I wasn’t able to sleep much last night. Not sure why. It wasn’t one of those tossing and turning with too much on my mind anxiety ridden nights. I. Just. Couldn’t. Sleep.
4:30 a.m. came around and hubby’s alarm went off so instead of laying in bed trying to wish myself back to sleep, I got up with him and we sat in the living room and chatted over coffee. It was nice and relaxing. We talked about upcoming plans for the house, tossed around ideas for what to do next, even talked a bit about summer vacation plans and we laughed and talked about the kids and how lucky we are and how amazing they are.
In the conversation, the current project of stuccoing the exterior of our house came up. Hubby said “I guess it was worth a year of no siding on the house for you to be able to be home with the kids” and went on to say how happy he is that I am home with them raising them to be the wonderful people they are.
It occurred to me that I completely take that for granted now. I used to always think about how because I was home, I was sacrificing this that or the other thing. Now it’s so normal to me, 2 1/2 years after quitting my job to stay home, that I don’t think of the things we have to put off in terms of it being at the cost of me being home.
On the positive side, not constantly having to think about life in terms of one or two paychecks is a blessing. I truly have found happiness in my life when I am not constantly thinking that if only I had a job, we could do, be, have more. I have become quite comfortable in the lovely little life we’ve made since I left work. When I left my job, I remember being worried that I’d really miss my paycheck, my long uninterrupted lunches, even just the ability to go to the bathroom by myself. I also feared the loss of that income and the stuff I wouldn’t be able to do or have. Things sure do change when you become a full time mom. I am grateful that we simplified to a life I never knew could be so fulfilling and feel so natural.
And so, today, I am reminded that although we are making sacrifices for the good of our children, they are well worth it. The job is often a thankless one but that’s okay. It’s often selfless and draining but at the end of the day, 100% rewarding. I need to remind myself more often that things could be far different if we hadn’t made the right choices leading up to this. That hard work has paid off for us. It hasn’t made it a cakewalk, but it made it possible for me to spend these most formative years with two amazing people. Watching them grow and learn and love and laugh has been totally worth it.
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February 28, 2008 at 2:34 pm
daisyeyes
I totally agree! I’ve thought everything that you mentioned during this last year and some months since I quit my job to stay home! Living w/less money is really hard and stretching us beyond measure daily, but the joy and peace that comes with staying home with my kiddoes is well worth it! Even more than the random mocha that I crave from Starbucks!
February 28, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Kimberley
Your perspecitve is spot on! You are blessed to have such views…so many stay-at-home moms I know are unsettled and itching to get back out their in the work force when their kids are older. I’m with you, my job IS my children and I don’t regret it one bit!
Love the look of your blog and can’t wait to read more!
p.s. We are finally re-siding our 21 year old house this spring…whoohoo!!!
February 28, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Lisa
100% true! It’s only been 11 months tomorrow that I will have been a stay-at-home-mom, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I think having one less paycheck makes Anthony and I more creative on how we spend/save our money and makes us realizes how many things we can really do without.
February 28, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Melissa @ The Inspired Room
I spent many years as a stay at home mom while my kids were young. Well worth it. And, I have never left my kids with a babysitter even when I worked part-time as they got older. I always arranged to work from home to be with them or if I did have to leave for a short jaunt to the office, grandma was right there to watch them. I wouldn’t do it any other way. My children have grown up surrounded by people who love them, who have time for them, and who were with them to nurture and support them every moment of their fleeting childhood.
Enjoy every day! They grow so fast!
Melissa
February 29, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Renae
It is a blessing to stay home with my children. No money in the world can buy their love. That gives me peace.
March 1, 2008 at 1:06 am
Jennifer
That is so beautifully said and terribly encouraging! It’s all too easy to forget how blessed we are. What a lovely morning, a lovely conversation.
I feel the need to say, “YAY!” and “Bravo!” 🙂
March 2, 2008 at 10:03 am
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March 2, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Mom
I am jealous! I have been a stay at home mom for just over 2 years and I still think about our lost paycheck. What I’m hoping is that being home will give me the freedom to pursue my passions, and that someday I will be able to make money from that.
March 3, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Carol
I’m even more jealous, I promise. I’m 22 and trying desperately to dig us out of debt so that I can have this option. Unfortunately, with three step-kids in another state, there’s no guarantee it will ever happen for me. But I keep working my jobs (one full-time, one part-time, and one party business), and planning, and hoping.
Enjoy every minute for me!