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Choosing To Be A Stay At Home Mom
Choosing to be a stay at home mom is not always an easy decision to make. There are many things to consider when weighing your options. Most new moms are saddened by the thought of missing their child’s first smile or their first few steps. But unfortunately not every mom is able to stay home. There are more and more demands on families these days due to the economy and high cost of living.
Finances play the biggest role in whether or not moms choose to stay at home or work. You have to be very frugal and skilled at budgeting in order to live on one salary. Mortgages, car loans, utilities, and credit cards seem to weigh many of us down. However the cost of daycare must be considered as well. The cost has become so high that in many situations, it’s just not feasible. Daycares are so expensive and can run anywhere from $150-$300 a week for full time care.
After paying the daycare, how much is left? For most of us, there isn’t much left. Working outside of the home is a better option if you have a friend of family member like a grandmother who is willing to watch your baby for free or for a nominal fee. Living with extended family seems to be more of the trend lately. Not only is it a good plan financially, but you also have the added benefit of having live-in help.
For those of us that do not live with extended family, choosing to stay at home may mean sticking to a tight budget. Clipping coupons and shopping only when there are sales, becomes the norm. I worked full time after I had my first son. Monday through Friday I became a machine. When I came home from work we had dinner, played with my son for a little bit and then it was time for bath and bedtime.
A large part of the night was spent preparing bottles and getting the diaper bag together for the next day. After paying daycare, I wasn’t bringing in a lot of money. The job I had was stressful so I began to feel bitter about it. I started to feel like my quality of life was horrible. After the birth of my second child I needed to rethink my plan. With two kids, it would be impossible to afford daycare for the both of them. After my second one was born, I took maternity leave and never went back.
Deciding to be a stay at home mom has had its ups and downs. We really struggle to make ends meet with only one salary coming in but I enjoy being able to watch my little one reach each milestone. My older son is in first grade now and I’m able to get involved with his school. To be in this position, I know I’m not able to shop for clothes or other things as much as I like, but in the end, I enjoy being home. It takes a lot of sacrifice but it’s so worth it.
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