The countdown is on: today is my last Monday as a "working" mom for the next six years or so (until Baby #2 heads off to kindergarten), at least, I hope!
As I think ahead to what my life is going to be like in the coming weeks, months, and years, I am confident in saying that I am completely, wholly, 100% delusional.
What do I mean?
Well, I spent a solid 45 minutes browsing the Halloween section of Walmart over the weekend, fantacizing about building a boo-themed treat tower, with cookies shaped like jack-o-lanterns and cupcakes that looked like spiders. I nearly dropped $75 (money we will most certainly not have after my final paycheck) on frosting, cupcake tins and fuzzy pipecleaners.
Verdict? Delusional.
I have signed up to be on not one, but two boards of directors. I was elected to be the secretary of our swim club last month (hooray for a free membership!), and was nominated to serve in the same capacity on our Homeowner's Association last week (boo for NOT getting a year of no dues with that position!). On top of that, I already serve on the board for our local Ronald McDonald House. I have three board meetings planned for Tuesday, October 19th. All at 7pm. All mandatory.Verdict? Delusional.
When my alarm (aka G's calls to "get up") went off this morning, I spent a solid 3 minutes laying in bed, dreaming about a life without a schedule (by the way, this is the same "dream" that I also dread, as I am a rigid "Type-A" personality who needs boundaries and deadlines). I thought that it would be my last Monday morning with a wake up call. By this time next week, I luxuriated in the thought, I would be able to get up, stay in my PJs all day, and most likely eat bon-bons for lunch.Verdict? Delusional.
Maybe "delusional" isn't the right word. Maybe "overwhelmed" or "overcommitted" (or maybe likely to be committed) is more like it. I'm struggling to find balance between having the freedom to do nothing and having the responsibilities of being a mother. I've never been a stay-at-home mother before, and I didn't really pay all that close attention to my mother when she occupied the same title 20-some years ago. This is new for me. I don't know what to expect. I don't know how to find balance. I suppose I'll have to learn "on the job."And for stay-at-home moms, what advice would you have for me?
I think about the same thing! I currently work full time but I'm pretty sure I will be becoming a SAHM within a couple of months and I couldn't be more happy! Keep us updated!
I've been a stay at home mom for 7 months (going back to work next month) and I wholeheartedly believe that being a stay at home mom is wayyy harder than going to work. It is very rewarding though. Unfortunately, our finances call for me to bring in a second income. ::sigh:: So enjoy your new life mama! (as difficult as it will be!)
As a SAHM I love the freedom of our schedule. We have a weekly Romp n' Roll class but besides that we are free to do whatever. If it's pretty - we go outside to play or take a walk. If we aren't able to play outside we do inside projects such as coloring, playdoh, puzzles, etc.
Regarding keeping the house together... I just try not to do it all in one day b/c my purpose of being at home is to spend that time with our daughter. We clean up before naptime & bedtime in reference to her toys. Housework wise - I do laundry twice a week - usually Monday's & Thursdays. I sweep, windex the front door (handprints!) and wipe the counters down daily, run the dishes as needed, vacuum three times a week, mop the floors, clean the bathrooms & dust once a week.
It's not that hard & makes it pretty easy to keep up with when you don't have to do it all in one day or all in a weekend.
Just take it one day at a time & if there is something that you aren't liking - you have the freedom to switch it around!
:-)
As a working mom, I dream about being able to spend more quality time with my 3 year old daughter and our baby that is due in March. I think I'm also a little delusional, in the fact that I like to imagine my house would spotless and I'd always have a homemade meal waiting on the table for my husband...pretty sure that wouldn't always be the case! But it's fun to dream :)
I'm a working mom and would give my right arm to stay at home, and if my days are filled with cereal stained pjs and unbrushed hair then I'd love nothing more. We're working towards that goal but DH is in school and until he graduates we need my income. It'll happen just not today. Congrats to you, it's going to be great!
My advice: pick just a few things that you really feel passionate about to spend time on. Because you might think that you will have all this extra time, but you won't and will get burnt out.
