SAHM

stay-at-home-mom (i think this is referred to as SAHM in mommy lingo). that's me. for the past 13 months, i have been "at home" taking care of my sweet baby. i was thinking about this today, trying to decide what my thoughts are about this new vocation. here's what i came up with...

::> the first few months after having ethan, i didn't feel like a stay-at-home-mom, i felt like an "on-the-go-all-the-time-mom"! OTGATTM, anyone? what this really meant is that i was still adjusting to the mommy role and figuring out the balance between living in a cave now that i have a kid vs. still acting like a married with no kids lady. it's tough. it wasn't that i didn't want to take care of my little boy, i just felt the need to keep up with everything else that was going on before i had him. not to mention that i was no longer working full-time outside the home, so i had "more time" to do things i couldn't do before. where am i now? well, still figuring out the balance (aren't we all?), but i would say, without hesitation, i enjoy being at home taking in every moment with my baby, and focusing my energy on being a 1) wife, 2)mother, 3) homemaker, and doing it to the best of my ability!

::> not "working". by "working", i definitely mean outside the home, just to get our definitions straight. i loved my job. i am trained as a Physician Assistant, and this is a profession that i love and support completely! it has been a perfect fit for me personally and i love using my brain to make decisions that help people! deciding to quit working full time was both an easy and a hard decision. my husband and i were both extremely blessed to have SAHMs growing up. we realize the importance of this role and wanted the same for our children. it was kind of a no-brainer. however, the actual "quitting" my job to take on this role was difficult. as i said before, i loved my job. i am proud of my profession and hope to be a PA again, down the road. quitting my job meant saying goodbye to patients and co-workers and possibly not putting on that white coat and stethoscope for a long time. at the time, this was a challenge. i hardly had a baby bump, much less a baby. but, i trusted that what God has called me to do, He will work out the details. as it turns out, i am blessed to be able to work occasional shifts where i once worked full-time, so God is already showing Himself faithful in the details.

is staying home a sacrifice? of course it is. regardless of your profession, you can always benefit from a second income. but, i am convinced that i won't remember the clothes, shoes, cars, vacations, technology gadgets, etc. that i would buy with that extra income. staying home with our children is making deposits that will last for eternity.

::> just to be clear, this is my story. there are certainly moms out there who need to work, for financial, physical, or mental reasons. you have to make the decision that is best for your family. i am thankful that, at least at this stage, i am able to stay home and i enjoy doing so. it is a true blessing!

::> regardless of the stereotype, SAHMs don't sit around watching Oprah and wearing pajamas all day. it's hard work! and not for the faint of heart. i jokingly remind my husband what a personal shopper, nanny, cook, nurse, housecleaner, errand-runner, etc. would cost if we had to hire someone to do all the things a wife/mom does. he jokingly reminds me what a personal masseuse would cost. ok, ok. he does give excellent massages and without complaining!

::> my overall conclusion is that it has been a sweet year. i can truly say i have enjoyed my son and am still learning every day what it means to be a good mom to him. being a SAHM isn't something i have perfected, but it's something i want to do to the glory of God. as i lay my son down to sleep each night, i pray for wisdom to do so. i know His grace is sufficient.