Feb 17 2009
Confessions of a Stay At Home Mom
I always pictured myself as a working mother. I had a job I liked and never really thought twice about what would happen when I had a child. Except I had four children at once and knew putting four in daycare would simply drain our finances.
It kills me that I have to work part-time to help make ends meet. On the days I work I feel so rushed when I get home that I question whether my daughters are getting the best of me. But on the flipside, there are weeks when everyone’s crabby, sick, etc. and I can’t wait to get out of the house for a few hours and be around adults.
I know when my daughters are in school “full-time” I will need to work full-time. I’ve already started researching what I can do. Going back to TV news is out of the question. I don’t want to miss holidays, weekend fun, etc. I want to be there when my daughters come home from school. Are there days that I miss the rush that comes from working in the journalism field? Absolutely. I can’t even describe the buzz you get when there’s breaking news or when you report on a story that truly makes a difference. But it was a struggle to become a mom and I’m going to cherish every minute of it.
Not all working moms have jobs simply because their family relies on that income. Some moms really like what they do and can’t imagine a life without that job. There’s nothing wrong with that. A happy, successful mother sets her family up for happiness and success. I’ve never understood this notion that working moms and stay at home moms are supposed to be enemies. We all have the best interest of our families in mind.
5 Responses to “Confessions of a Stay At Home Mom”
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I have been both a working mother and a stay at home mom. I was a musician prior to having children, and I miss that, but no other job has made me happier than being at home. In fact, I now work from home and don’t have to share my earning with a babysitter or day care center. I really love my new life. I, too, don’t feel that working mothers and sahms should be enemies. Both sides need help and all mothers should have a spirit of helpfulness and gratitude for whatever situation they are in.
Have a Great Day!
Laurel Santiago
I think there is jealousy on both sides. Yet another example of the tired old saying, “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”
I’ve been both a SAHM and a working mom and they both have their pros and cons. Deciding to be either is never an easy decision. When I first made the switch it was hard, getting used to the 24/7-ness of mommy-dom and missing the adult interaction. But it was the best decision for us and I’m glad I’m able to stay home with my family, even if our budget takes a bit of a beating. In the end we’re all moms right?
I work part time in the evenings, and let me tell you, quite a few days, I am more than happy to get out that door and out of the house! Of course, I miss out on bedtime routines and my big kid has gotten good at guilting me about going out, but in the end, it’s good for me and them to have a break from each other. I haven’t yet begun to think about what I’ll do when the little one is in school full time…it seems so far away.
I never knew that we were suppose to be at odds with each other. It could be that full time moms just don’t get the adult interaction that they need.