soon to be a SAHM

**Marie78** · 02-03-2009, 07:43 PM

I am very excited that I only have 5 more months to go until I can be a SAHM. I work 40 hours a week right now at a job that I'm so tired of doing. Not only is it boring/tedious paperwork, but because the economy is suffering right now I have been given a lot more work and no extra pay. I just want out of this environment. I worry that the stress of working so much could harm my unborn child, but we really need the money right now, so I have to tough it out

. I'm so sick of dealing with rude co-workers and I wish people would just leave me alone all day!!

I'm looking forward to raising my baby and having more children to mother and love. I always felt raising my children would be the most valuable job I ever do and I can't wait

.

**Debbie-cat** · 02-03-2009, 07:50 PM

Good for you! Hang in there and you are right, there is nothing more rewarding.

**homesteadmamma** · 02-03-2009, 08:07 PM

I agree, there is nothing more rewarding.

**Patty A** · 02-03-2009, 08:27 PM

I can hear the excitement in your post.....I am so happy for you.
CONGRATS on SOON becoming a mom, it is the greatest joy of life!
Work is hard enough, but when you are dealing with RUDE, hateful people it makes it so much harder. You will be so relieved when you are finally able to be at home and not have to deal with all the BS.
Its so nice to see someone wanting to be a SAHM, and you will be happy with the job of being a mom!!

**angelbumpkin** · 02-03-2009, 08:46 PM

The rewards of being a SAHM is priceless.

**Momto2Boyz** · 02-04-2009, 07:21 AM

Being a stay at home mom is very rewarding, BUT... be ready for the downsides too! I don't want to burst your bubble, becuase I can hear how excited you are, but I wish someone told me the downsides to being a stay at home mom of an infant, when I chose to do it!

So here is my advice:
1. Find a stay at home mom's group! Being used to being with adults every day, then suddenly being at home dealing with the lack of sleep, stress of a new routine, and the lack of conversation can feel isolating! So make some new friends and try to meet up with them once a week for yourself!
2. Be ready to ask for help. Youa re going to feel like caring for your home & baby are your JOB, but remember that you need a break once in a while or it can get overwhelming! Don't feel guilty about taking a half hour on a Saturday morning and leaving the baby with dad to go out and get groceries or coffee or whatever. That is my biggest regret. I thought I needed to be with my children 24.7 when they were first born, and I neglected taking care of myself!
3. Get outside! You'll be lucky to have a summer baby, so take advantage and put him/her in the stroller and get out and get some fresh air! It can really boost your mood!
4. Don't try to be superMOM! Even though you are home all day, when you have a new baby, there are never enough hours in the day! So don't sweat the small stuff! Getting laundry done and dishes and things, can wait until tomorrow! So don't beat yourself up about things! There were so many times I felt overwhelmed by it all, and just sat and cried, becuase I thought I couldn't do it. I realize now, that I was just trying to do too much! Enjoy the time with the new baby, every thing else can wait!
5.It gets easier every day! If you have a bad or lonely day...just remember that tomorrow will be better! Having a new baby takes alot of adjustment from anyone in a family, and like everything else, you'll find a routine and once things click, life gets so much easier! (Well until they start crawling and getting into everything!

)

Basically, these are the tips I wished someone had shared with me! I wish someone had told me to get out and meet people ( I learned this later when my youngest was 3...just how beneficial friendships are when you don't have co-workers). And I wish someone had told me that not being able to do it all was ok...becuase it really was ok if my house was messy or laundry wasn't done, or the diaper pail was overflowing becuase I couldn't take the garbage out and carry the baby at the same time!

Good luck! I hope you enjoy being a stay at home mom! I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything! It really is the most rewarding experience. I'm so glad I can be home to talk to my kids about their day when they get home from school, instead of them having to tell a daycare provider how their day was!

**always2busy** · 02-05-2009, 11:06 AM

I am a SAHM also but sometimes I miss working. Sometimes you trade rude, inconsiderate people at work for rude, inconsiderate people at home. My family is great but we all have our moments. Our little angels are not always angels.

**elphie** · 02-05-2009, 05:50 PM

I agree with everything Momto2Boyz said and would add have a creative outlet; whether you write, cook, paint, garden, sew, whatever... it is important to keep something you love that has nothing to do with your kids because SAHM's who are good at their jobs eventually put themselves out of work because they raise strong, independent people who go out to have lives of their own.

**spyzvixxen** · 02-06-2009, 05:05 PM

Hey Marie, I think you're making a great decision. I just handed in my resignation 2 weeks ago. Not to be a killjoy but it's definitely A LOT tougher than I imagined and I'm only 2 1/2 months into this. I know in the long run it will be worth it. I thank my Mom every day that she stayed home. The benefits were priceless.

PS - Food shopping is the highlight of my week and take any and all help you can get!

**Marie78** · 02-06-2009, 08:19 PM

I worry sometimes that I will miss my workplace, even though I won't miss the rude people there. My mom quit her job after I was born and she was home for both my younger sister and I until we were 8 and 9 years old, then she went back to work. I loved my time home with my mom, I hope to be more patient then she was. I know she tried her best...but my years of dealing with impossible people at work has hopefully helped prepare me for when my children misbehave. I don't ever want to react to my children out of anger. I also hope my Dh takes an active role in raising our children, even if I am home with them more during the day, my dad was not very involved in our childhood.

**spyzvixxen** · 02-06-2009, 10:15 PM

Believe me, getting yelled at (for no fault of my own) yet again the day before my maternity leave only sealed the deal! Don't look back. No regrets. I have a new set of stresses, yes, but no more waking up in the middle of the night having a panic attack from work-related nightmares.