The SAHM Writer
The SAHM writer. I once believed myself to be alone in this endeavour, but there are more of us out there than I realized. If you are tired, discouraged, and appalled by your diminished vocabulary... you've come to the right place.
Let me preface this blog by saying I love my life. Did you just nod and chuckle? If so, you probably know why I felt the need to make my happiness clear. Being a parent is tough no matter what you do, but worth it? Absolutely.
My husband and I agreed long before we had a child that one of us would stay home with our baby- possibly for the entire period before school begins. Before being a SAHM, I worked as a full-time substitute teacher and went to college for Liberal Arts with a concentration in Teaching. I enjoyed teaching when the kids would light up with new knowledge, but writing was always my passion. I would be in the middle of a lesson when a brilliant idea struck, so I'd start scribbling it down while I spoke. Alas, I had to leave my job when we moved for my husband's work, and then I ended up staying home while pregnant.
It was an easy segue to a SAHM. I also breastfed, so my life was made inordinately easier by staying home. You see, I did most of the parenting due to my husband's crazy hours. I'm pretty sure sleep deprivation was my normal state for at least the first month. Catching the rare nap while my husband kept our son was like that moment after Frodo destroyed the ring and sat dazedly whimpering, 'It's gone,' outside of Mount Doom. It was a huge weight of responsibility that magically lifted away for a few hours.
Even now, a year later, any free time I have is precious. I feel like my day begins only after my son is down for the night. That time is spent - you guessed it- writing. Typing in solitude with a cup of coffee or tea is a scarce luxury these days, but I'm okay with that because my son is an amazing and beautiful adventure. I've learned so much from him and the changes he has wrought in me will only make my writing more interesting.
Truly, the only thing that gets under my skin lately is that dreaded creature known as the concerned bystander.
I find myself having to defend the reasons I am staying home with my son. A lot of the time it's from people who don't have children and cannot seem to understand why I find it difficult to leave the most precious thing I have in the hands of anyone else. I've self-published two books and am working on a third, but any mention of tight finances and I open a whole world of suggestions as to what I could or should do. That's okay sometimes. I like hearing new ideas, but it becomes a problem when they start to almost argue with me about my choices.
There seems to be a lot of judgment about moms who stay home. I never realized this until I became one. When did it become so inappropriate for a woman to stay with her children? In truth, I find it quite ridiculous. I don't have anything against working moms. In fact, I respect them. It is not an easy thing to be away from your child, but they are trying to do the best they can for their kids. As for me, I'm good with where I am. I'm surely not the only SAHM facing this well-meaning yet irritating intervention.
I write from home because I love it and it makes me happy. Even on the hard days. Even when I get nothing accomplished. Even when I'm hunched over my broken phone screen, battling auto correct to eek out a blog because my son loves the laptop a little too much.
Why?
Because even when it doesn't work out, I can look into his grinning face and know that he loves me just as much as I love him. To me, that alone makes my choice worthwhile. I'm not missing a thing. I'm there for all of his victories- big and small.
So stand proud, SAHM writers! You don't have to explain yourself to anyone. Revel in your little ones and soak up every moment. They don't stay little forever. One day, your house will be silent and you will enjoy that cup of coffee in solitude. When you do, I'm sure you'll miss those slobbery kisses and snuggly afternoons. I know I will.
Happy mothering!
Let me preface this blog by saying I love my life. Did you just nod and chuckle? If so, you probably know why I felt the need to make my happiness clear. Being a parent is tough no matter what you do, but worth it? Absolutely.
My husband and I agreed long before we had a child that one of us would stay home with our baby- possibly for the entire period before school begins. Before being a SAHM, I worked as a full-time substitute teacher and went to college for Liberal Arts with a concentration in Teaching. I enjoyed teaching when the kids would light up with new knowledge, but writing was always my passion. I would be in the middle of a lesson when a brilliant idea struck, so I'd start scribbling it down while I spoke. Alas, I had to leave my job when we moved for my husband's work, and then I ended up staying home while pregnant.
It was an easy segue to a SAHM. I also breastfed, so my life was made inordinately easier by staying home. You see, I did most of the parenting due to my husband's crazy hours. I'm pretty sure sleep deprivation was my normal state for at least the first month. Catching the rare nap while my husband kept our son was like that moment after Frodo destroyed the ring and sat dazedly whimpering, 'It's gone,' outside of Mount Doom. It was a huge weight of responsibility that magically lifted away for a few hours.
Even now, a year later, any free time I have is precious. I feel like my day begins only after my son is down for the night. That time is spent - you guessed it- writing. Typing in solitude with a cup of coffee or tea is a scarce luxury these days, but I'm okay with that because my son is an amazing and beautiful adventure. I've learned so much from him and the changes he has wrought in me will only make my writing more interesting.
Truly, the only thing that gets under my skin lately is that dreaded creature known as the concerned bystander.
I find myself having to defend the reasons I am staying home with my son. A lot of the time it's from people who don't have children and cannot seem to understand why I find it difficult to leave the most precious thing I have in the hands of anyone else. I've self-published two books and am working on a third, but any mention of tight finances and I open a whole world of suggestions as to what I could or should do. That's okay sometimes. I like hearing new ideas, but it becomes a problem when they start to almost argue with me about my choices.
There seems to be a lot of judgment about moms who stay home. I never realized this until I became one. When did it become so inappropriate for a woman to stay with her children? In truth, I find it quite ridiculous. I don't have anything against working moms. In fact, I respect them. It is not an easy thing to be away from your child, but they are trying to do the best they can for their kids. As for me, I'm good with where I am. I'm surely not the only SAHM facing this well-meaning yet irritating intervention.
I write from home because I love it and it makes me happy. Even on the hard days. Even when I get nothing accomplished. Even when I'm hunched over my broken phone screen, battling auto correct to eek out a blog because my son loves the laptop a little too much.
Why?
Because even when it doesn't work out, I can look into his grinning face and know that he loves me just as much as I love him. To me, that alone makes my choice worthwhile. I'm not missing a thing. I'm there for all of his victories- big and small.
So stand proud, SAHM writers! You don't have to explain yourself to anyone. Revel in your little ones and soak up every moment. They don't stay little forever. One day, your house will be silent and you will enjoy that cup of coffee in solitude. When you do, I'm sure you'll miss those slobbery kisses and snuggly afternoons. I know I will.
Happy mothering!
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