I was reading excerpts from your RNC speech today. I gotta say, I’m not a fan. You see, your weak attempt at acknowledging what working moms do was both condescending and patronizing. You think it’s wonderful that women have to work all day and still have to raise their kids. Hmmm

Ya know, I would love to stay home all day so my kids are greeted after school with a nutritious snack and lively conversation. I would love to have both the time and money to prepare home-cooked meals for them every night. I would love to have the strength to help them with their homework and listen to the ups and downs of their lives with rapt attention.

Instead, I wake up at 5am so I can squeeze in some exercise before we all start our days. Then I rush about, trying to get us all up for school and work. Everyone gets out the door and then I head off to my full-time job. About 10 hours later, I crawl back in the door and try to greet them with interest and enthusiasm. I ignore the pounding headache and stack of unpaid bills so that my children can know I love them most of all. I, or my kids, throw together our dinner before we all melt into the couch for some very needed down time. By 8, we are all ready to collapse from the stress of the day. But I’m not done. I still have to clean the kitchen, do laundry, straighten up the house and attempt to deal with the stack of mail on the table.

Please don’t comment about that which you know nothing. You may have raised your boys. I’ll give you that. But I’m guessing you never laid awake at night, praying that there will be enough money to pay bills AND buy food. I’m guessing you’ve never seen a 10-day shut off notice, let alone feel humiliation seep through your pores because you had to explain to your children why there is no heat, or electricity or hot water. I’m also pretty sure you have not dealt with autism and its many challenges.

Thanks, but please don’t say I am lucky. I am blessed-very blessed. But luck had nothing to do with it. And you’re not helping anything.