I became a stay-at-home mom in 2006 when our first son was born. We had only been married a few months when we found out we were expecting. It really messed up our plans, but in a good way!
At the time I was working full time and my husband was going to school full time. Our plan was for him to finish in a few years and then he'd work and we would start a family. I'm so grateful I married a real man! He got a full-time job that thankfully worked with his full-time school schedule. It was a rough couple of years, but he still graduated on time with honors, with no government assistance or debt! We were dirt poor but happy!
Fast forward a few years, two more kids and my husband is back in school for a graduate degree. He's still working full time as well. Even though he has a better paying job, we still go without a lot of things most people now consider needs: no smart phones, cable, fancy vacations, etc. We drive 14 and 17-year-old cars, but recently we were able to purchase a nice home 5 minutes from my husband's office sot we can spend more time with him.
People tell me I'm lucky I get to stay home and homeschool my kids, but luck has absolutely nothing to do with it! A few weeks ago we visited a classmate of my husband's who had a three-week-old baby - their first. He was so precious! They have a gorgeous, huge, brand new home that was furnished nicely. I admit I was feeling a little jealous; however, during our conversation they brought up how expensive child care is. I assumed she would be staying home with this precious baby, but no, she is going back to work "only 3 days a week" when he is 8 weeks old! But luckily they were able to find a "really nice lady" who they met only once and who "only has four other two year olds to take care of" which "makes it better than a huge day care". I looked at the baby I was holding, my own crazy two year old, and thought, "What would I do with four of him running around and a newborn?" My jaw about hit the floor! Any jealous feelings I had immediately vanished! I made sure to tell my husband that night how grateful I am he provides for us and values me as a stay-at-home mom! I admitted I was jealous of his friend - until they said they were putting their baby in day care. He agreed! We're still poor compared to most, but we are happy!
Thanks for all that you do to support us "lucky" stay-at-home moms!
Candiss
P.S. We went on our first real vacation as a family last December. We drove our small Honda Accord from Utah to San Diego with no electronics just a few audio books and made it back with our sanity intact!
