Former working mom, suddenly a SAHM - got any tips?

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Permalink Reply by Rae Asselin on July 2, 2009 at 2:17pm

Hi Jenni,
I hope you will enjoy your summer off with your children. My advice is to live and enjoy each day - they grow up very quickly. You seem to be off to a good start with your thoughts on how to work through it. When setting up your schedule, remember that kids LOVE to help. Find ways to work together - let them help you with the housework, and create time when you are doing things together quietly - like they can read or play quietly while you take some time for yourself to network or blog or read for yourself. It's important, especially if you plan on returning to work eventually, to stay connected with "the outside world", but also to create a new "moms" network, too. There are lots of opportunities for SAHM's to work from home and make some money, depending upon your likes and experiences. Make your home in to an oasis that is enjoyable and fulfilling for you and your children. You don't always have to go out to have a good time - many of the best memories will be made right in your own home when you are "just living'... You can teach your children valuable lessons by learning how to enjoy each other at home and allowing them to "just be kids" at home, without always being on the go. The time will come, trust me, when they will be so busy with their own schedules, sports, friends, that time with Mom at home will be limited, and you'll treasure that time you had with them when they were young. (I decided not to return to "the corporate" world and have since found "at home" opportunities that fit nicely in my schedule and give me the freedom to continue to enjoy my children and their crazy schedules.) I hope you will cherish this special time with your kids. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Heather George on July 2, 2009 at 3:03pm

Hi Jenni,

I worked as an ICU/ER nurse before I started the SAHM gig, I found it to be a difficult transition! My kids are 3, 22 months, and 5 months. We do a variety of activities to keep from going stir crazy at the house. Some of our favorites are story time at the library, swimming (at home or at the public pool...it's good to change it up), the zoo and MY favorite...play dates. I have a friend who has children close in age to mine. The kids have a great time together and I get some adult conversation.

Heather
www.thingsamommyneeds.com

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Permalink Reply by doula6angelita on July 2, 2009 at 9:15pm

Don't worry, it is not the end of the world yet!

1. Volunteer: make a playdate circle, organize a cleanup, donate to a daycare, read stories at the children's room of the library.

2. Join groups in your area or make some up: walking clubs, knitting, reading groups,...

3. Keep blogging, keep learning, keep blogging, keep learning....

4. Scrapbook with your little ones, have messy, loud paper towel tube parties/marching bands, make these memory-filled days!

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Permalink Reply by Nightowlmama on July 2, 2009 at 11:22pm

I find it harder to be a stay at home mom than to be a working one. I worked for the first almost 20 yrs and I've been home for 4 yrs now. Keep busy. Set schedules, make lists, plan activities, park districts usually have some cheap classes to take advantage of.

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Permalink Reply by Jenni H on July 3, 2009 at 6:08am

Wow ladies - thank you so much for your support and advice! It is comforting to know that I am not alone and having Twittermoms behind me, I feel that I am going to be okay. My job departure was not by choice but I am going to make the best of it. My girls won't be this young again and we are going to have a special summer. As for the work world, well I am taking a break from corporate marketing and PR, but I am actively networking and blogging. I will keep you posted on our adventures and please do the same!

Take care,
Jenni (@gurnage)

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Permalink Reply by Lani on July 3, 2009 at 5:46pm

Hi Jenni,

Everyone's comments are spot on and yes, you definitely sound like you have it together and will be fine. I stayed at home for a few years when I had my first child, but have been back in the workforce for the past 6 years. How I miss my days as a SAHM! The best way I describe that time in my life to anyone who has never had an opportunity to stay at home is "bliss"! Because I didn't have the stress of work, I found that for me, I was able to really live my life in full appreciation mode. The pace was so much more manageable to me and I was able to live life with so much more clarity! I think I was my most creative at that point in my life, primarily because my energies were not spent on outside work!

The only thing I'd like to add is that because I didn't have an outside job (and coworkers) to get worked up over, I started to obsess about things that wouldn't otherwise have bothered me. Don't get involved in fellow SAHM drama and remember to keep things in perspective! Balance is everything. By networking and blogging, you probably won't have this problem. Twitter and easy blogging didn't exist when I stayed at home!

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Permalink Reply by Robin Hartman on July 4, 2009 at 8:38am

Lots of really great advice here!

Make sure you have something for yourself too. Many moms do so much for their family, they forget their me time. Find a hobby all your own and spend an hour or so doing something you want to do.

As everyone else said, schedules are great. Go to the park. And most importantly, have a great time.

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Permalink Reply by Robin Hartman on July 4, 2009 at 8:44am

One more thing, my boys are 4 and 5. I do many craft activities with them and, as a columnist for handmadenews.org, I often write about the crafts I do with my boys. If you need any help getting ideas for summer activities, go here: http://www.handmadenews.org/department/index.php?did=20

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Permalink Reply by Groovy Mom on July 4, 2009 at 12:06pm

Yup, free and cheap activities and mapping out a schedule is great. I would also work on creating a notebook or binder to keep home information in -- managing a house is just like having a job!!! You can have you weekly schedules, To Do lists, meals, activities, etc. all in your binder. Helps to organize your brain, too.

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Permalink Reply by Vicki Moore on July 4, 2009 at 1:51pm

If you decide that you still need to cultivate the working side of your life, I have found a wonderful balance working part time at home with Stella & Dot. Check out my website www.stelladot.com/vickimoore

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Permalink Reply by Somer on July 5, 2009 at 7:00pm

Hi, I'm not in the Atlanta area so I don't know much about it. I do have a blog that list SCANNED, REAL work-at-home jobs if you find that you need something like that. I hope this helps you. You can visit my blog if you'd like.
http://workathome.blogfloss.com/

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Permalink Reply by Caroline T. on July 6, 2009 at 8:48am

Congratulations! I can't tell you how many of my working mom friends wish they could be home with their kids...so you're one of the lucky ones! I too left my job after 6 years (10 years in the industry) but I can't tell you how amazing it's been to see my little one growing everyday. My advice would be to schedule a couple of playdates or activities during the week but also to spend some alone time with them as well. Also, I agree with Coreena about joining MOPS (www.mops.org)...that's a great place to meet new women and take your two year old while the older one is a school. MOPS has really blessed my life. I think you've made an amazing life-changing decision (for both you and your kids) and know that you will enjoy it :)

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