Call Me a SAHM in Training

Stay at Home Mom (SAHM)

Besides a medical leave and two maternity leaves, I’ve always been a full-time plus on call nurse mom. I am now almost two months into being a SAHM and I would have to still say I’m training! A lot of you have told me routine is so important, and I’ve been trying my darndest to do that. We do library time or errands in the morning, naptime and quiet time after lunch, and art and outdoor/indoor active play until dad comes home! Some days it blows up in my face, much like what we’d call a s-tshow at work, haha! Except these are my monkeys and my circus! But mostly because I am learning and loving it, too.

I struggle with anxiety and depression. Ever since I was little. My post-partum depression with R was so difficult. I am so lucky to have an incredible husband and health team that honestly kept me alive during that time. Luckily, I was treated prior to giving birth to A too because a) it was known I get PPD and b) it’s better and easier to treat as preventive care. I’m also a work-a-holic because I need to keep my mind busy, and maternity leave was actually hard for me to be at home.

Needless to say I was terrified at ever being stay-at-home.

It’s been beautiful though, and definitely not perfect. There are nights when I freak out cause I’m missing nursing so much and struggling with choosing the right thing for my family, and I get working on my resume and favorite a bunch of job listings that seem to “perfectly” match up to my career goals.

But then days happen when my littlest says “Mama,” climbs up into my lap, and rests his little fuzzy ginger head against my chest and we sit there for what seems like hours of snuggling. Or R works on his letters with me because he loves to learn, and he repeats little sayings I taught him. He then gets excited to show me and his dad his letters when we FaceTime him at his work sometimes. Austin told me he’s able to really jump into all his lawyering and can work more, too because I’m taking care of our home.

My God, I am blessed to be able to do this at this time. I find the more I trust Him, the more I stop stressing and get to be fully immersed with my boys.

Our little home ball pit! These boys are so crazy active, indoor play has to get creative!

On a Columbia River dock, fresh air does everyone good. This day was 57 degrees so we took advantage of that warm January day! I think I literally told R to run down the river trail because he gets so pent up with energy and actually tells me he feels like running!

At the Tri-Cities Family Expo 2020. This place has an amazing family environment, and was a big reason why we moved here.

Costco! I swear we are here every other day to get a double pack. A double freaking pack. Of whole-milk. I am truly now terrified for them to become teenagers!

In front of The Lodge Hotel river area where we stayed last summer and made the decision to move here! Today, we went to watch the Special Olympic fundraiser called the polar plunge!