Deciding to stay at home & Motherhood

 

  

LINDSAY OLSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

My mother was a stay at home mom, so naturally growing up that is what I thought I would be when I became a mother. As I got older, went to college, and started working, I realized all the possibilities that were available to me if I wanted to be a working mom. My aspirations led me to think I would find some way to make it work. I have had a job for as long as I can remember. I started babysitting for neighbors around the age of twelve and continued to do that even after I got a job at a local restaurant at the age of sixteen. I have had a job since. Over the last ten years of working, I have held so many amazing jobs, and have considered myself extremely blessed in that department of my life. Everything seemed to always connect and work so seamlessly to the next position and stage in my life. I have learned a lot, and really grown through all of my work experience.

When I got pregnant, I had to really think about what I wanted my next step to be in regards to working. First off, I am lucky to even have the choice. Trevor has a great job, and there isn't a "need" for me to work. But did I still want to work? My first problem is the fact that I don't have any family here, and I don't love the idea of leaving my baby with someone who isn't family for continuous periods of times daily simply because I want to work. I just don't think I could emotionally justify that personally. As I got closer and closer to having the baby, I realized I didn't want to work the traditional office job anymore. The eight to five office life lost all of its appeal when I would think about this new stage in my life. As each month passed in my pregnancy I realized how badly I wanted to soak up every minute of this precious and fleeting time in my life with a new baby. My degree and experience isn't going anywhere, but this moment in time is. The decision wasn't really hard for me to make once I got to that point, it was a no-brainer.


I thought back to a post I wrote a few years about the discussion of having it all, and I realized that the sentiments echoed in the comments and discussion really rang true for me. There is a time for everything. You can have it all, just not usually all at once. Don't get me wrong, I will always have to be doing something to stimulate my mind, and I love the idea of continuing to work for myself and create my own avenues of success in a nontraditional way. Thankfully blogging and social media have provided that opportunity for me, and I plan on really utilizing that even more now that I will have more time to focus on it. With that said, we live in a unique time where in a lot of ways, we can have it all. While I wont be working in the same capacity for the company I work for, I have taken a freelance offer from them to maintain the blogs I started while I was there for them. I love that there are companies out there willing to work with you, and find that happy medium for both parties. I feel like I have obtained a win, win here. It is so important for me to be at home right now and focus on my family at this time, and I feel like I can do that as well as having a creative outlet and workload at my own pace on the side. This will be such a weird transition for me, since I have had a traditional job since I was 16 years old, earlier than that if you want to count consistent babysitting.

I mentioned my mother was a stay at home mom. With that said, my mother had six children, and was one of the most involved parents I have still yet to have met. She was apart of everything! She did it all. She was apart of every sports team, club, band, school function, and contributed to our Church and communities in ways that were above and beyond. She did this so much and so long she had several job offers along the way, and was able to secure one after we had all left the house because they had got used to her helping out so much and didn't want to lose her. I want to have the flexibility and time in my life to offer that to my children, and my community as well. Often during the years of working around the clock I felt guilty that I didn't have as much time to serve those in my community or my family. I look forward to having that as my number one priority now!

I can't wait for what the future holds, I have so many goals and aspirations I plan on checking of my life to do list. I still plan on using my teaching degree, probably when my children are older and are in school. I have always had a passion for education and working with youth and I really want to pursue that when the timing is right. I have more educational, career driven goals that I plan on accomplishing, and while I will work my way towards those, now is a very special time. Now is a time for the sweet little spirits that will be sent to my home over the next few years. Now is for them, and I feel so privileged. By far the best job, and the one I will have and cherish forever.