Just remember.

Long before I was a mother I knew that when I had children I wanted to be home raising them.  It’s the way I always envisioned my life.  But, I never thought about it from a financial standpoint.  In my mind, all I saw was myself getting married, having children and being home to care for them.  It wasn’t until I was actually part of the working world that I realized not working would mean not having an income.  It’s not that I didn’t understand the fact that not having a job = not making money, I just never really, fully, though it through.

Luckily, when Scott and I discussed having children (even before we were married) we both felt strongly that I would become a stay-at-home-mom.*  Even so, when I was pregnant with Brinley we discussed how this would impact us financially and whether or not we could make it work.  We weighed the cost of daycare vs. me losing my salary and agreed that we could, in fact, make it work.  Although I pretty much had my mind made up about the whole thing even before I was pregnant, it was still very difficult leaving a job that I absolutely loved, teaching.  Not only did I have to leave lots of amazing colleagues and an extremely admired principal, but I had to say good bye to students that I had made very strong bonds with.  Hard stuff I tell ya!

Anyway, once I resigned and said good bye to my friends, students and paycheck, I was ready to face the reality that I dreamed of.  The day Brinley was born my life changed forever.  I no longer had a commute, a boss, or a job.  It was both fantastic and scary at the same time.  My days included changing diapers, folding tiny laundry, and watching her sleep.  I loved every single second of it.  There were days when I missed going to work and having adult interaction but with time, that faded.  I’ve almost reached the point where I’ve been a SAHM for as long as I was a working woman.

Now I have two amazing daughters and my life as a SAHM is exactly what I imagined it would be.  We’re busy girls and have lots of fun together.  I do lots of cooking, cleaning and chauffeuring and I love it all.  But sometimes the person who is really the key in making this all happen gets overlooked or under appreciated.  Quite often people will tell me that I am an awesome mother and that I really seem like I’ve got it all down (and I’m very flattered by all of that).  But the job that I do would not be possible without an extremely supportive, hardworking, and never doubting husband.  He is my rock, my lifeline and my best friend.  So just remember, behind every amazing stay-at-home-mom there is an equally, if not more, amazing, hard working, unselfish husband and father.

*Just because I feel strongly that being a SAHM is right for me and my family, I realize that it’s not the right decision, for whatever reason, for every family.  I am in no way trying to start a SAHM vs. WOHM debate.  The End.