stay-at-home momma...

I'm linking up with I Pick Pretty for this post!

To those that don't know, I am a stay-at-home momma.

It's a job I always dreamed of, to be totally honest.

I wanted to be like my mom.

When talking about college, work, etc. there were times I just said "I want to be like Mom!"  Ha ha.  Well, it was true!

So, yes.  I do have a college degree.  And no, I'm not using it currently.

While pregnant, Aaron and I had big discussions about the plan after Riley would be born.  (As all couples do when a baby is on the way!)

Aaron knew my desires to be home with Riley, and he had the same wish.

It fell down to finances (as most everything does anymore) and we were convinced we could not afford my being home. 

I can't tell you the number of times I went through our budget, while sitting at my desk at work.  I wanted so badly to get the numbers to work out.  They never did.

So, I worked.  I went on maternity leave; had Riley and took the maximum leave I could (even unpaid leave) so that my job would be held open at the end of it all. 

Each day I was home with Riley, the more and more I dreaded the idea of returning to work.  (I know many of you know this feeling!)

God, obviously, didn't want me going back to work either!  By some miracle - Aaron's work schedule changed.  He was put on the same exact work schedule I had.  Monday through Friday, 8 hour days.  (He was working 24 hour shifts on and off before that.)

See - our plan was that Aaron would be home with Riley a few days a week (the days he was off of work) and she would be in daycare part time the days that he had to work.  And I'd have her on the weekends and would be responsible for dropping and picking her up from daycare.

Well, this job change wasn't necessarily the best news for Aaron.  But, it did make us think even harder about our lifestyle.  What would change; how Riley would do in daycare five days a week and how we would manage our life with all that going on.

We ran the numbers again.

It was doable!

Tight.  But doable.  We'd have to sacrifice a lot.  Spend less.  Budget wisely.  But, we could pull it off.  I could stay home with Riley. 

YES!

I will say this...you can plan and think you have it all figured out - but when that baby is born, I'm sorry but things will and do change!  It's amazing.

And, the rest is history.

My employer was very understanding about my leaving work.  It made the decision easier on my part.  It's not like I was in my dream job, anyway.  To be completely honest.

So.  That's it.  Our story as to how we came to this decision.

I will say that being a stay-at-home momma isn't for everyone.  We all have desires and passions in life.  We all have different personalities.  We all have different lifestyles; different incomes.  We all have dreams.  We all have to come up with what is best for our family.  And for me, trusting God in the process helps!

My plan right now is to be home with Riley as long as we can afford it, and as long as it's necessary.  I do plan on working again someday.  When?  I have no clue.  Doing what?  I have no clue.

It'll come together.  Just as being a stay-at-home momma did!

I have to thank my hubby, first and foremost.  He supported my wanting to be home instantly.  He too wanted that for Riley, all along.  As for today, he's still happy.  It's a relief for him knowing that I'm home with her - especially during this deployment.  One less worry...for everyone.

Being home with Riley is a joy I'll never forget.  It's meant so much to me.  I truly do feel blessed and am extremely thankful and fortunate that we could pull this off.

To me, money isn't everything anyway.  If I wear the same clothes; if I get my hair cut less; if I have to drive a little car, who cares.  My family is most important.  And Riley - well, she's only little for a time. 

Everything changes.  With time.  This isn't going to be our lifestyle forever.

We'll have more money again in the future - and we may always be on a budget.  But I too don't see that as a bad thing.  This lifestyle has taught us more about money and saving than ever before.  It's taught us about sacrifice and what's really important in life.

Good luck to any of you contemplating the decision to work or stay home.  It's a tough one.

Just remember, there is no one right way to do it. 

Most importantly, it's just about spending quality time with your kids - whenever you do have them near!