I just realized a very special 2-year anniversary just passed me by. It has been 2 years since I decided to quit my well-paying job to stay home with my first little love monkey. At the time, I was scared to death, but now I know I made the best decision for my family. After all, I get to see moments like this all the time…{Mondays are almost always pajama day at our house!}
I’ve been lucky to find a flexible part-time job and plenty of other creative ways to supplement our income, but it hasn’t been easy. There have been months I’ve scratched my head trying to figure out how to come up with extra money so I could justify getting a new pair of shoes.
Staying home is NOT easy, nor is working full-time with kids. All parents work in some way, and all for the benefit of their kids.
But, if you’re considering quitting the corporate world to stay home, I just have a few items you should consider:
10 Things to Consider Before Staying Home With Kids
10. You have to be slightly nuts to stay home. First and foremost, remember your discussions {or, in my case, lack thereof} will revolve around saying things like “Don’t stick that up your nose!” or “Get your hands out of your pants!” You will be a slave to preparing kid-friendly snacks {which, for me, involves a lot of time at my cutting board} and trying to figure out exactly why the baby is crying for the umpteenth time.
9. Your house will NEVER be clean. Maybe with kid #1 my house was pretty darn clean. But add one more kid to the mix, and it’s virtually impossible to keep it clean at all times. My floors are always sticky, there’s aways laundry to be folded, or someone is coloring the walls with red lipstick. Always. Clean freaks, beware, and be sure to pin lots of articles on how to get odd stains out.
8. You will go through toilet paper like crazy. Your potty breaks are no longer on the company’s dime. Plan accordingly. You don’t want to run out. And you will almost always have a visitor when you go. That takes some getting used to! 😉
7. If you are a social person, you will need other stay-at-home friends. For me, Twitter and Facebook are crucial. I feel like I’m talking to people…even if nobody responds! But also, in-person play dates with fellow parents who are home are needed. Make sure you have at least one person to turn to when you need help during the day — believe me, you will need them!
6. Yoga pants or sweats will provide comfort most of the day. If you’re one to love getting dolled up, think twice. Finger painting, crawling in tiny places and breastfeeding don’t translate well with cute trendy dresses and stylish pumps. Don’t even get me started on hair. I barely have time to brush mine, let alone take an hour to dry and style it. Nice hair mostly happens on weekends only in my world.
5. You will need to learn how to cook. If you’re not already a whiz in the kitchen, get ready. The mere thought of taking two kids out to eat alone — even if it’s just going through the drive-thru — is daunting. Sure, I’ve done it, but it is not fun. Breakfast, lunch, and 98% of the time, dinner, is at home. It’s just easier. Also note: You will spend a TON of time at the grocery store to provide said meals.
4. Find a hobby. I don’t know many people who just stay home and plays with their kids all day {not that there’s anything wrong with that}. Whether you start a side craft business knitting hats, take yoga classes, or find a part-time work from home gig, you will need something as an outlet just for you.
3. Shopping becomes strategy. Gone are the days when shopping was fun {unless I’m alone, which is rare}. I don’t buy anything that costs more than $30 without a little research. Every dollar counts when you are on a budget. Don’t turn your nose up to second-hand items. Always look for coupons or promo codes for discounts. Bundle your insurance policies for savings. Forgo cable. Little things can add up and make more room in your budget for classes and fun outings to enrich your child’s life and help them with socialization.
2. You need to be an internet rockstar. Thankfully, there are local blogs to follow, but I am always scouring everywhere I go for FREE things to do to keep little minds occupied. Know where to look to find the scoop in your area. Plan events in advance so you have them on the calendar and can plan your week accordingly.
1. The number one question: Is it financially possible? Everyone likes to think they could live off of $50k a year {more or less}, but then reality sets in. Are you willing to sacrifice vacations, expensive hobbies, nights on the town, and the likes? Remember to NEVER stop saving. Things come up, cars break-down, roofs collapse and more. Always have some money in the bank.
If you stay at home or work from home, what discoveries have you made?
Great advice, Lauren. I was fortunate that I stayed at home with Marshall. His dad and I owned our business (a five and dime). When Marshall was about 2, I would go in to the store for a couple of hours eac day, and his dad would be home with Marshall. This really worked out well: it gave ME a little spending money and a little time out in the world. Plus it gave Marshall and his dad some time together. (Of course, when I got home, the house was TWICE as cluttered as it was when I left!) All the sacrifices are worth it.
Oh! I definitely agree that you have to be a little bit nuts to stay home with your kids! You also have to not be afraid to be extremely goofy. Singing, dancing, and funny faces are a regular in my day now! Whatever gets the little munchkin to laugh is fine with me!
Great insight on what it’s like to stay at home! Definitely good for people considering taking on the task to think about =]
Wow, every one of these is PERFECT! So very true, all these things are definitely what it’s like for me and great points to consider.
I was always the person who said I wouldn’t be able to stay home with my kids, that I’d need at *least* a part-time job to retain my sense of self. I just turned down two GREAT full-time jobs in the past month because, even though I want the extra money and an excuse to do my hair and wear heels and have adult conversations, I’d rather wear yoga pants and go through toilet paper like crazy and try to figure out new kid-friendly snacks to have on hand, because that means I’m getting tons of snuggles all day — and the satisfaction I get from watching my 2-year-old daughter read an entire book page by page (hello, great memorization skills) is way more satisfying than having a new pair of heels every month.
(and yes, those were run-on sentences, but that’s how we speak around here!)
But I do have to say, I don’t know how working-outside-the-home moms do it. How in the world do they manage to clean, make dinner, go grocery shopping and keep their sanity?!
Being with your offspring 24/7 can get overwhelming. Accept help if it’s offered, or even ask! If you don’t have family around, consider swapping with a friend so you can each have some down time. Sometimes I need me time, when no little people are falling all over themselves and interrupting each other to tell me a million things at once!
I want to stay home with Andrew and be able to volunteer and all that at the girls schools but necessity dictates that I must work. Especially since my husband owns his own business and I carry the insurance on the entire family.
So often I feel like I’ve missed out on a lot.
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