Comments on: A thought about staying at home….. http://www.3kidslater.com/being-a-stay-at-home-mom/ A blog for stay at home moms. Sat, 15 May 2010 22:54:03 +0000 hourly 1 By: Brenda Biebesheimer http://www.3kidslater.com/being-a-stay-at-home-mom/comment-page-1/#comment-263 Brenda Biebesheimer Sat, 15 May 2010 22:54:03 +0000 http://www.3kidslater.com/?p=10#comment-263 I am a stay at home mom with an 18 year old freshman in college and a 16 year old high school sophmore - both girls. I have primarily been at home since my first daughter was born - either at home completely or working very minimally. From 2007 to 2009, I went back to work full-time - as wonderful as the cushion of that paycheck was, I felt overwhelmed, distracted and too tired to take care of my home and family in the way I was used to. I felt like I was continually running to catch up and could enjoy very little of my life. The summers were the toughest - when the girls would be home all day by themselves and I was at work. I wanted to take them places and enjoy some relaxed time together (before the oldest was off to college). Another concern was that my oldest had a boyfriend at the time and I was concerned that she would bring him into the house when a parent was not there (which was, of course, all day M-F 8-5:30). The teen years are SUCH A CRITICAL TIME. Our kids are making decisions about who they are and whether or not to try drugs/alcohol, get involved sexually (and a healthy number do), etc. They are learning to drive (and all the worries and concerns that they will do it safely) and trying to figure out who their real friends are (fitting in becomes so key). This is on top of the tremendous pressure to perform academically, find something their "good" at - like band, a sport, speech, drama, etc, and get into college. Keeping open communication going with your teen is so critical. Being a parent of a teen is a big, big job. They are growing up and trying to figure out so many things. I am happy to be back home again. I know I'll blink my eyes, and my youngest will be a high school graduate and on her way to college. It is really just a precious few year and then they are young adults with their oun lives. I am a stay at home mom with an 18 year old freshman in college and a 16 year old high school sophmore – both girls. I have primarily been at home since my first daughter was born – either at home completely or working very minimally. From 2007 to 2009, I went back to work full-time – as wonderful as the cushion of that paycheck was, I felt overwhelmed, distracted and too tired to take care of my home and family in the way I was used to. I felt like I was continually running to catch up and could enjoy very little of my life. The summers were the toughest – when the girls would be home all day by themselves and I was at work. I wanted to take them places and enjoy some relaxed time together (before the oldest was off to college). Another concern was that my oldest had a boyfriend at the time and I was concerned that she would bring him into the house when a parent was not there (which was, of course, all day M-F 8-5:30). The teen years are SUCH A CRITICAL TIME. Our kids are making decisions about who they are and whether or not to try drugs/alcohol, get involved sexually (and a healthy number do), etc. They are learning to drive (and all the worries and concerns that they will do it safely) and trying to figure out who their real friends are (fitting in becomes so key). This is on top of the tremendous pressure to perform academically, find something their “good” at – like band, a sport, speech, drama, etc, and get into college. Keeping open communication going with your teen is so critical. Being a parent of a teen is a big, big job. They are growing up and trying to figure out so many things. I am happy to be back home again. I know I’ll blink my eyes, and my youngest will be a high school graduate and on her way to college. It is really just a precious few year and then they are young adults with their oun lives.

]]> By: Helene http://www.3kidslater.com/being-a-stay-at-home-mom/comment-page-1/#comment-220 Helene Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:44:24 +0000 http://www.3kidslater.com/?p=10#comment-220 I also feel very blessed to be able to stay home with my kids. But there are days where I wonder why on earth I wanted to stay home....I have to say this is by far the hardest, most challenging "job" I've ever had. With that said, though, I wouldn't change a thing....I never want to look back on this time in my children's lives and wish I had been more present. This was a wonderful post! I also feel very blessed to be able to stay home with my kids. But there are days where I wonder why on earth I wanted to stay home….I have to say this is by far the hardest, most challenging “job” I’ve ever had. With that said, though, I wouldn’t change a thing….I never want to look back on this time in my children’s lives and wish I had been more present.

This was a wonderful post!

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