It's What I Do

Almost a year ago I made the decision to be a stay at home mom. I knew that the money would be tighter and that we would need to tighten up on spending our money on "wants" and not needs but it was a choice that worked best for our family. It all came down to two reasons. One I knew that daycare was not an option for me and it wasn't something that I wanted to do. I didn't want someone else to spend eight hours a day with Brayden and I get the rushed two to three hours at home. I wanted to be the one to spend all day with him. To watch him learn, play with him and teach him. Second, I knew that getting a job and paying for daycare wasn't going to be practical. If you ask me, I have the best job in the world. Yes, my days and crazy, sometimes frustrating and definitely exhausting, but the benefits outweigh all the bad. I have been able to watch Brayden roll-over, sit-up, crawl and take his first steps. I've spent countless hours reading books, playing trains and motorcycles, learning shapes, animals and body parts, playing outside, learning and exploring new things, coloring, making breakfast, lunch and dinner. I've also spent countless hours, changing diapers, wiping up snot, being spit up on, giving baths and listening to constant whining. But all of these moments- the good and the not-so-good are what our life is made of. These are the moments that I will never get back. My kids will never be little again and I can not imagine not spending to this time with them. My job never ends. I don't get weekends off, I don't get to leave at 5pm and I don't get sick time, but I'll never get these years back. So while some people may frown upon the stay at home mom lifestyle, I just have to disagree with their opinions. I may not leave my house for morning commutes. I may not get a weekly paycheck, but I like to think my job is more fulfilling than anything I'd find outside my door.