Becoming a SAHM
So, as much as I try to keep you guys up to date on what’s going on in my life - I can’t help that I am truly a private person at heart, and the majority of the important news in my life will probablyyy be shared late, smh haha.
With that being said, January of this year my husband and I decided that I would resign from my corporate job and stay home with our two boys. Cairo, the oldest, at the time was attending daycare, and our 9 month old had been home with me while I continued to work from home.
It was by far not an easy decision. But after weighing the pros and cons, of course consulting God, and ultimately God letting us know His plan is the best plan, we stepped out on faith and I quit my corporate job to be a stay at home mommy to our boys.
After I had Jayce, honestly, I was a mess! Between postpartum, juggling a job I truly wasn’t invested in and managing a toddler andddd an infant - I knew something had to change! Before I had kids I always said I wanted to be able to stay home with them for the first few years of their lives - but after I had my oldest Cairo, I was quickly back in the office and again, doing it all. However, once the pandemic happened and I pulled Cairo out of daycare and began working from home permanently - I truly got a taste of what it would be like to spend more hands on quality time with him and I loved it!
Work then became such a distraction and let’s be honest, an annoyance, that I couldn’t bare it. My head and my heart were no longer invested in my job and I could tell I wasn’t able to give my best self and full energy to my career as I once did. So, that’s when I knew a change was needed.
My husband was absolutely amazing and supportive throughout the entire process. His faith never wavered and he made sure to let me know that my health and happiness as well as our boys was his main priority.
Going from two substantial incomes to only one was going to be an adjustment for sure - but sometimes the sacrifice is worth the reward. I knew I had to take a step back, prioritize my mental health, reassess what I truly wanted - and my career was not my main priority.
When we took this leap of faith and decided I would officially be a SAHM - we truly didn’t know for how long. Whether it would be for 6 months, a year, or indefinitely - we decided we would leave the door open for God to guide us and show us what’s best for our family.
As of now, I’ve only been a SAHM for about 8 months, but even in this short time, I have learned a few things that I wanted to share:
Build a schedule. - I am just naturally a very schedule prone person. I love routines and having a standard routine is also helpful for our little ones as well. I knew as a SAHM I wanted to ensure the boys were still actively learning, engaging with other children, and doing fun things outside of the home as well. We have set times for playtime (whether independent play or playtime with others), times I incorporate various lessons and flashcards for them, and fun things like art projects, sensory play, and field trips to new places so they can continue to learn and engage with kids their age. (I’ll be sure to share our homeschooling schedule in a future post!)
Stay flexible. - Even though schedules and routines are amazing and SO helpful, remember, not every day will be filled with tons of plans and awesome activities - some days you just have to wing it 😁. And there is also something so special about making memories by just going with the flow.
Get out of the house! - Schedule play dates and fun activities for the kids like going to museums, play centers, new parks, bookstores, etc. It’s easy to get caught up in the routine of being home - but make it a point to get out of the house at least once a day (if possible) even if it’s just to run errands or take a walk.
Be aware of burnout. Delegate tasks. The house will not always be clean and organized, the kids won’t always listen, and some days you won’t have the energy to fulfill a day full of activities plus chores and other household obligations. Although being a SAHM is amazing - it is HARD! You get no breaks (except “sometimes” nap time) so coordinate with your family and find ways to alleviate a little bit of your load. Whether it’s alternating nights on who cooks dinner, delegating the bedtime routine to hubby, or whatever would help lighten your load - don’t be afraid to ask for help, delegate, and be honest with how you feel and what you’re going through!
I have learned through the challenges, periods of burn out, and even at times feeling like I have no “adult time” - being a SAHM is the life I was built for. There is so much joy in being able to tackle this and have this quality time with my boys while they are this young. Of course there are moments I question what I’m even doing, would daycare be “better” for them, etc .. however, I know my kids value mommy being with them and that is enough of a reward for me. My career will always be there - but the quality time with my kids this young will go in blink of an eye and I definitely don’t want to ever feel like I missed out on a second of it ☺️.
🤍 J. Leigh