Well, I left the working world when I was 39 weeks pregnant with Aidan. It was the first time I didn't have a job in 14 years, and I was scared. Excited, but scared. It was a VERY HARD change once Aidan was born, but things got better. Since G is older I think you will be able to have more playdates and do more "fun" activities with her. But, then there is the balance between that and all of the things that you need to take care of at home. When she naps, you need to take time to do something for YOU. Read, nap, take a shower, blog, whatever. Don't use that time to clean. The cleaning will get done. Eventually. Ha ha! Just have fun with her. You need to cherish this one-on-one time now, because when that little baby is born, things are going to be VERY different. I'm glad that you'll have this opportunity. You'll never get these days back, and what better way to spend them than with your children? Good luck! :)
You'll get into a routine!! You will still be a Type A personality just with mommy things on the agenda:)
Not a fair question, because there is no right way to answer it, at least for me. I love going back to work on Monday mornings, yet sometimes would give my left arm to stay at home with the kids-it just all depends on the day, and what makes each person happier.
I am very type A too and am going to be entering the ranks of SAHM's in mid-December. My husband got a promotion and we can now afford to lose my part time income. While 99% of me is stoked, 1% is just a wee bit nervous that I will go crazy from a lack of routine. I need to get into a routine before hand or at least have one sketched out. I guess you will be a couple months ahead of me in the game so I'll be checking in to see how you're doing. :)
Working mom here, with zero delusions that it would be easier to be a SAHM! I know that it's got to be one of the hardest things out there, and I know that I would probably have even less time to do those kinds of things and less time to myself. At least right now I get the drive to and from work :)
stay at home mom going on 9 yrs after working for the same co for 12 yrs!
I decided to stay home so I can raise the kiddos,glad I did but its not easy or all fun,even after all this time I still get up at 6am!Take it slow dont take on too much and dont waste it on cleaning!good luck and have fun!
I quit my job and within 3 months was homeschooling my oldest daughter :-) Relax?! Not possible.
When I'm a SAHM in the summers and on breaks I always think that not only will the house be clean, the laundry done, and a great dinner on the table, but that I'll have also spent a great day at the zoo/library/childrens' museum/park/pool/etc., spent time reading books and "teaching" (the teacher in me), and still have energy left. Sometimes I think that if I stayed at home all the time I'd get more knitting/sewing/reading/writing/blogging done too. Uhhhh yeah....delusional for sure b/c that's definitely not what happens when I am home.
DH & I joke that if I SAH, then I'd have all the time to do all I want to do, but at some point all I want to do would exceed our bank account. Like I would love to road trip for a month. Show J the US East Coast, but really who can afford to live out of hotels & restraunts for a month or more at a time. All the exhibts have fees to visit as well.
So yes, that would be my dream, but I have very little hope of it ever coming true...
I went from career girl, to working from home with Baby 1, to SAHM when the twins arrived last year. Each one of those was a major paradigm shift that required adjustment and finding my balance again. Here is what helped me the most. 1- Don't expect perfection from yourself. I swear, the days got shorter as soon as I quit my job. I thought I'd have tons of time to maintain a spotless household and now I know how delusional I was. It's unrealistic to expect that you'll have a perfectly clean & decorated home with 2 kids. You'll sacrifice too much time with them just to maintain it all. Other than cleaning the kitchen daily, I have one other job I do each day. (Mon=bathrooms, Tues=vacuum, Wed=laundry, etc.) I don't stress because I know it'll get done that week and the house stays happy. 2- Get out of the house regularly! Cabin fever sneaks up on you and before you know it, you HAVE spent all week in your pj's eating too much and you feel bad about yourself. Getting dressed and getting out, even for small errands that your hubby could do on his way home, is crucial. 3- Enjoy doing those "Mom things" you've been dreaming about, like snuggling in bed with G or making the fancy cupcakes. A few dollars spent on those supplies (maybe not $75) goes a long way in the making-memories department.
I've been a stay at home mom for almost 5 whole years. I can't lie and say that I love it. I like it. But I do miss working full time. I'm actually going in the opposite direction now since both kids are getting a little older.. 3 and just about 5. Desperately needing the addition income is probably the biggest reason I'm looking. But anyway! LOL Being at home with the kids definitely has it's perks. Like you said, you will have days when you don't really have to get dressed. But then there will also be many days where you'll have to get out.. even if it's just for walks to soak up some sun and fresh air. When it was just James and me at home, I did spend too much time inside.. a big mistake. Then Natalie came along 16 months later (GASP)) and it was oddly becoming easier to get out the door.. I think because I knew it would be a bit tougher.. but so worth it. Then there's doctors appointments and days at the park to keep you really busy. There are days (heck weeks) where I don't even get to sit down and watch tv. If there's a big thing I've learned about being at home is that there's more time to be totally engrossed in being in the middle of it all.. ironically, more time spent at home also means more time running around on some days. lol
I wish you so much luck. As much as I'm trying to get back out there and make some cheese, I'm hoping that this transition is easy and really fun for you.