The reason many women put their careers on hold to raise children full time is different in each household. Some mothers may not trust another person to properly care for their children every day. Others may not want to work only to see a large portion of their income go to childcare. In many cases, a mother has a desire to bond and be with her children every day. Whatever the reason, once you leave the workforce to become a stay-at-home mom, you gain a whole new respect for work; the job of being a stay at home mom that is. It’s a full-time job and can be more challenging than a career outside the home. This is what it means to be a stay at home mom.

What it means to be a stay-at-home mom, the cons

1. Financial stress: For some families losing that second income means giving up their vacation in the South, for others it can mean not knowing if the mortgage will be paid. Regardless of which category you fall into, what it means to be a stay-at-home mom is that your lifestyle must change to accommodate the loss of your income.

2. Loneliness: If you’re like me, you’re perfectly happy spending your entire day, even a week with little to no adult conversation; the tradeoff is well worth it. However, some women would go crazy. You need to ask yourself how she would handle minimal daily interaction with an adult and if her feelings about this separation will affect her children.

3. Losing your sense of self: What it means to be a stay-at-home mom is that you may find your self-esteem weakening; you may eventually end up feeling like you have lost yourself. Although it is extremely rewarding to be home with her children full time, how much of her identity comes from her work and will she be satisfied just being a wife and mother?

What it means to be a stay-at-home mom, the pros

1. You raise your children: One of the best things about being a stay-at-home mom is that you are in control of what your children learn, how they learn, and how they are disciplined. You are not at the mercy of some daycare methods and practices. You also have more possibilities to form the morals and values ​​that you want your children to inherit.

2. Less stress and more stability at home: Don’t get me wrong, being a stay at home mom can be stressful. However, being a mother and maintaining a full-time career can place a great deal of stress on a family. Many stay-at-home moms report feeling less stressed and more at peace than the working mom. What it means to be a stay-at-home mom is getting to know your children better and creating a greater sense of stability.

3. A schedule that works for you: Hey, guess what? When you’re a stay at home mom, you can control your schedule! What it means to be a stay at home mom is that you decide how to spend your days. No more having a boss telling you what time you can and can’t spend with your kids and family. All up to you.

4. Less guilt: One of the things I hear from all working mothers is that sometimes they feel guilty about not being able to spend more time with their children. No mom says she wishes she had worked more when her kids were little. A sad truth is that moms with full-time jobs often see their children less than the child care provider. Staying at home with your children allows you to enjoy each stage and never look back with regret.

So how can I make being a stay at home mom work?

Many women think that they have to work full time or be housewives. What it means to be a stay at home mom today is that you can be at home with your kids and have an income. Many women are able to work part time from home. Companies are embracing telecommuting and flexible working to adapt to such situations. Of course, if your workplace doesn’t offer this, there are a multitude of income opportunities online; just be sure to do your research; a legitimate one exists.