How to become a stay at home mom involves lots of considerations and moving parts. I’ve included lots of things to think about before you decide to leave your current job to stay home with the kids. Also lots of tips on how to reach your goal of staying home.
The Beginners Guide on how to become a Stay at Home Mom
- Being a stay at home mom can be overwhelming and daunting but it doesn’t have to be. If you have been a working woman and then switched to stay home with your little ones you know how difficult it can be to juggle everything and adjust to your new normal. Setting routines for your family and home while remembering to take care of yourself will keep you succeed at the stay at home life.
- As a mom to two little ones I personally know the struggle of going from a working mama to then staying home. An opportunity presented itself when my corporate job was moving its headquarters. I decided to stay home with my 4 and 1 year old daughters. I couldn’t wait to be home with them and live the glorious life of a stay at home mom. I quickly learned it certainly is not as easy as it looks. Since adjusting to my new normal I’ve learned a lot of things that help and (some that don’t) on how to become a stay at home mom.
What it is like to be a stay at home mom?
- Being a stay at home mom has lots of perks but also is a big adjustment for families. Going from climbing the corporate ladder to changing diapers is a drastic change. Here you can find lots of helpful tip on how to not get burnt out on staying home with your kids.
- Let me clear up any misconceptions about being home with the kids. It is not an easy job. You do not have set “working hours”. You are on call from when your eyes open to when your head hits the pillow for sleep. If you have younger kids it does not include lazy days with lots of free time. There is no laying around watching tv during the day. I quickly learned that.
What to Consider when becoming a stay at home mom
- If you are thinking about leaving your job to stay home with your kids there are lots of things to consider. Most importantly you need you review your family’s financial situation and if it makes sense to leave the workforce. Will you supplement your income with a side hustle or work from home position? If you can swing your budget to stay home then yay! This is the biggest thing to consider on how to become a stay at home mom.
Tips for Success
- Learning that your day is no longer yours but theirs is a huge mind shift. If you can set a good routine and schedule for you kid’s day and chores then you will be set up for success. Success for a stay at home mom will look different for everyone. Some parents decide to stay home for homeschooling, more quality time with kids before they enter grade school, more time to build a side business, etc. Keeping to a thoughtful schedule is vital. Making time for self care is also extremely important. Having a burnt out mom is never good for families. Remembering to take a some time to do something for yourself to rest, and reset will keep the mommy fatigue away. (I know it is much easier said than done.) * Here is a post on my 5 minute Mommy beauty routine. I feel like if I get ready for the day I tend to feel better about myself and have a more productive day.
Common Questions/FAQ
- What should you consider before becoming a stay at home mom?
- The obvious answer is it review your finance situation. Can you afford the life you want on a single income? will you be able to still put away some money into your savings account? Are you ok with putting your career on hold? You may one day want to return to the work force and you have to think about your time spent away from your career. You should also consider how it will affect your social interactions. Going from being around other adults during the work day to only kids is a big change to your social interactions. Lastly you need to consider how it will affect your children. Would they benefit from the extra one on one time? It may help with their social skills, build confidence or help in school.
- How do I afford to stay home with the kids?
- Plan a budget and stick to it. Cut out any unnecessary spending, buy 2nd hand, use hand me downs. Ensure you will have enough money from your single income source to cover month to month bills and any pop up expenses.
- How can I be a stay at home mom when I can’t afford it?
- Look into a starting a side business or joining a company to be rep for companies like Rodon and Fields, Monat, and Beachbody. Another idea is to watch other children into your home to watch. Become a nanny in your own home.
- What are some misconceptions of being a stay at home mom?
- You may think you will be relaxing and having free all the time in the world to work on freezer meals, deep clean the house and work on other projects. In reality you are tending to the kids all day and dealing with all the day to day chores. Means more meals at home, more laundry, picking up more messes. You don’t have any set hours you are always working.
- What disadvantages are their of being a stay at home mom?
- There are tons of pros of staying home with your kids but there is also cons. You lose the day to day interaction with other co-workers and adults. You are with kids all day feeding, putting down for naps, dance practice drop offs and keeping them happy. The shift in your social interactions and can be tough if you don’t allow time for your own outings with friends and other adults. Some days all I crave is an adult conversation that does involve anything with the kiddos.
- What do stay at home moms do all day?
- Not sitting around twiddling their thumbs thats for sure. They are waking up early to get kids ready for school, feeding babies, laundry, dishes, running errands, cooking meals, pick up and drops off at after school activities and everything else that kids need during the day. If you are looking for some mom hacks check out this 30 simple Motherhood Tips and Tricks post.
The Last Thing You Need to Know about how to become a stay at home mom
- If staying home with your little ones is something you really want I am so excited for you. It certainly is not an easy task but so rewarding. I hope you are able to cut down on spending and get your budget in line to be able to live and thrive on one income stream. Laying down the foundation for a routine with your kids will be the key to your success. Making sure you make time for your self without kids is so important. No one likes a burnt out mama. Seeing girl friends for coffee or getting your nails done alone to catch your breath will make the hard moments with the kids more manageable. It has been a wonderful decision our family and hope it works for yours!
- If you are a stay at home mama now and have words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to fellow moms in your shoes please comment below. If you are thinking about staying home with your kids let me know your concerns or hopes and wishes for your family.
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