Today marks five years since I became a stay-at-home mom. It just doesn't seem like it has been that long but I suppose it has, since I stopped working just a few weeks before I had Griffin. I cannot get over how much life has changed between now and then.
I don't have many memories of those early days, probably due to the fact that I had a newborn at home, and I was trying to keep a 3 1/2 year old happy, too. I do remember that in the first few days, I called Steve at work A LOT. He must have thought I was a nut. I remember that it seemed like the days were dragging by so slowly. I literally counted the minutes until he would come home at night. Thankfully, that feeling didn't last awfully long. I also have a distinct memory of being faced with attending some sort of military function that fall, and I actually had a good cry about it. I didn't want to go, because I just knew that someone would ask me what I did (as in, what I did for work). I didn't want to have to say that I stayed at home, because I guess I worried about what people would think of me. Just typing that, I cannot believe how silly that sounds to me now, but at the time, it was really upsetting to me back then. I had worked all of my adult life - - all through high school, through college, and after that. I suppose my identity and probably my self worth were pretty tied up in my job, although in the years immediately before I became a mother, I had a series of jobs that I really didn't like at all.
Since then, my viewpoint has obviously changed a lot. Not without struggle though. Five years later, I cannot imagine the day that I go back to work. I suppose that when both boys are in school, I will search out some sort of part-time job, but I hope that I'll be able to find something that will allow me to be home in the morning, and also in the afternoon when they get home from school.
I have never gotten so much satisfaction out of anything I've ever done, as I do from being home with my boys. I worked full-time until Camden was 3 1/2, with two hours of commute time each day, and I can definitely tell you that being home is far more work! It is a common misconception that stay-at-home moms lay on the sofa, eat candy, and watch t.v. all day...maybe some do, but I can assure you that I'm not one of them! I take a lot of pride in how hard I work every day. From time to time, I do miss the adult interaction, the distraction, and frankly, the freedom that came with working outside the home, but definitely not enough to wish that I was working again. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to do what I do and I couldn't be happier. Life is good!
4 comments:
I hear ya loud and clear sistah! Being home with my kiddos is much harder than managing a classroom of 30+ third graders, as I used to do. Atleast then they went home at 3:30. Now the work never ends, but it is so worth it! I still struggle with being home, but know in the end it is the best thing and I am so blessed!
What a lovely story, Heather. Even though I don't have kids, I still know that looking after a family is the most taxing job anyone could have. And choosing to stay at home to do this is even harder than doing it while working away from the house. I take my hat off to you and all other mothers who choose the same path! Plus, it's so well documented that kids do far better this way, and develop into much better functioning and emotionally aware adults. You are doing our future generation a huge favor!
I can't imagine anyone doing it better than, either! Take pride in that as well.
I'll never forget what a board member told me... "You're worst day at home will be better than your best day at work." when I told them I was quitting to stay home.
That statement rings true today.
There are days when Roy drives away that I say, "Wow, he's actually going to get stuff done without interuption." and then his phone rings and he has to stop what he is doing to deal with a client... at least our clients are little people we love with all our hearts!!!!
Great post.
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