The Rewards of Becoming a Stay-At-Home Mom

Motherhood is serious work
I find that the phrase “working mother” is redundant. Regardless of being a corporate employed mom or a stay-at-home mom, it’s really all the same. It doesn’t make one better or any less as a mom. Being one or the other either by imposition or by choice, the possibilities are endless and worth celebrating if you just sit back, take time to enjoy the ride, and marvel at life’s greatest pleasure --motherhood.


Making the move to being a stay-at-home mom
A year ago, I took a break from my seven year-corporate employment stint and opted to be a full time homemaker. I wanted to celebrate it! I wanted to cherish the moment while it lasted just in case I decided to pursue corporate employment again should the need should arise. Without the clocking in and out demand of an employee, my family and I now have all the time to enjoy being with one another 24/7. Moreover, becoming a stay-at-home mom enabled me to explore all possibilities and adventures there are as a wife, a parent and as an individual.


The ups and downs
Being a stay-at-home mom and full time homemaker is no walk in the park. Every day for me is an adventure of trial and error of learning how to instill discipline, study habits, eating habits, etc. and deciding which how much is just the right attention without being overprotective, boring, or a killjoy, all at some time.

Yes, I still do get stressed at times, like during the time when Chase cut his hair during his art class, whenever I have to constantly remind him to do his assignments, getting him to eat healthy, making him sleep on time, or when I play nurse and I worry most on the days that he is under the weather.

To any parent, the challenge and responsibility of molding your child is always a difficult task. But to be able to do that is most definitely an amazing experience, and worth missing a monthly dose of retail therapy, which I did indulge in before as an employee. For a full year now, I get to be a part of my son’s key developmental milestones. I get to meet his teachers, friends and classmates. I meet fellow moms and I have the luxury of time to indulge in endless chatter about our little ones.

 

Click here to read more about Des's priceless bonding moments with her son.

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Readon to learn more about Des's priceless bonding moments with her son.

 

During the few moms’ nights out that I allow myself to have, over bottles of beers and shots of tequilas, during our tipsy moments, we drink and laugh our hearts out over our little ones’ antics. It would even appear that we are having a parents’ conference. I never run out of stories to share. I truly can be a stage mom to my heart’s content!  


Priceless mom-son bonding moments
Every day is a “date” day with my son. Because we are together after school hours, we are free to engage in debates on simple things such as choosing the best kids’ channel and which show to watch, and then we talk about these shows and characters as if they truly mean the world to us.

I now have the needed energy to take part in every opportunity in developing my son’s reasoning skills; hence, we argue and fight our hearts’ out, like there is no tomorrow on even silly things and occasions. Of course, the best part is the kiss and make up.

My son is at the age of discovering things. He never runs out of questions to ask and ideas to talk about – the ABCs of whys and hows. I’m happy to indulge him with these musings, myself serving as his ultimate walking dictionary, encyclopedia, world almanac and atlas, and even sometimes his debate partner. With this, I constantly engage myself to commit in being a part of my son’s primary education. I marvel at things I rediscover, even at simple things like the color of the rainbow and that “I” in ROYGBIV is Indigo, which is supposedly Red Violet.

My heart flutters when I hear him say that he’s willing to forego buying toys as long as I stay at home with him. This is the adult me that still can’t help rationalizing things. But being with my son constantly allows me to revere simple things and how simple gestures can mean so much and bring such happiness to both of us.

The teamwork in us shines the most during party parlor games, when we want to win most prizes (Who doesn’t want to?). And then we take time to strategize how to win the most tickets and prizes in amusement parks and arcade games / machines.

I will always treasure our daily dose of hugs, kisses and “I Love Yous” that comes in unlimited quantity and availability. I remember attending a team building seminar that we all need at least 3 servings of power hugs per day. In a year’s time, though, I think I got my supply to last me a lifetime.

 

Click here to read on about how Des and her sources of inspiration in becoming a stay-at-home mom.

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Read on to learn more about Des and her sources of inspiration in becoming a stay-at-home mom.

 

Taking inspiration
I cannot say that it’s all peaches and cream. But like in the Who Moved My Cheese Story by Dr. Stephen Johnson, I’m Haw and I’m just simply loving every moment of it. So when I find myself faced with this adventure, I lovingly remember my take on that simple, yet delightfully heartwarming and witty story.

Allow me to share why from these excerpts and learning from the story…because in life, no matter what,

• Change Happens – They Keep Moving the Cheese
• Anticipate Change - Get Ready For The Cheese To Move
• Monitor Change -Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old
• Adapt To Change Quickly -The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese
• Change - Move With The Cheese
• Enjoy Change! - Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!
• Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again & Again - They Keep Moving The Cheese.

So I say, since I committed myself to do just this, I hold this experience to bond with my little one with the highest regard. Becoming a stay at home mom allows me to capture and share family moments that are all scrapbook-worthy. And as a bonus, I find time to reinvent myself. That it’s never too late to explore and develop a passion, like for myself, writing. And then at the end of the day, I say, lucky me, now I’m doing what I love doing best.

 

Photography by Jun Pinzon