Why I'm No Longer Embarrassed To Say My Dream Is To Be A Stay At Home Mom

Michelle Laguitao-Manalo used to be too shy to admit her dream job to the point where she would invent one. That's because her dream job, which she currently has, is to be a stay-at-home mom. It was a social media post of Smart Parenting Editor at Large and Smart Parenting 20 Filipino Families That Inspire awardee Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio that helped her realize her dream job is nothing to be embarrassed about.

"Hi! I saw your post about you and your husband realizing you aren't big dreamers. I can relate. While my friends dream of something big, you know the usualstuff like being a doctor, lawyer, etc. my dream is to be a hands-on mummy but I was shy to admit that so I would like and just make up a random profession, she wrote to Rica through Instagram direct message.

"Now I am a stay at home mummy to 2 kids, making baon in the morning, giving them baths and just being with them 24/7, I am so proud to say, I am finally living my dream!

Rica shared Michelle's message and replied, "Someone sent me this and I wanted to encourage you all who aren't big dreamers that there really are people like us.

As Michelle details on her Facebook page on March 27 that she left being an OFW in Singapore to finally live her dreams. "I've worked in a corporate world as an OFW for years and after I became a mom, a lot has changed.. Our plans keep changing over time but our focus stays the same--we only want nothing but the best for our kids.

She adds, "It took longer than I expected to finally give up my career and be a full time mom and with God's grace, it finally came true! and wow, of all the things I've done and achieved career wise it's so much more fulfilling being with my kids 24/7. I'm happier more than ever. So yeah, I am finally living the dream. 

After receiving validation that her "simple" dream is still a dream job, Michelle wrote on the same post: "Sure, we all have our different notion of BIG dreams... We can't even compare our journey to others because each story is unique. Just know that whatever plans you have in mind right now and no matter how blurry it is, keep the faith and trust the process. God's plan is way bigger and better, that's for sure."

Michelle's post resounded with social media users, it now has 11,000 likes, 906 comments, and 9,100 shares as of this writing. The post received a variety of comments, including moms who shared that they too are like Michelle who prefer to be a stay at home mom but their family cannot afford to be a single-income household.

One mom said, "Finally! Someone has said it!" She too has only wanted to become a stay at home mom and now that she is, she's happy with her decision. "It is okay to dream big, and it is ok din to dream not-so-big."

Other moms poured in the positive response: to dream of being a stay at home mom is nothing to be embarrassed about and there's no single kind of motherhood that is better than the other.

"Whether you are a SAHM, working mom, working at home mom, know that, you are all doing great. And if there is one thing common that we all moms have, that is our love for our child." wrote one mom.

And we couldn't agree more.

Read more about how family is the reason a working parent is successful here.