I have an almost one-year old. It's just shocking, really. And she is getting bigger. After almost 2 months of staying at the same weight, she's been starting to look a little doughy of late. The cheeks are bigger, the chin hangs down, and her little Michelin man arms are getting rounder. And the scale this morning said.... 16 lb 10 oz!
I spent a few minutes browsing online yesterday, which I seldom do anymore, since I am obsessed with blogs and trying to get work done. But instead I read a an article that says that working moms are happier and healthier than SAHMs. For some reason that just seems a little bit hard to believe. It talks about how isolated and depressing being a SAHM is. And it got me wondering whether this is really true for the majority of people, let alone for me.
I do agree that being a SAHM is a lot of work. And hard work, despite the fact that it's not physically grueling or remarkably intellectually exhausting. We don't get weekends and evenings off, of course, and since Miss Cora wakes up often and for prolonged periods throughout the night, I do too. I get a little antsy for big people conversation here and there, and get tired of finding different ways to run through my list of Cora's therapies and developmental games. But am I more depressed?
At my beautiful friend's Christmas party the other day, she remarked that I seem in a better mood and happier in general since Cora has arrived. She's also said that Nick and I seem happier as a couple, too. And that put a big smile on my face. Even with the very little sleep and the extra stress that having a child "with special needs" is supposed to put on my life, one of the people who knows me best thinks I am happier. And that makes me happy.
When I look at it, I am happier, though tired and often stressed. Even though I fantasize about going to a movie sometimes, or getting to read in the middle of the day and ignoring the house and home for a while, I really am thrilled being Cora's stay at home mama. To get to spend my days with the most amazing little person in the world really is the best job I can think of.
I leave you with an image from yesterday's fun activity. Well, fun for me at least. Cora tolerated it fairly well. I think it may be a little premature to be experimenting with pigtails. Granted, her hair is growing, but there's still not a heck of a lot to work with.
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| Mummy's big girl! |
So cute!! Love her ponytail. I couldn't have written this any better. Being a SAHM is HARD! But I feel like I have the best job in the world, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. No matter how tired or stressed I am.
ReplyDeleteThere's no such thing as "not enough hair for pigtails"!
ReplyDeleteshe has such pretty eyes!
ReplyDeleteI think whether you are a stay at home Mom or not, its all about balance.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that little pigtail Cora is rockin! She is too cute...Happy 11 months to your sweet little girl :)
Happy 11 months precious Cora! Ben sends his love!
ReplyDeleteI stay at home with my boys. Leaving my teaching job was hard especially when Colin was a baby. I did feel lonely. But now, 4 years later, I have no regrets. It was absolutely the right decision for me and I feel happy almost all the time. I do think Ben has a lot to do with my happiness. He seems to bring out the best in me:) He just makes me happy! All in all, I think each mom has to do whatever is right for her!
Happy 11 months! Love the pigtail. Still waiting for Sweet Pea to get enough hair for that =)
ReplyDeleteI actually thought being a working mom was harder because I never felt like I had enough time to get everything done (not that I do now =)) and spend with my first. I was so grateful that I didn't have to go back to work after my second was born.
Nope...not much vacation time as a stay at home mom! I did go through a lonely period when we first moved here and I only had Brayden, but that was very short lived. I can't imagine doing anything different!
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention how cute that pigtail is! I need to "attempt" it again with Hailey :-)
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Interesting article. It does make you think. When Madison and Austin were younger, I babysat for extra money. It didn't bring in much but a little extra. I was always worried about money. I had a part time job in the evenings at one point and hated it. I still worried about money. Finally, I got a full time teaching job. School started in August, and I cried a few times a week until December. It got better, but I missed them horribly. Now that I've done it and know, I would never want to go back to working full time right now. I'm happy just the way things are.
ReplyDeleteHappy 11 months, Miss Cora Bean! I love her little pigtail. I LOVE being a SAHM and I definitely do not feel isolated (thanks to 2 local mom's clubs). I lead a full and busy life and everything I even think I about going back to work, I cringe. I actually do not know how I would balance work, therapies, and being a mom & a wife. Anyway, just my thoughts on the matter.
ReplyDeleteShe is so darn adorable! I wish I could meet her!
ReplyDeleteYou can always see movies later in life. I fantasize about staying home (though I am working towards more part time, and that still seems too much!)
Happy 11 months Cora! Cannot wait til the huge birthday bash!