Status, $60,000 salary (7 years ago - how much would I be making today?), recognition, independence...
In my mind, I haven't given up a thing. It is such a gift to stay home. Many people will say I'm blessed to be able to stay home. I wouldn't call it being blessed. We spent nine months working our tails off getting out of debt, I worked part time for a year and a half so we had some money in savings, we moved from Colorado to Montana where the cost of living was cheaper and my husband could make just a bit more money. We (well, maybe I) were absolutely determined to make this work.
I always thought it was ironic that the government thought we were poor so we'd get the earned income credit when we did our taxes. I felt RICH! I got to spend all of this time at home with my kids.
It's definitely not easy.
It's the hardest job I've ever had.
It's the most satisfying job I've ever had!
Now that my kids are in school it's the easiest job I've ever had. I feel like it's a calling - to stay home. To be different. To take a stand to let people know that homemaking is important!
My husband went back to school in 2005 to become a Physician Assistant. I am certain that if I were working full time that we would not have even considered this life changing experience. I would not have prayed for him and his career, I would not have wanted to move, I would not have had the time to fill out the eight million forms and research everything that I did in order to encourage him in this life change.
Today if I left home to go to a job, my life would be filled with stress. I know this from experience. I know this because my husband works at a job 50 minutes away. I would be the one kid taxi (like I am now) because his hours vary.
All this to say, I have no intention of getting a "real job" (as some put it). I have a real job. My job is taking care of my family.
This post is NOT about us versus them. It's not about working outside the home or being a homemaker. I know several people who work outside the home and it works well for their lives. This post is totally about me because I'm humble that way :-) Just rambling homemaking thoughts.
I love the rambling thoughts, because just having one child and working and keeping what resembles a family routine is a BEAR. It is tough, and I know even tougher when I have the days I stay home as a mom. Kudos to you!
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ReplyDeleteI became a stay at home mom involuntarily when the home building business crashed. I have no money and no job prospects BUT I've learned how to stretch every buck I do have, make good healthy meals for my family and I have time to spend actually being with that family. Priceless.....
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post, very much. I have been both, a working Mom and a stay-at-home Mom. Both worked for me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went back to work, I took a three hour a day job as a teacher, which is my chosen field. I was completely fulfilled and still had loads of time for my kids. I was fortunate that the little ones napped while I worked so I almost missed nothing.
There are solutions when we have to make them. I am happy for you that you are doing what you choose.
If you have any gluten free questions, feel free to get in touch with me.