It’s official: I’m a working mum.

There. I said it. Easier said than done? Well, sure.

But wait, there’s more.

Being a working mum has put a lot of things in perspective for me:

It’s true I can’t enjoy pastries and hot chocolate at 4 p.m. Or amble around Central Park at noon. Or sing lullabies to my bouncing baby. Or throw sweet potatoes up at the ceiling. Or fill sippy cups. Or rub August’s dry skin down with lotion. Or change diapers. Again. And again. And again.

Fine.

But compared to operating as a stay-at-home mum, heading back to work is practically breezy.

It’s true I’m forever getting caught in subway doors or being spat out at the wrong station (signal failure, again). Or dashing down to Pret for a cheese sandwich (bleh). Or sitting in computer training sessions. Or organizing meetings. Or jaunting down and then up and then down and then up to the quote-unquote mother’s room.

But I can tell you without hesitation, that being a stay-at-home mum is one of the hardest jobs going. It will wipe you out before you can say baby wipes. It’ll blow you down and knock your socks off. It’ll have your head spinning faster than a carousel (much faster, actually). I’ve lived both lives now and I’ve seen the light.

If anyone tries to tell you that staying at home with a baby is just giggles and games, push back. Because yes, it is a joy. But it’s also a job. In fact, if I had to put a price tag on the task, I’d say $150,000 annual salary minimum.

That stay-at-home mums don’t get paid is just about the biggest scam ever.