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Stay at Home Mom’s Guide to a Productive Future

Should You Continue to Be a SAHM when the kids are in school?

Are you a Stay at home mom whose kids are now back in school? Is this the first time you will have your house to yourself? What do you do with your spare time? Should you go back to work?

Let’s explore what options we have as homemakers whose kids are now all in school. What does our future look like?

Read or Pin: How to Be An Effective Modern Homemaker

stay at home mom's guide

What We Thought Life Would Look Like

It’s funny today’s social media mom shares their kids on the first day of school, lined up next to each other, most likely holding a sign, sharing their age, date, and most important, what they want to be when they grow up.

It would be interesting to see how many of these kids achieve that desire. Or how much that desire shifts into what they are meant to do.

(Ps… are you seeing the beautiful blue kitchen? I can’t wait to share the complete makeover before and after pics; if you are new, you can check out some of our kitchen DIY makeovers here.)

What our eight-year-old self thought we would be doing is probably a lot different than what we are doing today. Our 19-year-old self thought one thing, but our college degree said another. , So now, as thirty-year-olds, we are laughing, thinking, I had no idea this is what I would be doing with my life.

Well, at least this is the case for me. I NEVER thought I would be a SAHM who blogs.  Sure, I have always loved writing. I earned a degree in Journalism. I submitted articles to companies.

I even accomplished what my 19-year-old goal was- to have my column! (Yes, I had my money management column in our Local Daily Newspaper!)

I went from working full-time to losing my job with my first baby during maternity leave. After that, I tried to go toward what I thought I needed to do, the money I had to make, and the status I needed to be known.

stay at home mom's guide

The Moment I Let Go

It all becomes one big wad of missteps.

The moment I stopped trying to control my own life was the moment all my hopes and dreams started seeping in from every crack of opportunity.

Me- Tasia 🙂

When I let go and dug deeper into the bible, women groups, and joined with others who encouraged my walk with God, I realized I could have been on the correct map if I had just turned towards Jesus.

Today I am a blogger. I work from home. I own my own business. Even a few months ago, I would hesitate to say any of this. Yet, I know with every inch of my being, that this is right where God wants me. Sure it wasn’t my 19-year-old dream of living in NYC and reporting on breaking news stories.

Or at a magazine company sharing the latest “How to Date a Guy in Your 20s”.

Once you get over those ideas you set upon yourself, you realize God weaves in your every desire in little places all along your life path.

I get to write- my passion; I get to share deals and coupons. So I decided to live a frugal lifestyle and be crazy cheap to pay off debt and share tips with others.

I get to help people in ways I had no idea I needed.

Today is the first day of school, where I don’t have any little voices saying, “Mommy, Mommy, while I type away or print coupons.” So I realize I’m not faced with a new challenge like I thought I was two months ago.

stay at home mom's guide

Don’t Do Something Because You Can- Do It Because You Want To

I was looking for a job just two months ago because I could.

I didn’t think God would want me to keep sharing deals at BJs.

I didn’t think people would care for me to share my little frugal living and animal tips.

Every time I doubt or think it can’t be. He spreads a little bit of hope and inspiration into my soul.

I received an email from a reader on my BJs site, sharing how much she enjoys my encouraging words.  Others emailed when they found out they won a gift card and said the timing was perfect because their husband had just lost his job.

These aren’t small things. They may not happen daily, but they happen.

I wanted to go back and give in to my self-control. I wanted it to be easier than disciplining myself to work without any other obligation.

I was reminded of how deeply God loves me and you. I couldn’t turn away from Him now.  Can you?

Not only will the time I have while the kids are in school allow me to work on my blogs, but it will also allow me to meet the girl.

Now I will have 7.5 hours to try to be my old 26-year-old self again. Which I thought about for a minute. It stinks when you have kids in your twenties, and your dream of a career gets put on hold because the magic of a newborn begs you to stay home.

Or you get laid off from work and have no choice.

The world is a whole new place when you’re a stay-at-home mom who now has options.

What’s a girl to do?

 

sahm
stay at home moms guide

The View of a Mom Who Works and a Mom Who Doesn’t

Stay-at-home moms and work-out-of-the-home moms have different views on a few things.

I’m sure a mom who works out of the home, who hears her friend is now going to have zero kids at home, will be able to have the time of her life.

