You too can be a SAHM if you just prioritize

Yep folks, it is that easy. Just prioritize and budget and you too can be a SAHM (stay at home mom).

Can I tell you just how much I hate it when people say that? While I definitely think that is the case for some people that is not the solution in every family. I know that is not the answer for my family. I am home temporarily with my baby but it is temporary. In fact I have been job hunting and applying for jobs lately. I cannot afford to be at home full time, at least not if we want to eat.

We are already budgeted down to the bare minimum. We do not have cable. We drive used cars. We bargin shop. There really is nothing else we can cut out. I do not want to put my baby in daycare but I really have no choice. That is my reality.

Overall, I do not mind working except that I suck at being a working mom. Some people find that being a SAHM is really hard. And it is hard. But for me, working outside the home is a million times harder. I just really suck at it. I have heard that your home stays cleaner when you are WOHM because no one is home. Somehow, it is the opposite experience for me. I get really stressed out keeping track of everything...football practice, cooking club, parent-teach conferences, field trips and the list goes on. I just really suck at organization I guess.

I guess the thing that really rubs me the wrong way is that when you work outside the home you are seen as lesser of a mom. People view you as a part time mom. This weekend I ran into someone I have not seen in a few years. She was asking about my children and the new baby. I explained I was home with the baby right now and she said, "Good for you. You are a good mom to stay with your baby." When I go back to work I will magically become a bad mom? Is that how that works? Wow.

Many mom's truly have to work. And they are not working for fancy vacations and name brand clothes. They are working to cover insurance and put food on the table. They love their children just as much as that mom's who are fortunate enough to be home with their children.

I suspect if it were just as easy as cutting out a few extras and changing priorities there would be a lot more SAHM's.