Fall season is here and I find myself thinking about the seasons of motherhood. I am still in the first-time mom season, toddler-mom season, not so new mom season, and the working mom season. I was in the stay-at-home mom season for a year and I am excited to briefly share my experience with you.
My stay at home mom season was filled with joy, uncertainty, fulfillment, and lack of fulfillment. I was happy to be home with the little one but felt uncertain about my future at the same time. My emotions were unstable. I questioned my purpose and felt guilty for wanting more than being home with my baby.
I was torn between staying at home for a longer period with the little one or going back to the workforce. I felt I needed to be home with the little one in order to give motherhood my 100%. I didn’t want to miss out on some milestones in the early formative years.
I was vulnerable enough to tell God and my husband that I felt empty. During this season of emptiness and uncertainty, I took time to seek God together with my spouse and everything changed.
God chastised me, redirected my step, and made things fall in place beyond what I could have asked or imagine. God made me see how I was beginning to tie my identity and sense of worth to my accomplishments and the things I wanted to accomplish. My eyes were opened to pride and disobedience in my life. I was impatient and wasn’t fully cherishing my stay-at-home mom season like I should. If I knew what I know now about the first three years of life of humans, I would have done things better.
I had to renew my mind with God’s word and started walking in obedience. I was brought to a place of repentance and surrender to God. I learned to never place my identity and sense of worth in motherhood, marriage, academic achievements, career, anything, and anyone but God Almighty, my creator. After seeking God and repenting, things began to fall in place. The job came, we found a great daycare, I started my doctoral program, and everything began to make sense.
Are you undecided about staying at home to take care of your children? Talk to God and let him guide you. Why do you want to become a stay-at-home mom? Why do you want to go back to the workforce? If your answers to these questions are filled with selfish ambitions, you may find yourself feeling insecure and unfulfilled.
Has God called you to become a stay-at-home mom? If he hasn’t, you will likely find yourself resenting motherhood and endlessly comparing yourself with moms in the workforce. If God has called you to the awesome stay-at-home mom life; enjoy the season, grow in faith, build your home, give it your all, see it as a privilege to fully give yourself to your family, and don’t get caught up in comparison.
Please enjoy every season of motherhood you find yourself. Every season is designed for personal growth and it provides an opportunity for you to mentor or groom other mommas who will go through what you went through.
Very soon, I will share my “working mom” season and experiences with you. What season of motherhood are you in? I would like to hear from you.
Thank you for reading!
My context was different, when my son was little I had no choice but to juggle work and school, it was a challenge but with the help of my mother and God’s grace I did it! And now, the motherhood season is over for me because you don’t parent adult children, you cheer them on from the sidelines as they embark into a life of their own.
Yes. While some moms have options, others don’t. Particularly, single moms. Thank you for sharing for views on the subjects. Your insights are always valuable.
Wonderful post! It brings back so much wonderful memories of my stay at hone season with my little ones. I am so glad that you called it a season. Everything that happens to us in life is for a season. Some last for a lifetime while some last for a few days. Have a blessed week.
Thank you for reflecting with me. Yes! We are always in some type of season ♥️
God was the only one who could help me find my purpose! No matter how much I tried, how much I did, I was focusing on other things. Once my focus turned to Christ, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I felt like I had been blind all my life walking aimlessly. God is good!❤️
Praise God! I love your testimony. God is so good! You are an overcomer! I am glad to know you.
Amen❤️ so glad to meet you too!
Awesome post, thanks for sharing.
True. Our satisfaction only comes when we choose to walk in His steps for us.
Amen! ♥️
I love this post. Not long ago, a friend of mine was talking about being a stay at home mom for a few years. She said she just wants to be there for her children and doesn’t want to miss any milestone of their lives. We all go through different experiences and it’s a blessing when we share it. Thank you for sharing yours 😊🌻
Thank you for the reflective comment. