Being a stay-at-home mom can be isolating. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. 2. You don’t know where to meet people, but give yourself time. After all, a classroom of toddlers is a far cry from the charmed life of Mommy and me. Being a stay-at-home mom gets a bad rap. Of course it’s been knocked down plenty of times with failures (like when my son fell out of a shopping cart but that’s for another day). In my previous blog posts regarding Motherhood, I kind of talked about enjoying the ride as being a mom whilst dedicating time for yourself and taking care of yourself as parent. Mom guilt isn’t just something that working moms feel. I didn’t know why he would scream for an hour, the same hour everyday. What Information Should I Give My Daycare? Beyond the paycheck, you may have to consider your insurance and other benefits. Bottom Line:Consider the level of stress you and your family are currently experiencing.Will being at home add to your stress or relieve it? The stay-at-home life can be a tricky one, but when the choice is made – there are pros and cons to the decision (like all choices in motherhood). I have had the privilege of being on both sides of the fence. If you could decide, without thinking about the cost, what would it be? According to a Gallup Poll, some 28% of the women surveyed reported feeling depression, anger, and sadness. Hi everyone! I still felt like I did not know what I was doing! The choice of being a stay at home mom versus a working mom has both it’s pros and cons. I have several baby carriers and one stays in my car at all times! The Pros & Cons of Stay At Home Mom. Some affiliate links included (only because they’re products I love and add no additional cost to you). While most people seem to have no trouble discerning what a babysitter, daycare worker, or preschool teacher does, they… March 29, 2011 | By MadameNoire. My number one responsibility is to make sure he is taken care of and provided for. Though she and her family are now on a tighter budget, they’re still able … Your email address will not be published. For Stay- at-Home Moms. It also means more responsibilities with an ever-growing list of tasks to stuff into your day. I work hard to find times throughout the day (usually during nap time or before he wakes up) to work on my business. I tried to join mom groups when Foster was a newborn but none of the playdates were appropriate for such a young baby. If you stay home you have to learn to budget well. For me to know him and him to know me. A relationship with your child takes time and is something you don’t always have as soon as they are born. ParentsPlusKids.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Pros & Cons: The Stay-at-Home Mom. Becoming a stay at home mom was an absolute privilege but that doesn’t mean it is always easy. At the same time I would often feel I was depriving my sons in some way because I was working while someone else cared for them. I knew how to have success and do a good job every step of the way. A lot of rhetoric has been heard regarding whether families with stay-at-home moms are emotionally healthier, and all the pros and cons of mothers working outside the house have been presented. However, there are pros and cons to becoming stay-at-home-mom. I was learning how to do things in a new way. For all the costs of living, there are some moments that you won’t ever get back. "There aren't any other stay-at-home dads just around the block," says Jay Massey, who cares for his son and used to run a website for at-home dads called Slowlane. Let’s start with the positives. With so many conflicting voices, how do you decide? I am no longer a teacher of classrooms. I get to be the #1 influence on my son (at least for now). There were no two days a like and that means I could never predict what was going to happen next. Over the past year and a half, I have made the transition from being a full-time working mom to a full-time stay-at-home-mom. If you become a stay-at-home mom, some of your friends and coworkers might think you’re lazy, taking the easy way out, or that you just don’t want to work. Depending on the solo-income of your significant other, it’s difficult to consider the stay-at-home lifestyle. There’s the full-time (or even part-time) paycheck to consider, and other perks that having two working adults will mean. Where I knew exactly what I was doing everyday. So, the stay-at-home mom change could be the perfect solution. By being on my … Plush she’s making major bucks monthly though her blog. Then I became a stay at home mom. This feeling was definitely the strongest when my son was a newborn and I had just made the decision to be a stay at home mom. by Bena November 4, 2019. written by Bena November 4, 2019. Stress and Academics! You are right – Mom’s are heroes. I hiked a ton before Foster was born. Starting your own business while staying at home can definitely be a pro (not easy or quickly successful but still a pro). This is just one idea. Take your kids to the museum for a full day of education and fun. Maybe being an introvert helps when you consider the realities of being-a … I have found that being stay at home mom has a certain stigma attached to it. My hope is that this helps other moms making a transition. It’s important to listen to their advice, particularly in times of great stress. After much thought and consideration I’ve finally decided that I need to talk about the pros and cons of being a stay at home mom. The switch sometimes seems advantageous to dads, but sometimes it reverses completely. It’s definitely not always pretty but relationships never are. Because here come the pros that make it all better and so worth it! 1. The introvert in me took over hard core. When he was a baby we were not on a schedule. While the working mother is viewed as ambitious and driven to leave their children to bring home a paycheck. When he would cry, I didn’t know how to calm him. All of these