I admit it, I skipped the hard part.
I was never a SAHM to infants; Elizabeth was almost five and Jacob was two when I resigned. In fact, it's probably pretty much cheating to embark on a SAHM adventure when your kid is starting kindergarten, but oh well. Honestly - I feel like Elizabeth needs me at home more now than she ever did as a baby or toddler, and I don't see that changing any time soon. Being an at-home parent to a school age kid allows me to be present in other parts of her life in a way that my particular career never would have allowed. People have already started asking me what I'm going to do when Jacob starts kindergarten - and right now, I hope the answer is "this."
It means I can lead a girl scout troop.
It means I can volunteer in classrooms.
It means the kids can be in almost any activity, no matter what time it is.
And it means I can *gasp* pursue some of my own interests! Cultivate friendships! Read without anyone screaming in the background! Shame on me for admitting it! But the freedom that comes with Jacob being in school even just two mornings a week is intoxicating, and has definitely left me wanting more.
Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater, I know. ;)
That sounds awesome. Maybe you cheated, but it sounds like a great life :)
ReplyDeleteI almost left my job back in February - submitted my resignation and everything - and people looked at me like I was a little nuts. You're going to stay home NOW? Just as your kids are getting to school age?
In the end, I changed my mind (it had more to do with work dramas and politics than anything else, and those circumstances changed for the better) and I'm still working. But to be honest, I was really really really, REALLY looking forward to this fall. With the older one in full-time elementary school and the younger one in part-time preschool, I'd have multiple hours per week to do *whatever I wanted.* OMG! Along with, like you said, being able to put the kids in any activity and be present in their schools and be involved with the daily stuff in a way that I can't be now.
I still mourn the loss of that life pretty frequently, even though I mostly feel like staying at work was the right decision. And I'm very glad that you are enjoying it for all its worth :)