Transition from Working Mom to Stay at Home Mom

Re: Transition from Working Mom to Stay at Home Mom

• BrittnieMariee member

  December 2017

  I’ve been a SAHM since I had my son 2 years ago. It is amazing!! I love getting to be with him all the time!! But as amazing as it is, it can get pretty lonely. I’ve gotten used to it and I’m not a terribly social person anyway but oh boy do I look forward to DH coming home so I can actually converse with someone lol money can also get pretty tight but we follow a budget. Also, my house is always a mess but DS has fun and that’s all I really care about. 

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• justkeeptrying member

  December 2017

  I also became a SAHM 2.5 years ago when my DS was born. I love it, but it's not always easy. Not going to lie. 
  
  One of my favourite quotes is "The days are long but the years are short". It's amazing to me how some days you are just counting down the hours until DH will get home. And yet I look back and the last years have flown by. 
  
  I'm an extrovert. So the first months in the newborn stage were especially challenging for me. DH would come home and I would just be dying for someone to talk to!!! It has gotten better as my son has become more interactive and can talk now lol
  
  Things that help me:
  - Planning lots of outings. I try to go out every day with him, even if it's just for a walk. Getting out of the house helps. 
  
  - Asking for things like memberships for Christmas gifts. Money is obviously tighter as a SAHM, so gifts like a years membership to our Children's Museum were greatly appreciated. 
  
  - Don't be ashamed to take some time to yourself. It took me a while to get here. But everyone deserves a break, even if it's from your kid. Get a babysitter and go have lunch with some friends. Or if you don't have a sitter, invite people over! Whether they have kids or not. They'll have fun interacting with your kid and you'll have someone to talk to. 
  
  - Sign up for free get togethers where you can talk to other moms. I go to a weekly play group as well as library time. Helps us get out, it's free, and I've made some great friends. 
  
  - If you thrive on routine, then make a routine for yourself. Eg. Tuesdays we go grocery shopping, Wednesdays is play group, Thursdays is a play date. It helps break up the week if you have things on your schedule. 
  
  - Lastly, find support in other SAHM's. My previous BMB is still unbelievably active on Facebook. And I am on there every single day chatting with this mom's and getting new ideas for what to do with DS. It's wonderful to have a sisterhood to share this with. 
  
  Money is tight. But I love being a SAHM and wouldn't change it for the world. They're only young once. 

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• slr1229 member

  December 2017

  I haven’t decided if I’m going to quit or not, going back after leave is up and want to decide by August.  I’m terrified of staying at home because there’s some Sundays I’m so happy I get to drop off my oldest at daycare and have 8 hours to myself even though work can be brutal. It’s selfish, but it’s the truth.  However, my job is becoming harder to bare, not fun anymore, so have to decide

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• cford08 member

  December 2017

  Nothing really to contribute, but shout out to the SAHM of the group  I was one of those stupid ppl that said SAHM don't really work. Please feel free to roll your eyes. I have watched my SIL raise two girls as a SAHM. That got me right real quick! Y'all work hard and get no breaks. And do more with way less in most cases. Seriously the real MVPs. 

  

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• StephBrim24 member

  December 2017

  I agree with everything @justkeeptrying said. I was in your exact shoes. Teaching and due with number 2. I’m so glad I made the switch. I can’t add a thing to @justkeeptrying’s post but I’ll emphasize the big ones for me. Find a routine and try to stick to it - or I prefer the word rhythm. It means there’s consistency but flexibility. Find other SAHM’s and do life with them - not just tidy play dates. You’ll find them when you find your rhythm - they’re at the parks and children’s museums and open gyms at consistent times. And lastly, get out of the house regularly. 

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• mmom3 member

  December 2017

  I am a teacher turned SAHM after I had my second.  I went back last School year  for a year but resigned again for this year now with #3 on the way.  My husband is a truck driver and gone about 18 hours a day for work 6 days a week so everything is always on me to run the house.  With our oldest now in school - it works much better for our family to have me at home.  I love it.  I’m an introvert, but it is lonely at times since it’s just me morning until night.  I do keep a weekly/daily schedule of the way I run things, get stuff done otherwise I felt like I was spinning my wheels and accomplishing nothing. I also do “Tot School” with my son while my daughter is in school, which is fun for us both.  When the weather was nicer we spent time outside every day as part of our routine.  Now it’s a bit harder so I’m working at organizing the basement to have a play space down there to burn some energy off. 

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• bdaybaby18 member

  December 2017

  I switched from teaching to SAHM a few years ago. I found a few things out (in my opinion). 
  
  1. I found it easy to feel purposeless. When my days were busy teaching it was easy to see progress or feel accomplished. Being a SAHM was different. A lot of the things I accomplished (dishes, laundry, changing diapers, etc) always needed to be done again. Remember that what you accomplish as a SAHM isn’t going to feel the same, but it still matters.
  
  2. I echo those posters saying to get out of the house and try to have a relaxed routine. We use the library, the grocery store, and play groups as chances to see others. 
  
  3. You aren’t going to enjoy every moment. It’s tough work! Give yourself grace to have bad days, and relish the good days when they come!

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• ashtuesday member

  December 2017

  As a teacher myself, I'm intrigued that so many people who decided to become SAHMs have a background in teaching - it's a move I've considered myself. Would any of you who made the switch say that teaching in particular necessitated being a SAHM?  I worry that I will become a garbage teacher the moment my daughter is born since the profession demands SO much to be done well.

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• bdaybaby18 member

  December 2017

  @ashtuesday I’ll say that being a SAHM was always my goal. However, I did feel pressure at the thought of having my heart divided between my DS and my students. I care about both so much that staying home made more sense for me than feeling like I was letting one or the other down. I know a lot of other great moms who are teachers who are able to balance both well, so I guess it depends on your personality!

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