10 Things No One Told Me about Being a SAHM

The word SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) was not a word I was too familiar with at one time. I was a career woman, bound and determined to defy all odds and prove that I could be supermom and career woman in one awesome cape.

After a few years of 50 hour work weeks, constant travel for my job on top of cheerleading and T-ball games, I had this bright notion that I would come home and try my hand at SAHM-hood and homeschooling. (Major respect for teachers EVERYWHERE!)

How hard could it possibility be to stay home all day with my children?

My expectations of being home every day were so far off that it is comical.

SAHM-ing is hard work. In fact, I think it is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. Other moms made it look so easy. The blog posts I read about SAHM-hood told me it was be the “best decision a mom could ever make.”

Well, excuse me, but somebody forgot to mention a few things. Here are ten things that no one told me about being a SAHM:

1. Mommy has multiple meanings. The definition now includes: Wiper of butts, cook, maid, taxi driver, referee, magician, mind-reader, keeper of small useless trinkets and child whisperer.
2. You will never pee alone again no matter their ages.
3. In order to avoid having to share your piece of chocolate, you will lower your level of self-respect by hiding in the broom closet to eat it.
4. Going to the grocery store, alone, is priceless.
5. When you are around other adults, you totally forget how to carry on adult conversation.
6. You go to the playground for a break and to see other adults. You might not talk, but there is a silent “I understand” in their eyes.
7. Even after the kids leave the living room, you find yourself watching Disney Channel (and enjoying it.)
8. “I’m bored” is the “B” word you want to wash out of their mouth with some soap.
9. If you had a penny for every time one of your children said, “Hey mom, what if…”
10. You never understood the concept of love/hate relationships until you became a SAHM.

Yes, SAHM-hood is hard but there is a community of SAHMs out there, including myself, which would not change one single moment. Most of the time, I am tired. I stay frustrated. I daydream about going back to work, but the moment one of my children reaches over and grabs my hand, tells me they love me or I hear one of their awesome laughs, I remember why I am staying home.

Even on my worst days, I cannot imagine life anyway else.

Sarah West

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Sarah West is a homeschool mom and freelance writer. She balances her time teaching, speaking and writing about matters of faith and family. Sarah is also the first time author of Walking the Talk: A Parent's Guide to Intimacy and Healthy Relationships. You can keep up with Sarah on her blog.