Catch up on the Mommy, Come Home series here.
I loved my teaching job, and I think I was pretty good at it. The money (as far as teaching jobs go) was good, and I knew I was making a difference in the lives of many, many students. My transition from full-time to part-time-with-baby to stay-at-home mom took as long as it did, in part, because I was uneasy with the thought of giving up that part of me.
Of course I was everything to my baby (and my hubby) 
but would that be enough? What about making a difference in the world? What about using my college education? Couldn’t I have it all?!
I am thrilled to share with you an eloquent, insightful post from Jessica. Jessica’s blog, Life as MOM, is dedicated to all aspects of motherhood. I was encouraged and inspired by her story, and I know you will be too!
Many moons ago, I was a teenage girl, dreaming of a career in law or journalism. I pictured myself in blazer, skirt, and high heels racing up the steps of City Hall… I didn’t need anybody…
…God did a work in my life and in my heart during my senior year of high school…
…I went to college and spent a lot of time looking for Mr. Right… Thankfully, I didn’t run around with too many Mr. Wrongs before I found him. But, before I got too serious, I needed to go to France, my life’s dream. Then I decided to ditch law or the press and pursue teaching…
…I wanted to have teaching experience. I wanted to get tenure. I wanted… I dunno what. To prove myself? To earn the respect and approval of others? Looking back, I don’t know why I ever dragged my feet into motherhood…
…The school district awarded me tenure and a one year’s leave of absence just days after FishBoy was born… But, at the end of that year, we decided that we were in it for the long haul. I “retired” from public school teaching and haven’t looked back…
…I want to encourage those moms who might wonder, who might struggle, who might need to be encouraged to embrace “life as MOM.” Particularly, a mom at home…
…The last twelve years have passed in a blink of an eye. My baby is now in seventh grade and five siblings are following in his footsteps. I have a Master’s Degree. I have the education and earning potential to do other things. But, this is where I want to be. This is where I believe God has called me to be…
…Our culture wrongly places emphasis on paychecks and status. You have to fight this thinking. My identity is in Christ. I am a wife to an amazing man and a mother to amazing children. What I do with my days comes second to that, whether I’m presenting a law brief or changing a diaper…
There is so much more to Jessica’s post, I was quite tempted to publish it in full! Head on over to read more about how Jessica embraces her Life as MOM.
Did you (do you?) suffer from an identity crisis when you left work to stay at home? How did you cope?
This post is linked to Family Friday.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I didn’t have too much of an identity crisis when I started staying home after my daughter was born . . . but I sure am having one now, with her at my mom’s for a week. I have TONS of things I ought to be doing – cleaning, organizing, etc. But I’m not any more productive without her than I am with her. That weirds me out a bit.
@Lenetta @ Nettacow, I feel like I need to do FUN stuff when the kids aren’t here, but I’m not so productive… I usually just catch up on sleep.
I went to college for a couple of years, got married, then worked for a time. I never had a ‘career’ though. Coming home was easy for me, because it was really where I wanted to be from the git-go.
I SO appreciated this and the snippet of her article. I am off to read the rest of it!
blessings~
@Jacque Dixon, My time teaching helped me (emotionally) get through the infertility struggles, but I got REALLY attached to the people. By the time I held that baby, though, I was so glad I had worked out a job share. It wasn’t too long after that that I was DONE.
We moved when my daughter was almost a year old. I taught during her first year, but she was able to stay with my grandmother for which I will be eternally thankful. They had a wonderful bond until my grandmother passed away. We made the decision and financial sacrifice for me to stay home at the time we moved. We did without, but we gained so much more. The thirteen years I stayed home will always contain some of my most wonderful memories. Do it and don’t regret. I have been back teaching now for 24 years. The time will come.
@darnold23, What a blessing that your daughter had that relationship with your grandma. And how comforting for you to know she was in good hands!
I meant to invite you to my blog diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com and to Crock Pot Wednesday. Sorry! I got involved in memories:)
@darnold23, Now that fall has nearly arrived, surely I will start to dig out some of my crock pot recipes!
Great info- thanks for linking it up in Family Friday!
Danelle Ice / Home Ever After
Did I have a have identity crisis? I still have it! I didn’t think I was going to be a mommy at this point and then surprise I have a little princess. So, I never really had the “choice”. I just wanted to do what I thought was best for her. But, yes, I still can’t quite figure out who and what I am. LOL
@Diann @ The Thrifty Groove, Do we ever have it all figured out?! I know I don’t!
Thank you for your blog. My heart aches because I am working full time with two little girls (ages 4 and 6 months) at home. I really want to be at home with them right now – more than anything – but we’re not in a position to be able to do that right now. Our problem isn’t debt, but my husband’s low income and our saving for a house. My income and benefits are too good. We’re pretty frugal, as our shared old car demonstrates.
I would have no problem having an identity as a mom; I’ve been hoping for it since we decided to get married. It just hasn’t been in the cards for us, and my husband asks that I keep working until we’re more stable. It’s been this way for four years now, and it’s leaving me depressed.
Sorry for venting on here. I just wanted to say that I am embarrassed to admit that I covet all moms who get to stay at home with their kids. I am praying for the same, and I appreciate your inspiration.
@Melinda, You can vent here anytime.
It’s impressive that you are working hard to save and live frugally instead of making yourselves comfortable (two cars, etc.) on both incomes. Your hard work will pay off!
I became a mom on July 12, 09 and my husband has really been pushing me to return back to work. I just found out from my therapist that he thinks that my postpartum depression is pretty bad, and he wants to put me on disability. I think that it is a blessing in disguise because I get to stay home with our newborn daughter, and I will be getting paid (although not my whole income, but at least it is something) and I can work on my blog that I just started for moms that still want to look fashionable, but on a budget.
I work in retail, and I was a personal shopper for Nordstrom, but now I am thinking that my calling is to be at home with my baby, do my blog to help people, and learn myself, how to save money and cook from scratch. I just wish that my husband really understood the whole SAHM & WAHM thing. He is going to be attending my therapist session with me next week, so he can hear from the dr. how serious depression is.
@Gema McAlister, Your heart is in the right place. Maybe while you’re home and learning new money-saving and homemaking techniques you can keep track of all the benefits of you being home (there are many!) With your hubby, compare those benefits and maybe he’ll start to see how good it is to have you home.
Most of all, you need to do what keeps you healthy for yourself and your precious baby.