The other day I ran into a high school friend at Walmart.
I asked her how she was doing and she replied with a big smile on her face
"I'm great! I have 2 kids, went back to school and got my nursing degree
and I'm now working at the local hospital as a nurse!"
She then proceeded to ask me how life was going for me.
After hearing her success, I was feeling somewhat inadequate. I was searching for words
to make my life sound as interesting and successful.
I had my 2 youngest children fidgeting in the cart and we were in a bit of a rush to get
my older 2 off the bus.
I finally spoke up "uh, yeah...life is great (and truly it is) I have 4 kids and...
"wow, you have 4 Kids??!!" she said with a shock!
"um, yeah...I have 3 daughters and 1 son"
It's not that I was at all embarrassed of my children because in all honesty I like to think
that I am the proudest mom on the planet!
It's just at that moment I felt like my success would be measured by a degree I should have obtained or my job status.
Our conversation ended, I went my way and she went hers
but my thoughts continued. As I checked out, loaded my bags and 2 of my children into our
family mini van, I kissed their foreheads and smiled as I buckled them in.
Immediately I thought about how I wished I would have answered her question.
I thought what's so wrong with being a stay at home mom?
Why shouldn't I be proud?
Don't get me wrong,
I think working women are awesome!
In fact being an elementary teacher was always my dream!
My dream changed July 13, 2002,
the day that my first child was born. They rushed her to the NIC-U and the next time I layed eyes on her, she was full of wires (oxygen, feeding tube, IVs) and I immediately knew that I couldn't return
to work as usual.
At that time I was working at a chiropractor's office and I loved my job and the people that I worked with.
As hours passed and my baby girl finally got well enough for us to bring her home, I knew I could not and would not leave her for any amount of time.
I decided that day that I was going to become a "stay at home mom" and I have done just that!
There are days that I question my decision but I know in my heart that I made the
right one.
How do I know?....
I have had the pleasure of witnessing their first step, their first word, giving their first bite of "real" food, playing patty cake, putting braids, pig tails, curls and bows in their hair, teaching them to sing their ABCs, being the one who craddled each of them during their sickness, spiking his hair, teaching him to kick a ball, going to the library to read or to the park in the middle of the day for a picnic adventure,
playing "princesses and the dragon" in the early afternoon,
going to all of their doctor's appointments,
having a "theatre day" at home,
singing them to sleep,
going on all the field trips and being at all the school parties,
going to all their assemblies, dropping them off at school every morning and being involved in PTA.
There are still days that I wish I would have proceeded to go for "my dream" and with the college credits I acquired during high school, I know I could have made that dream a reality.
My dream was to become a teacher,
I am teaching 4 of the most amazing kids I've ever known!
I am living my dream!
I hope I "run" into my old friend
just once more
so that I
get the opportunity to say
"I am a stay at home mom" and I will say it proudly!
This is what I have chose to do
with my life and though at times we sacrafice "material" things,
no amount of money is worth the love
I have received from these
4 awesome kiddos of mine, this is what I call success!
~Dedicated to all the "stay at home" mommies out there!~
I so totally understand where you are coming from. I am proud to be a stay at home mom but there are days where I feel like you do too. I know now that I was born to be a mom and to be a stay at home mom to raise and teach and be there for my babies. It does get frustrating sometimes when money is extremely tight but we just have to know that this is what God has in store for us and with his help we will get through anything.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly right! It's nice to know that I'm not alone and those feelings of "wonder if I would have..." are completely normal. I'm sure everyone has those "what if" moments, no matter what they have decided to do with their lives. I love being a stay at home mom though and I truly wouldn't trade it for anything! God Bless you Jstephen2576
ReplyDeleteYou have been a perfect teacher to them as well as me and Layla. I am so thankful for you and your wisdom I don't think I could have made it through that first year without you. As a working mom I have been jealous of you in the past because of the fact that you get to stay home with your kiddos and mine at times! But eventually I just became thankful to know you because you have taught me about the kind of mother I want to be! You are patient, kind, fun, loving, adventerous, daring, caring, and still manage to keep everyone in line. I think you are right where you were intended to be. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Amanda! :') I appreciate all of your kind words and encouragement! I am grateful that I get to be home with my kiddos and I just as thankful for the opportunity to be so involved in Layla's life as well. She is just as precious to me as my own and I appreciate you allowing me to keep her when you were working. I love you girlies and I have learned lots from you as well. I love your creativity, your willingness to always find the good in people, the sacrafices you have made to give Layla a better life and for listening to me cry all the time! lol You listen to my happiness too though so thank you for being an awesome friend and you're a great momma as well!
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