I clearly remember when it happened, when I officially realized that I have become a stay-at-home mom ( SAHM ). It was indeed a reality check. ‘What am I going to do all day with an infant all by myself?’, I realized vividly. ‘I can do this .’, I told myself gearing up all my hopes and strength. What do we SAHMs do all day? We work, and this job is no joke. It is a full-time job, it is never-ending, with no sick days or breaks, it is lonely, tiring, but most importantly, it is special and rewarding in its own sweet way.

Today’s SAHM may be highly educated, may have left a highly paid job to stay at home to take care of her kids. A SAHM works throughout the day, as a chef, nurse, teacher, playmate, housekeeper, laundry attendant, babysitter, all in one. The stereotype of a woman sitting at home watching TV while eating is no longer a reality. Perhaps, a SAHM does every single thing to keep her house running smoothly. From planning meals to budgets, to taking care of children and their needs, a SAHM works 24*7. She is on duty, with no vacation or sick days and no paycheques.

As a working woman (after marriage), I used to look at moms with their kids in parks and playgrounds and wished the same easy and free life for myself after having a kid. You know what, I have now realised what a difference a few years and a kid makes in our thoughts and lives. I left my job after I conceived and decided to spend more time with my son and to work from home, thus became a full-time SAHM.

Motherhood is not easy as it may seem, whether we work in an office or at home, there are challenges of a SAHM and her life.

*Busy Life

While working in an office, in addition, to paychecks, we often get breaks in the day. BUT SAHMs day starts when their kids wake up (even before that) and ends after the kids are asleep. I rarely get a chance to go to the bathroom unaccompanied. The meals are never on time now, coffee would turn into cold coffee and food to frozen food. But this is what I chose, to feed my son properly, on time and by myself.

*Explanation

It is not tiring or frustrating to stay at home, but to explain it to everyone what I do the whole day sitting at home, is what bothers me the most. Cooking, cleaning, playing, nursing, feeding, and all that you can think of, is what I do the whole day, but do not watch TV while eating for sure. Why can’t people just forget this question !!!

*Miss The Workplace

I love my son more than anything, but I do miss going to work every day and meeting my colleagues and friends. It is not that I do not enjoy my sons company, but I miss my workplace a lot.

*Anger

We, the SAHMs, are full of warmth and kindness. However, in practice, we do experience anger, stress, depression and sadness. We would never want these feelings to affect our parenting style, but it is perfectly okay to feel low at times.

*Jack Of All Trades

Being a SAHM means getting everyone’s needs met all day long. I have got used to multitasking now. Making my son eat, while running and playing, never felt so easy, but now, it seems the only way it can be done.

I wish my son young and little again so that he can be wrapped up in me. Even when I want to run away, I know that I will miss these days of SAHM. Nature has made us this way – tough parenting phases (like childbirth) and the pain, anger, stress, depression, but then we only remember the pleasure. No matter how irritating and frustrating the kids are (at times), we do it anyway, we push through these phases because we love them. Remember, one day you will blink and wonder where the time went. It is aptly said – Cherish every moment, and in our case – kids grow up very fast, so hold them, kiss them, love them, cuddle them, because one day all this will be a memory.

Being a SAHM means adapting to parenthood and its pros and cons. At first, I imagined that my home to be one of the cleanest homes. But then reality set in and I realised that it needs effort and work to do so. For me, being able to stay at home is a wonderful blessing, however, there are days when it seems a struggle . Every day has its own battles, but there are also days that are beautiful and rewarding. Being a SAHM is not easy and no one is perfect. Find out your own ways of dealing with this crazy, yet wonderful life.

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