January 8, 2013

The stay-at-home-mom

Things I have learned in the past 7 weeks of being a "stay-at-home-mom":

1. I never get bored.  Like ever.  Perhaps it is because the past few months have been crammed with a huge fundraiser, Thanksgiving, company in town, Christmas, working with the Young Women in church (I love it!), and my family contracting every virus floating around?!  Regardless, I still don't foresee life ever getting boring while I am running a household, managing a budget, and raising children.  It is a full-time job!

2. I thought I would be so so much more organized and on top of my to-do lists once I was at home 100%---I was wrong.  It is somehow still hard to stay on top of laundry, dishes, vacuuming, mopping, and sometimes even showering.  The extra hours I used to spend at work have filled up otherwise (see #1 above), so time-management can still be tricky.  Thank heavens for the new daily planner I got for Christmas (thanks, Katie!).

3. It is incredible!  I get a lot of people asking do I like staying at home?  Am I any less busy?  Do I miss work?  Will I ever go back?  Do I feel fulfilled by staying at home?  My answers: Yes, No, No (surprisingly), Maybe someday, and Very much so!  As much as I love the career I chose, the fulfillment I felt as a nurse was not enough to outweigh the aching I felt to be with my children.  After all, I only have so many years of them being in my complete care until they start going to school.  Babies just don't keep; they grow up so fast!  I hated being absent for first steps, first words, etc. and it feels sooooo good to know that I am not missing precious moments with my kids on a regular basis anymore.  I did worry at first that I would miss working, that perhaps I wouldn't feel quite as "fulfilled" as person, but I haven't found that to be the case at all.  Being a mother is just like any other "career" (without the monetary pay, of course): just as there have been many moments when I felt completely unappreciated as a nurse, so it is with motherhood.  However, just as there were many rewarding, fulfilling moments as a nurse helping those who are sick or injured, there are just as many (but probably more) fulfilling moments in motherhood.  I can't think of anything more important or self-fulfilling that I could be doing than to raise my children and take care of my family.  Not every day is glamorous or "fun", but my soul is at peace and my family is happier.  (Thank you, thank you thank you, Garrett, for working so hard to make this possible!!) Perhaps I'll go back to work on a minimal level someday.......but right now I have a child wanting me to roll play-dough into snakes with her, a toddler snuggling on my lap, bills that need paid, dinner that needs made, and sticky hands that are being held up in request for me to wipe them, so my schedule is full!

Cutest little sidekicks on the planet!

2 comments:

Talia said...

I am so happy for you! And I am selfishly happy you have "more" time to blog. I only read two blogs... one being yours so I can hopefully now stop stalking it waiting for new posts! :)

Taffy and Tony said...

I'm so glad you're loving it! I am also grateful to hear your perspective. Since I've never been anything but a stay-at-home mom, I have often wondered about all I might be missing out on in the working world. When I hear people who know both echo my feelings about the only job I've ever known, it helps bring me know that I'm doing the right thing. Have fun with those cute girls!

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