"Home Free" is an article I read this week from our denomination's monthly publication called "The Banner". I feel as though the author reached inside my heart and wrote exactly how I feel about being a stay-at-home parent. (Except for the part about his living in Canada and receiving 60% of his income to care for his children. Wouldn't that be nice!) Please read it for yourself! So many mothers gripe about how difficult it is to be a stay at home mom and how much we have to put up with...Sure, some days are difficult but I experience so much joy in being home with Cora that I am continually thankful that I don't have to drop her off in someone else's care each day or juggle her between Brad and I more than we already do. I think being home with her is the best job I could have at this point in my life. Did I say how thankful I am to be home with her (and our coming son)?
I tried to find a few favorite quotes from the article but almost every sentence rings true with my emotions and my experience of motherhood. The author ends the essay this way: "To be attentive to the practical, to put a small child first, and to try seeing the familiar with them as “new every morning” are happy disciplines. God is truly in the details. I want to savor this time of simplicity, for it will slip away like a summer day on the beach."
So true, so true.
Our primary job as parents is to raise our children, and those of us who have worked outside the home have ended up pulling double duty catching up with the morals, values, love, guilt, housework, homework, shall I go on? that stay at home parents don't have to deal with. And as a single parent, that load doubles yet again as you take on the role of the other parent as well.
ReplyDeleteEMBRACE your decision. As soon as I was able, I left my job so that I could stay home and homeschool Alec, because that is my REAL job. Nothing else matters--cars, TVs, vacations--so long as I have a child who needs me and I am able to be home with him and still get food on the table and a roof over his head. Sure I have a job that I work part time because Alec is 16 and doesn't need/want me here all the time...But I'm able to plan things with him, and spend time with him, and I think it shows.
Enjoy the time you have. It goes fast and you'll have plenty of time to work later on...
I can surely say I enjoy sauntering around in my underware. 8)
ReplyDeleteI feel embarrased saying it, but I am one of those people who is a better Mom when she works a day or two a week. Just being honest.