Choosing Happiness at Home
This post is part of the MamaBlogga group writing project. The theme this month is “choosing happiness”.
When my oldest son was only a few weeks old I found myself faced with one of the biggest dilemmas in my life: whether or not to return to work.
Until that moment it was something I had honestly never thought about. I had been working since I was a teenager, starting at a small flower shop and making my way through local fast food joints, then on to a telemarketing company in college. Being a working woman was just who I was, who I assumed I would always be. But in that moment that I sat on the couch, holding my new baby in my arms, realizing that my maternity leave was nearly over something new took over. I found myself wanting to be home more than anything else.
I sat there on the couch, eyes full of tears, pleading with Dearest that we would find a way to survive on one income. I begged him to promise me that I would not have to go back to work, that I would not have to hand my baby to someone else to care for. Together we made the choice to forgo the life we had been living for one a little less comfortable, a little less padded, and a little less full of material prizes. But in exchange we were choosing happiness.
I won’t lie, since then we’ve faced some hard times. There have been months when money was stretched tight, when bills were juggled, when we had to give up luxuries that most people take for granted. It hasn’t always been easy, and I’ve spent more than my share of nights wondering if it would be better to be a two income family again.
And then I wake up to two shining faces greeting me each morning. I get to spend whole days with them, capturing every moment from first word to first step. When my oldest began reading it was at my side that he sounded out those first words, when my second finally began speaking it was in my ear that those words flew. We get to share mid morning coloring sessions, eat PB&Js together on the living room floor, and spend afternoons curled up on the couch reading stories and telling silly stories. It’s beautiful and silly and exhausting, and sometimes aggravating.
And I wouldn’t choose anything else for all the money in the world.
I totally can relate to this post! We’re flat broke but I wouldn’t trade staying home with my kids for anything. So we don’t have a plasma TV, we don’t have much of any of the cool new modern gadgets, but we are happy. And I’d much rather deal with the stress and frustration of full-time motherhood than deal with the stress and frustration of a job that I would have simply so we could buy STUFF.
Kim @ What’s That Smell?\´s last blog post..Military Commissaries SAVE YOU MONEY
I had a similar conversation. Only my husband wasn’t quite so supportive about the poverty. So instead of happy, we almost got a divorce. He didn’t think sending the kids off to be raise by others was any big deal. Everyone else is doing it and they have cars – that run. And houses – they own. We’re doing the happy compromise now though. . . I stay home and work. It’s the best (and worst) of both worlds.
I think I’ve just discovered an ability to be happy. Period.
Tracee Sioux\´s last blog post..Fit Girl Series – Obese Teens on Oprah
Funny how courageous choosing to be a SAHM can be, especially when it was the norm 20-30 years ago. I applaud your choice and your perspective, and hope both help you to continue to be happy!
Thanks for participating.
Jordan (MamaBlogga)\´s last blog post..January Group Writing Project
[...] Choosing Happiness At Home by Summer [...]
3 of my children had to go to daycare because I was a single mom. there is a HUGE difference in them and my other two that have always been home. happy children are children that are home, being raised by their parents. My older ones still hurt over daycare. My younger ones are the happiest ones on the block. If you have a choice, stay home, I know a lot of kids that are incredibly unhappy because their parents work, when all they want is their mom or dad, just someone to be there for them. they could care less about all the “expensive” things they have.
[...] Choosing Happiness At Home by Summer [...]
I LOVE this definition of “Happiness!” Being with my baby – yep, that brings a smile to my face!
Mozi Esme’s Mommy\´s last blog post..OLZ Thanks!