The Upside of the Domestic Life

I love spending all day with this gap-toothed smile. 🙂

Yesterday, I shared what was on my heart about the underbelly of being an at-home mom (The Downside of the Domestic Life). After some concerned questions from friends and community members who thought I was really struggling with my new role, I thought I’d share what I love about this gig (it far outweighs the bad, trust me).

To be honest, one reason I haven’t proclaimed my positive experiences from the mountain
tops (except this one day) is because I don’t want to rub it in the faces of my fellow moms (or dads) who don’t have the opportunity to do this, or who wish they’d done it when they had the chance. I’ve always been one to self deprecate,

My partner in crime! We love having messy fun together.

and downplay my success or happiness.But, I’ll set those tendencies aside for a moment
and just say, “I love my new job!” I’m lucky to have a supportive husband and family, and although we’re living on a (very thin) shoestring budget, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything (except sushi, and wine, and pedicures, anyways…)

  • I love letting the girls sleep until their bodies tell them to get up, not before they’re ready because I have to get out the door (there will be plenty of time for that when school days come).
  • I can spend time getting them dressed, and not rush the process. Before, I would get so annoyed when Anna wanted to put her shoes on by herself (I’m not proud of this). Now, I just sit back and watch her work, and celebrate with her when she puts them on the right feet.
  • I love watching Erica learn new things, and knowing for a factthat I was the first one to hear a new word come from her mouth. I delighted at hearing “uh-oh” the other day. She’s the world’s happiest baby, androlls with whatever crazy adventure we take her on.
  • Anna is a hoot! She is so smart, sweet and funny. Despite some of the challenges we’ve had, I truly enjoy her company. She can carry on a conversation like an adult (probably better than some adults) and she’s a true companion. So far today, we’ve hunted alligators in the living room, finger painted with shaving cream on the kitchen counter, and made jello surprise (with fruit mixed in). These are small, mundane things, but when you feel like you’ve missed out on so much, you savor every experience.
  • I finally feel like a homeowner, and not a house guest. This is my home, and I’m finally making it my own.
  • My kids smell like me and my house. If you’re a working mom, or have ever been a working mom, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
  • I actually enjoy cooking, and this new freedom allows me the time to experiment with new recipes. (Never mind the fact that home cooking is an absolute necessity to making this new budget work.) Last night I made a kick-butt quiche with a homemade crust and I’m pretty darn proud of how delicious it was.
  • I might actually get to know this man I live with. We’ve been like ships passing in the night for the last couple of years, and I didn’t realize how much we’d grown in separate directions until my focus was at home. (And, I think he’s really cute, so that helps.)

There you have it, my list of reasons why I am having the time of my life. I know it won’t last forever, so I’m just going to enjoy it while it lasts.

4 responses to “The Upside of the Domestic Life

  1. Glad that you’re having the time of your life. (at least today) Ha! It’s odd how parenting can be the most rewarding and the most frustrating experience at the same time. You’re doing a fantastic job of being a work at home mom, Catherine! Enjoy! The kids will grow up and be gone before you know it. Then, once again, you have to figure out what you want to be when you grow up. Ha! That’s where I’m out now.

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