While these SAHM’s don’t regret staying home, they confess that its nothing like what they thought it would be.
By Jennifer Pinarski
Updated Mar 29, 2017Jen with her family. The Mamarazzi Photography.
Welcome to your first day as a stay-at-home mom! You’ve whipped up a batch of organic sweet potato baby food and your soy latte is too hot to drink so you are taking the time to straighten your hair before going to parent-and-tot yoga. If you’re like me, that’s how you pictured life as a stay-at-home mom. In reality, your instant coffee has been reheated for the third time, yoga is when you reach under the bed for half-eaten apples and you’ve stopped saying no when your kids ask for pancakes for supper (even though that is what they had for breakfast).
I know I’m in good company when it comes to realizing that the vision I had of being a SAHM doesn’t exactly match real life. I asked my Twitter and Facebook SAHM pals what they think and here’s what they said:
Financial frustrations
There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t worry about money, but my husband accurately points out that I’ve always worried about money. I'd find something else to be anxious about even if we won the lottery.
It’s lonely...
Despite being surrounded by my family 24/7 (since I’m home with my children and my husband works from home) being a stay-at-home mom is a lonely gig. I’ve been lucky to meet many awesome SAHMs, but it doesn’t always make me feel less isolated.
Except when it’s not...
I've started locking the bathroom door when I'm in there. The paradox of being a SAHM means that you're lonely, but never alone.
It doesn’t get easier
As a SAHM, you hope one day your kids will listen, the laundry will do itself and you'll feel at peace with the decision you made. Two years later, I've yet to have a day that runs smoothly. Ditto for these moms.
But we wouldn't change a thing
I dream of a full-time paycheque, ditching the monotony of cleaning my kitchen and playing Lego, but I can't imagine doing anything else than staying home with my children. My pals echo this sentiment.
Fess up: What surprised you the most about becoming a SAHM?
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