every day full of laughter, joy and kisses? No. It is hard. There are days of belching, screaming, spanking and tears. Would I trade it for anything else in the world? Not on your life.