SAHM —Unpopular opinion?!?
Being a SAHM doesn’t mean you’re going to you lose yourself! It means you’re going to go find a new version of you! Before becoming a SAHM I was a retail manager, making good-ish money. Then I became pregnant and my world changed! I loved working! I loved my job! I loved the financial freedom that I had! Amazon hated to see me coming on a Friday!!! I worked up until the day before I went into labor! After I gave birth I knew there was NO WAY I’d be going back to work!! It wasn’t worth it! My little girl was SO TINY! I couldn’t leave her with a sitter or at a daycare! Missing 40+ hours per week of her life! The next 6 weeks were ROUGH!!! I felt guilty for leaving our finances completely on my husband! He could afford them all, but me giving up my paycheck meant that he lost some of his spending money! And now we had a baby to take care of which meant he lost even more of his spending money! After about 6 months we started finding our new normal, my frequent Amazon visits have stopped, I’ve been to the mall once this year and I make my coffee at home. Sounds miserable to old me! But new me LOVES IT! I know at all times of the day that my baby is safe! I know where she’s at what she’s doing and what she’s eating! She’s never spent the night away from me and has only been to a sitter a couple of times! On top of these things I’ve also learned so many new things!! I’ve picked sewing back up! I hadn’t done that since high school! I made all of my baby’s food at home with real ingredients!! I bought a cricut and yes there’s vinyl EVERYWHERE! I learned how to make lattes and frappes! Cookies are a weekly normal!! And I’ve started painting again! Me and my baby go on frequent walks and have made tons of friends at the library! I’m so thankful that I’ve been given the opportunity to stay at home!!
Being a Stay-at-Home Mom (SAHM) often comes with mixed opinions and misconceptions. Many believe that stepping away from a career means losing identity and purpose. However, the reality is often more rewarding. Transitioning from a professional life to being home with your child can foster profound personal growth. Embracing tasks like cooking, crafting, and other domestic commitments can be fulfilling and creatively stimulating. It’s about discovering new hobbies and re-engaging with passions that may have been sidelined due to work responsibilities. Engaging deeply in your child’s growth—from making homemade baby food to participating in local community activities—creates a strong bond, and offers unique opportunities to shape their early experiences and values. Building friendships through parenting groups or libraries can also introduce a wonderful community support system. While financial changes can be significant, many mothers find joy and independence in learning new skills such as sewing, baking, and DIY projects, often leading to a brand-new self-identity that was previously unexplored. Balancing family life with personal interests offers a fresh perspective on what fulfillment means, proving that being a SAHM can evolve into a choice of enriched quality of life rather than sacrifice.
I can’t wait to be a SAHM someday! The unlimited things I can try keeps me motivated!!