“Stay home mom” has never appeared in my mind until i have my first child. It sounds like a fantasy to some of us that stay home mom is a rich woman who lives in a mansion, surrounded by maids, who is freely to spend her life doing nothing and just enjoy life. It is totally wrong mindset. In fact, it is not a fairy tale. You are going to face some challenges which you will never imagine until you experience it one day.
If you wish to become a stay home mom, this article is just right for you. I am a real example of a stay home mom which i think it is good to share my experience to my readers. I will highlight 6 stay home mom jobs, their pros and cons and also tips how to overcome challenges so that i still enjoy a quality life.
Stay home mom jobs
It is never easy being a woman in the 21st century. One of the phases we’d have to go through is choosing between running a household while working 9 – 5 and giving up corporate, be a stay-at-home mom to focus on the baby. Full-time motherhood can be a rewarding event in one’s life, but there are also consequences we have to watch out for and prepare for.
1.Taking care of baby
Being a stay home mom, taking care of the baby is our major task. It is a 24 hours, 7 days in a week, 365 days work without rest day. Of course, it depends on the child’s age. You will get some free time if your child has reached schooling age.
Pros:
Say Goodbye to Juggling Around. There’s no more paperwork, trap in a traffic, catching up for deadlines, dealing with difficult bosses, hanging around with colleagues, no more office politics, and no gossips to deal with anymore. You can always be there for your children no matter what. Because you are not stuck in a cubicle for a whole day, you can give your 100% attention to your children.
Cons:
Isolation is Real. Since you plan your routine around your children, it’s easy to overlook your own needs. These needs include social activities, some me-time, and opportunities to grow. The feeling of being trapped and isolated can often lead to depression.
Tip: Schedule to call a friend in the middle of the day. Most importantly, go out without tagging along with your children at least once a week where you can take a breather. Or why not meet-up with other stay-at-home moms too so you can learn from each other?
2. Never ending household chores
You will face never ending household chores. Dirty laundries, toilet, messy bedroom, living room, kitchen full of dirty dishes, and dealing with lots of trashes. If you cannot afford hiring a maid, or you are not staying with parents or parents in law, you will need to do the job yourself.
Pros:
More Time for Your Family. That means a full day at the zoo or excursions to museums and parks. You can witness how they grow and guide them in everything that they need. You can also have the time to have dates with your partner.
Cons:
More Responsibilities at Home. Having the flexibility may mean that you need to do all the cleaning, cooking, paying the bill, and managing the household.
Tip: Set a barrier. Communicate with your partner and share the house work. Since you are a team, he can take up easy chores after work, such as washing plates or cleaning the house on the weekends.
3. Become a financial planner
You will be the one who plan for what to spend for the household. You will think of ways to cut down the cost of living and try to save money to be spent most of the items for the baby! Diapers, milk powder ( it is best to breastfeed your baby at least 2 years so you can save the cost of the milk powder at least for the first 2 years. Wow, it is a huge saving!), food, products for childcare etc. As a mother, you will never get stingy in spending money for the family.
Pros:
You Can Save Money from Paying Childcare. And because you don’t have to work, you don’t have to eat out as much or pay for your transportation anymore. You will have time to plan and exercise money-saving strategies.
Cons:
A One-Person Income May Not Cover All the Expenses. So, you may need to say goodbye to monthly trips to the salons, subscriptions, or new clothes.
Tip: Try to take some online jobs that will not interfere with you running the household.
4. Teaching and guiding your child
You will be the teacher who will teach and guide your child. You will be the one who will not miss his/her growing milestones from crawling, sitting, standing, speaking etc. Guide your child includes showing him/her about good behavior, teaching skills like toilet training, self led weaning, taking care of personal hygiene such as washing hands, brushing teeth and many more.
Related post ” Toilet training for toddlers” , “How to potty train a toddler?“
Pros:
You Never Miss the Milestones. Imagine witnessing your child’s first walk? Or their first word? Isn’t it the most rewarding thing about being a stay-at-home mom? Kids grow up fast – ten years later, boom! They’re teenagers and would spend less time with you because they’re out with their friends. Remember, you cannot take back the time that you lost.
Cons:
It leaves an Employment Gap on your Resume. If you decide to get back to the workforce after years of being a full-time-mom, be prepared for some employers questioning your career choices. It may also take some time to get yourself get used to working full-time again.
Tips: More businesses are open to welcoming moms back into the workforce. Don’t forget to include the part-time jobs, volunteer, and courses you took while being a full-time mom.
5. Do what you like
You can watch your favorite TV shows, youtube, read books, and play games which you will never have time to do when you are always busy at work.
Pros:
Less Stress. Children are the best de-stressor! Wouldn’t you rather play with your kids, hear their giggles, and chase them around at home rather than hear your boss’s talking on the phone? Besides, a happy mother can result in happy kids.
Cons:
You May Feel Undervalued Just Because You Don’t Bring Money Home. Stay-at-home moms often get perceived by others to be living a luxurious, relaxing life.
Tip: Set a goal for yourself. Just because you’re a full-time mom now does not mean you have to give up on your own dreams. Why don’t you start journaling to list your achievements, things you’re grateful for the day, and your future plans?
Related post “Online work at home jobs for moms“, ” Online job for stay home moms (my story)“
6. Become a better cook
You will read and learn how to cook healthy meal for your family. It is always a fast, easy meal but nutritious and healthy. You want your family to eat at home and spend a good meal time with them.
Pros:
Kids Feel More Secure and Happy with Your Around. I grew up with a stay-at-home mom, which means having hot meals on time and ironed school uniforms. She’s always there, and we knew that we can always count on her. We had a lot of happy memories together!
Cons:
You Lose Your Identity. Or at least that’s how it feels after spending your whole day with your children, thinking only of their well-being.
Tip: Don’t give up on your hobbies. To balance things out, allocate at least an hour a day for yourself. It can be the time before they wake up or after they hit the bed.
Conclusion
Transitioning from a working woman to becoming a full-time stay-at-home mom takes a lot of courage, patience, and sacrifices. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies because let’s admit it, kids can be a handful too! Staying at home means they are now your boss, paying you only with their charm!
Is it worth it to be a stay-at-home mom?
Well, it depends! If you can cope up, being a full-time mother can be the most fulfilling job in the world, especially if that’s what your family needs.
But if you have a great career going on, and if you got elders who can look after your baby, you might not want to give up that job.
Whatever your choices are, people would judge you nevertheless, so it’s essential to listen to yourself and consider your life priorities. Besides, only mothers know best! You know what’s best!
Share your thought about stay home mom jobs, do you enjoy become one or regret that you have made a wrong choice. We love to hear from you.