Stay at home mom.

I think initially I was a little bit intimidated by the term "stay at home mom"

I feel like there is a stigma attached to it. like I am required to automatically attend every community meeting, mommy group, and know all the best playgrounds in my community. 

It was so intimidating, that I spend a lot of the first few months of Easy's life alone. In my house. Counting down the days until I go back to work.

"Stay at home mom" was not for me.

It was never that I wasn't invited out, of course I was always extended gracious invites by other moms to activities… But I couldn't get my mind away from the stigma… Do I want to be "that" stay at home mom? It didn't hurt that I am a little awkward, and not really great at making new friends.

 I was stuck in the concept that had worked for me for many years in the office… just work hard by yourself and you will succeed. you have to work. And work has to be hard and challenging to be rewarding.

As the weather turned, I started feeling a need to get out… do more things. Working by myself was making me crazy… and wasn't socializing my son.

but what kind of things could I do?

I got a random email from a mom that lives near me with a son just over 1. She invited me to the pool with her son.

We had a blast. 

Him and Easy get along famously!

We now frequent the pool and go at least once or twice a week. 

I have a great friendship.

Im opening up. 

Costco dates and going to the local theme park just to go on the free baby rides. 

Being a mom that is with your child 24-7 around the clock every day ever is work. Hard work. 

But it isn't the same kind of hard as working at 12 hour day at the office. 

for me, it is so much more rewarding. 

I am embracing my gift of being a stay at home mom. 

It really is a gift

 I'm now struggling with the idea of going back to work. 

My son enjoys swimming and stroller rides and even just hanging in the carrier off of my stomach while I read the labels on cans at the grocery store. 

The last 9 months has been the best of my life. 

Being a stay at home mom is a blessing.

And I feel selfish for ever taking advantage of it. I know there are lots of moms who cannot afford to even take the one year maternity leave that we receive in Canada.  

SO…

I guess what I'm saying is

If you get that gift

Get out. 

Do things with your children that they may not remember when they get older… 

but you always will. 

xx - r