comments would come with disapproving glances. I love being a stay at home mom… I pray daily that I’m the influence he needs. These facts may help you to decide whether staying at home or returning to the workplace is best for you. I don’t know any parent who regrets time spent with their kids, especially kids who have moved on to their own lives. I’m a stay at home mom of a 10 month old and 4 year old. These were not always the most successful groups for me but it was my fault. When I first made the transition from a full time teacher to a full time stay at home mom well meaning people would always ask me, “how are you enjoying not working?” or “are you still staying home with your baby?” Let me just tell you that those type of comments made me want to spit! Know the top 10 benefits and downsides of being a stay-at-home mom before you make the transition from working mom to stay-at-home mom. It is a fact that stay-at-home moms and dads tend to spend more time with their children and may make them feel more secure. 10 Must-Read Books for Stay-at-Home Mamas, 10 Warning Signs of a Bad Daycare (Parent’s Guide). Priceless is a hard thing to compete with. I’ve never been a huge coupon mom. Cons of Being a Stay-at-Home Mom Being a Stay-at-Home Mom Failed My Son in This 1 Major Way. That I’m able to show him love kindness, compassion and discipline in a way that equips him to go out into the world because unfortunately I can’t keep him in a bubble, although, Amazon should sell those. I love him to pieces, but some days he drives me completely insane. One-in-five moms and dads are stay-at-home parents, and the benefits are clear. Adjusting to preschool is sometimes challenging for such kids. The Mental and physical struggle of juggling Childcare, Cooking & Cleaning all while trying to keep a full time job is real and stressful. There’s no talk about what the state of the world, upcoming events, or what you had for dinner last night. Ofcourse, there are many advantages of being a stay at home parent but there are also some disadvantages. Those challenges may have even been part of what has influenced you and shaped you into the person you are today. But, this is a great resources! Stay-at-home moms create an environment where bonding takes place and children learn to attach to relationships. The Smarter Decision? It is likely that most moms only get to experience being either a working mom or a stay at home mom in their early motherhood journey. A new survey by Care.com has found that one in four working moms cry once a week due to the stress of “Balancing Work and Family Life”. Pros and Cons to Becoming a Work-At-Home Mom. We got this! Please log in again. That said, the easiest part of being a stay-at-home dad is knowing that the person throwing temper tantrums is actually a child. “Stay-at-home moms have THE most difficult job. Now that I am a stay at home mom my direction has shifted. If you’re considering being a stay at home mom, there are plenty of pros and cons you must weigh before you make your final decision. Some stay-at-home moms feel their babies are clingier than those of working moms. There’s no question that your child will be relying on you and you alone — a habit that can be hard to kick. It’s easy to feel like the world’s expectation is perfection. It has been an amazing journey that I’m so thankful to still be on. If you thrive on social interaction, it’s just you and your kids all day long. Join me as I share mom tips, toddler activities, encouragement and a little dash of health and fitness. Below given is a list of the disadvantages of being a stay at home parent: Reduce in the Household Income 4 Pros of Being a Stay at Home Mom. Make sure you have a way to get some affirmation. If you’re a people pleaser like me then you know that words and looks like this are like daggers. This is another thing that took some time and you can not force. There is nowhere to hide, and you are constantly on call. Read: 5 Encouraging Quotes for Those Days. Most people think you're living the life of luxury with no job, no boss, and no workplace stress. That’s why I want to normalize being imperfect. I didn’t know when he was going to sleep. The decision to become a stay-at-home mom is not an easy one. As you relearn to do life with a child you gain confidence with each success. When you look back at your life five or ten years from now, will you regret not working more? So, I decided to compile a list of my Top 10 Pros and Cons of Being A Stay at Home Mom in order to share with others what to expect and what the highs and lows of being at home with the kids fulltime are. Once my son arrived it took some life experience to form a relationship with him. Because it’s normal to have ups and downs but I convinced myself that if I say them out loud I’m some how a bad mom and that’s just not the truth. As a teacher I was constantly getting affirmation. Children cry, whine, manipulate, and are naturally full of drama. I did not trust my “mom gut” or even know that was a thing. If you’ve read The 5 Love Languages you know that there are five different ways that you feel loved. The research shows in 2014, the number of stay-at-home-moms has grown.71%of moms choose to work outside the home and 29% became stay-at-home -mom. Being a stay at home offers benefits to your budget too. They grow up so fast, and it may feel like you miss so much in the mad dash of home-and-work imbalance. I started out with an Infentino when he was a new born. My number one way is by getting words of affirmation. Must be very disciplined. The bond we have formed over the last two years is so strong. Like I mentioned, before having my son I was a teacher. The con would be that, as a stay-at-home mom, you’re missing out on career opportunities, advancement, and fulfilling goals you’ve dreamed about your whole life. There are some legit surveys that will help you bring home so extra cash. 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