From SAHM to WAHM

As long as I can remember, all I ever wanted to be was a mom. I never really focused on choosing a career when I was younger because I didn’t want one.

I didn’t want to have to make the decision between working and staying home with my children. I wanted to be there for everything. I wanted to make fresh, healthy meals for them every day. I wanted soak in every moment of their childhood.

We were blessed with a daughter and then almost exactly three years later, another one. During that time I completely invested in my role of mother.

I was there every second of every day. I nursed them, bathed them, played with them, spent hours and hours rocking them, cooking for them and singing to them. I read everything I could get my hands on and put research analysts to shame with my ability to research everything down to the last detail. If they offered a doctorate in motherhood, I would have one.

Let’s be honest. Being a stay-at-home mom or just a mom in general ain’t all it’s cracked up to be! Don’t get me wrong, I (mostly) loved being home with them but holy moly, it’s really, really hard!

Once my girls moved on from babyhood and I wasn’t needed quite as much, I noticed a yearning. A longing to do something else, to do something more, to do something for me. A yearning that was probably always there but was overshadowed by babies crying, messes to clean up, and dinners to be cooked.

I assumed I’d be a stay-at-home mom for their entire childhood. I saw myself fixing lunches and being a chauffeur until my youngest child left the nest.

I knew I was ready for something more but still wanted to stay home with my children and homeschool. An opportunity came my way and I jumped at it! I can do some work at home and when I am away, it is for short times that I’ve chosen. I still get to spend most of my days playing with, cooking for, and just being around my girls. I feel like I’ve found my balance.

It’s weird to think I have a career. I never thought I would at this point in my life. I’m proud of myself and I feel like I have back a little piece of me that was lost in all of those years of focusing solely on my children. There definitely have been challenges in this new journey but I’m always up for a good challenge and to prove to myself and my girls that we can do anything we put our minds to!

I don’t think being a work-at-home mom is for everyone and I admire all moms that keep their hearts and minds open. I think that’s the lesson here. Be true to yourself. Keep your heart and mind open. Be willing to change paths. Follow your dreams and show your children that you can be anything you want to be! All of our motherhood journeys are different and they are all beautiful! Go, mamas, go!

Have you transitioned from stay-at-home mom to working mom? What was your experience like?