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The Definitive Choice
by Cheryl Gochnauer
Are you thinking about becoming an at-home parent, but feel paralyzed when
faced with actually making the decision? Take a look at this recent letter
I received...
Cheryl,
How do you get past the "waffling"? I know being a SAHM is the best thing
for me and my family. However, I still like "things and stuff". Does that
mean that the SAHM life is not a reality for me? I want to make a sane
decision. I feel financially close to being home but unsure of the
long-term SAHM budget issues. I keep thinking through things and my head
feels like it is about to pop. I am afraid to walk away from work. I make
more than my husband and I really enjoy what I do. I don't want to make
everyone suffer because of what I want. This whole situation makes me feel
"between a rock and a hard place"! Lynne" |
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First of all, Lynne: DO NOT QUIT FULL-TIME WORK YET. That might sound
funny coming from me, but the stay-at-home lifestyle demands confidence.
Confidence that you're making the absolute best move for your family;
confidence that you're called to do this; confidence that there's no other
place you'd rather be, even on the tough days. (My motto remains, "The
worst day at home still beats the best day at the office.") |
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What does your husband say? Do you have supportive people around you? Is
there a possibility that you could transform your full-time job into a
job-sharing or part-time scenario? Lots of women find their perfect balance
by blending their home time with a undemanding part-time job, or a
work-at-home position. (Think about it -- that's what I'm doing. I'm a
mother first, but I'm also an author and speaker who works out of her home.)
Here's another way of looking at it. Say your husband asked you to marry
him, but you didn't know him well enough yet. So you were all kinda jumpy
and apprehensive, because -- even though he turned out to be the one for
you -- you weren't convinced of that fact yet (although you had to admit,
the guy was cute!). Would you go ahead and marry him anyway? Not if you're
smart.
What you would do is date him a while longer, while you were gathering the
info that you needed to make your commitment to him. Then when you said, "I
do," you did so with all your heart. And even when the tough times came,
they didn't threaten your commitment, because you knew why you married him.
The same principle applies to making the jump to home.
Related Articles:
Exiting
Off the Fastlane
Chores I used to perform as the rest of the family slept are now done
during normal working hours. I schedule my duties to fit my
family's timetable. I like being able to focus on doing this one
full-time job well. The hours are great, it pays terrific
personal dividends, and my co-workers love me.
Yes,
You CAN Afford to Stay at Home with Your Kids
What do you mean you can't afford to stay home with your kids? Sorry,
I don't believe it. I used to believe, but not anymore. Here are some
helpful tips and major life-changing strategies to allow you the power
to stay home with your kids.
Tempted
Again - To Work or Not to Work?
It happened again. For about the fourth time in the year since my son
was born and I quit my job, I was tempted to go back to work. The
classified ad read in part: Part-time. Professional Office. 20-25
hours/week; flexible. $13.00/hr.
You’ve
Made the Decision to Stay Home - Now What?
The security of a second income may keep you from staying home with
your child. If this is true for you, and if staying home with your
child is what you really want, remember that there are always options.
Facing
the No. 1 Obstacle
Maxed out. Stressed out. Worn out.
I was out and out ready for a change.
A
Time For Work
"Do you have any suggestions for those of us who have to go back
to work due to finances?" - "C" for Confused
Working
with No Faces
I have made an interesting set of
friends on the internet, most of whom I've never spoken with and
probably never will. Yet I know them.
I
Have No Right to Complain
I’m
doing exactly what I wanted to do, and with a lot more resources,
appliances, and conveniences than my mother had when she raised six
kids full-time!
The
Secret Life of A Stay-At-Home Mom
The idea that mothers who stay home
with their children are, in effect, Oprah-watching homeroom moms whose
day consists solely of baking cookies and taking care of their
families, is, unfortunately, a common one.
Schedule
Number 682
The
difficulty in maintaining a schedule and a routine is one of the most
common complaints of a stay-at-home mom.
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