What will you do all day?

It is a ubiquitous question you get asked.

Being a stay-at-home mom is difficult, working out of the home is complex, and working from home is just plain insanity!

The beautiful thing about transitioning to having all your kids in school follows the next course of action. The system of action God is calling you to.

“But I say, walk and live ” (habitually) in the Holy Spirit responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh ( of human nature without God). Galatians 5:16

tips-stay-home-moms

You Need Admirable Virtues

A virtue. That is what I am going to reflect on. Admirable virtues.

People throughout the world try to acquire these virtues through counseling or self-help books. Yet the Bible says that if we walk with God, the Spirit-filled life will produce all these things within us.

Joyce Myers

That is it. I don’t need to figure it out and look to our culture to get my answers. I don’t have to feel self-conscious when people ask me what I will do with all my free time. Or feel like the business I started and make money from isn’t validated when they look puzzled when I say, “I will be working.”

No, because if you and I give our lives to God each day, he will create a right heart in you and me. One that we will want to do everything he has asked of us.

In reality, there are five practical things I’ve come up with to fill your time or get your creative juices flowing.

But, again, the best thing to do is pray and spend that time with God first thing each day, and you’ll be on the exact path you were meant to be on.

The one that fulfills your soul day in and day out.

Stay at Home Mom's Guide to a Productive Future

Here are Practical Things You Can Do Now

Download the Marco App and chat daily with your besties.

Okay, so the Marco app is for the “older folks,” the ones in their thirties who never got into Snapchat. But it’s fun. My best friend and I start our day by checking in and seeing what we are up to. It’s the perfect app for busy moms or dads.

Check local organizations for volunteer positions. 

Don’t get ahead, but maybe a few times a month or weekly. Whatever you feel your heart desires. Don’t just grab the first opportunity you see; look around and think about what would be a good fit for you.

Will it provide the adult conversations you need? Or the physical work you are looking to do?

Some ideas are local animal shelters, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, etc.

Take a class

What is your heart’s desire? Do you have a hobby you love but never had the time for? For example, I wanted to connect with other writers, I found a writer’s group at our local library, but the time didn’t work out.

Then I stumbled upon a writing workshop. Each day they offer half-hour writing sessions for a specific fee per class. No commitment. You could always look at your local library or college to see what types are offered.

Allow your mind to be open to what you have a desire and passion for if you don’t sure pray over these things.

 

Plan Date Nights With Your Spouse

It may seem like you are always the one who plans the dates, but this could benefit your relationship. Setting scheduled time together wonders for your marriage, whether you want to do it or not.

I love using the Dating Divas website to get my creative side going for at-home date nights. If you can plan a sitter weekly, spend an hour preparing a special place for the two of you.

This way, if the week leads up to less adult interaction, then you were hoping for you at least to have some time scheduled with your spouse.

Soul Search Your Dreams & Go For It

The biggest thing I hope for everyone in a similar position with kids going to school is to pursue their dreams. But unfortunately, with the amount of time we spend on social media, we find ourselves feeling so guilty as moms for not doing enough, even though our eyes have become blind to all the little things we do for our children daily.

Those hugs, those daily meals prepared, the clothes, the toys, the car rides to friends, so many little things we do for our kids we think aren’t good enough.

We need to get bigger and better because of what we may have seen on social media.

When you can go for your dreams and goals, you will be a more focused and happier parent when the kids come home. Okay, not every day. That’s not real life but in general. You will go back to your feeling of accomplishment.

Of course, it won’t be easy, but you can do it. Think about what it is you want from your life. What did you envision yourself doing before kids?

You may laugh when you think about it but think again. Is it unachievable now?

Take a minute to reflect and think about answers to these questions from a past season.

What were you great at?

What did you love to do?

What surprised you?

Whom did you love, and why did you love them?

What did you learn about yourself?

What did you dream about?

We all have gifts and talents. Check out this Spiritual Gifts Survey here.

If you are looking for more articles and information on digging deeper into finding your spiritual gifts or where you need to go with your life, check out this page here. 

There is a plan for this next chapter of your life. Don’t live it in fear. Take that leap of faith.

I can’t wait to see what mountains you move.

I’ll be here cheering you on, praying for you, and working on my mountain moving!

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