Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Being a SAHM: What I Love and What I Don't

Being a SAHM: What I Love and What I Don't

As you probably already know if you have been following me, I stay home with my three little boys all day, every day. We are very blessed and have been able to afford it with very little sacrifice. For us it is the only sensible option since if I was to go back to a full-time job and we had to find day care for 3 little ones, the cost of daycare would make it pointless. I love being able to stay home with my babies but there are some days when I also miss going to work and think about how nice it might be to be able to have a break from taking care of small humans for awhile. So I decided to make a list of the "pros and cons" of being a SAHM (for me). We'll go with the "Cons" first:

1. The number one thing I find to be driving me crazy lately is having no adult interaction and feeling isolated.

2. During the winter months we barely ever left the house, except for our weekly grocery shopping trip. 

3. You get to be a human kleenex when the babies are sick (like this past week). I hate when kids have snotty noses, but I've realized lately just how hard it is to keep up with cleaning those little noses constantly. 

4. Constant diaper changes and dealing with a lot of poop. The babies have gotten particularly difficult to change lately with their wiggly antics and limbs that seem to made out of rubber. 

5. No breaks or vacations or "weekends". Well, I guess nap time is a break. That's why I love it so much. Bedtime is also a favorite time of the day. 

6. Sometimes people think that as a SAHM you don't "work" and perhaps you just sit around watching TV all day. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

7. It's really stressful when all three are whining and fussing and crying at the same time. This doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's hard. 

8. I'm usually doing about 5 or 6 different things at once and half the time I forget what I started out doing in the first place.

Being a SAHM: What I Love and What I Don't

Ok, enough of the negativity, now let's look at the awesome things about staying home with my children!

1. I get to see everything that they learn. I don't have to miss out on any "firsts". 

2. I am able to take tons and tons of pictures of them. Which reminds me I really need to back up my phone, if it were to lose all my pictures, I'd probably cry for days. 

3. I don't have to get dressed up or put on makeup or do my hair unless we are going somewhere, which isn't very often.

4. I can workout during nap time. 

5. I get to raise my children the way I want to. Sure I might have some crazy high standards that I am finding out are sometimes improbable or even impossible, but at least I can learn as I go. 

6. Sometimes I can take naps when they are napping. This is a highlight of the day. Lately I don't have time for this, but it was awesome when I did.

7. I don't have to worry as much as I would if I wasn't with them all day. 

8. I can snuggle and kiss and tickle my babies to hear them laugh whenever I want to! 

So despite all the stress and the long days and the stinky diapers I will never regret being a SAHM. I am so grateful to be able to spend every moment with my adorable and silly little boys!

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22 comments:

  1. Oh... yep, pet peeve #6 really irks me to shreds! :)

    #8 made me smile. That's probably one of the best parts of being a SAHM :)

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  2. Such cuties, enjoy them. I love staying home with my kids.

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    1. Thanks Tara! They are the cutest :D That's great that you can stay home with yours as well!

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  3. Hey Girl! It’s Deonna from the Child at Heart blog. I was just stopping by to say hello! I feel like you pretty much read my mind. I feel bad when I'm excited for him to go to sleep. haha I only have one so you really are a hero :) I am doing a great spring necklace giveaway and would love for you to come by and enter to win :) Have a joyful week!
    http://www.thechildatheartblog.com/2014/04/spring-statement-necklaces-from.html

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    1. Thanks for your comment Deonna :D I feel the same way about bedtime for them lol and even one is tons of work too! I'll be sure to stop by your blog :)

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  4. Yes it is a lot of work. Winter and staying home really does get boring. I try to get out and do indoor activities when it is cold. xo

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    1. That's always a good idea! Hopefully next winter we will be able to do more stuff like that. At least it's summer now, though! :D

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  5. #8 is such a pleasant reminder after a long day being home, how amazing it truly is. I am a SAHM too and totally love this post. I'm stopping by from Friday Pin-Fest, I hope you and your family have a great Easter weekend :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Heather! I hope you are having a great week :D

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  6. Though I'm new to the SAHM world, I completely agree so far. Especially to being stuck in the house all winter! Those positives make the negatives definitely worth working though, though :)

    Whenever I get a bit overwhelmed by the things that need to be done, I remember that I am so thankful to be here for my son. And my body feels so much better walking around and moving all day rather than sitting in a desk for 8 hours like I did before he was born!

    Amy @ http://livinglifetruth.blogspot.com/

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    1. That's true Amy! It's for sure worth it every day :) All that other stuff will eventually get done too :D

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  7. Thanks for sharing this at The Wednesday Roundup this week. When I saw the title, I knew I had to read it. I gave up my medical management career 2 years ago to be a stay at homer, and most days I am grateful, but lately have been having a hard time w/ it, probably because we had such a long winter and same as you, hardly left the house during the bad weather. I'm so glad to hear others have some "cons", makes me feel a bit more normal.

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    1. Yeah sometimes it drives a person a little crazy lol! Hopefully things will get a lot better now that nicer weather is here again :)

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  8. I waffle back and forth about being a SAHM, though I don't think we could keep our house if I didn't work. Your list of "pros" sure makes me wonder what could be!!

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    1. The money is definitely a major part of the decision sadly. Either way it's hard work for us moms haha :)

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  9. Love the list and it all rings true :-) Being a SAHM has been my most difficult yet rewarding job to date! Checking this post out from turn it up Tuesdays :-)
    Cathy

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Cathy! It sure is difficult some days but so worth it! :D

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  10. I go back and forth about being a SAHM. I work part time right now, and I feel like it gives me some ME time, but at the same time I miss my girl when I'm not home and wish I could be with her more. I think it's really funny when people think SAHMoms don't do anything all day, ha!. Your pros list is a fantastic one.

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    1. Thanks Tiffany! Sometimes I think having a part time job would be a good idea just to get away for a bit lol. It seems like it might be even harder to work somewhere else and still try to get everything done :D Have a good week!

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  11. Lol! You totally nailed it with this post.😄The good far out-weighs the bad, though! :) I totally understand missing adult interaction...once both my girls were in school, I got a part-time job just for that purpose! lol But it was perfect, because I only worked like 2 days a week and it was always while they were in school, so I wasn't missing out on being their mommy too :) Sometimes you just need to get out of "mommy mode" for a few hours.

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    1. That's exactly why I kind of want to get a part time job soon! I will for sure when they are in school (which is still a few years away) like you did. That sounds perfect lol. Hope you are having a good week!

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