The decision to become a stay at home mom should not be taken lightly.
For many, the decision is already made for us. Perhaps you have recently become unemployed and your spouse is bringing home enough money to make staying at home and raising the children a financially viable option.
There are obvious advantages to being a stay-at-home parent, especially daycare issues. Between the monthly costs and the limited interaction with your kids, there’s little good to say. I agree that if both parents work then daycare should be considered. For many, having a full-time job would not be possible without daycare.
The thought of having my children in day care almost scares me. Someone I barely know molding and shaping my children leaves me uneasy. I want my wife and I to be the ones to teach our children right and wrong; teach them respect for others and for themselves; teach them that it’s okay to feel the way they feel; just teach them.
Earning an income while staying at home with the kids is getting easier. More and more companies are opening up to the concept of “teleworking”. And if that doesn’t work so well for you, then consider starting your own business. If you’re good at something and you’re passionate about it, turn it into a business. And make it a business that you can run on your own terms and that can accommodate your child care responsibilities. Keep the hours you want and work when it’s convenient for you.
Take some time to research the businesses that can be done on the Internet. While there are many scams out there, there are also legitimate businesses and other legitimate ways to make money. Very few of these businesses will make you rich, but with hard work and dedication you can get ahead.
Don’t let your pride get in the way of being a stay-at-home parent. We live in a society where many still believe that it is the mother’s role to stay home and raise the children. It is increasingly common for fathers to be the primary caregivers and for mothers to be the financial support.
It’s easy to forget that being a stay-at-home parent is a full-time job. You don’t get up every morning to shower and shave, put on your suit and tie and walk out the door with your coffee in one hand and your briefcase in the other trying to get to the office in rush hour traffic so you can you can be on time for your 8:15 meeting.
There is no paycheck at the end of each week. The overtime you work is not compensated by additional time off. This job does not easily allow for “free time.”
I’m not trying to paint a bleak picture of the dangers of being a stay-at-home parent. Nor am I trying to do the opposite. I simply urge you to consider the positive side as well as the negative. This is a big decision to make, and not one to be taken lightly.
If you make the decision to be a stay-at-home parent, take the time to keep your children your number one priority and the real reason you’re home.
