Why a stay-at-home Mom?

I had an awesome job at a great company, managing an amazing team. Why leave? I wanted to pursue a different lifestyle – a simpler, slower, more meaningful one – focused on family.

When Easton was born in 2013, I needed to go back to work after my maternity leave. I needed something that was “mine”, and I remember many days of rushing him to daycare and having a feeling of relief as soon as I got to my desk. Finally I could breathe a little. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the moment I got to leave and go pick him up from daycare; but after giving myself completely to a newborn, I needed to feel like me again.

As time passed, I realized how fast Easton was growing; and I also I noticed a pattern in my parenting behavior that I didn’t love: instead of enjoying my son at each stage of his life, I found myself constantly getting him situated/content, while I did the next thing I needed to do. Then, it would frustrate me when he wouldn’t behave and do exactly what I had planned (and what toddler does?). Life was more about getting by – moving from one activity to the next – doing everything we were supposed to do, but not enjoying it. I wanted more than that.

I wondered how I could create a simpler, more joyful life for my family. After much prayer and discussion with my husband, I decided to give being a stay-at-home mom a try.

It’s been over 5 months since I made this transition. At first, it was a big adjustment – the perfectionist in me wanted to suddenly be Martha Stewart. I thought, now that I’m a SAHM, I need amazing healthy meals on the table every night from scratch, and my house should be clean and sparkling when my husband, Pat, gets home every day. I also felt the need to report to him all that I did that day – what did I accomplish? But he reminded me, “you did this to make life simpler, not to make it more perfect.” So true – although, he may have had to tell me this more than once…

My goal is to have a simpler life – not one rushing from one activity to the next, but a slower life – enjoying meals, making time for meaningful conversation with family and friends, and cherishing the memories I am making with my family on a daily basis. It’s the simple things that one day I’ll look back on and realize were the most important.

Thanks for joining me on this adventure – I am learning something new every day!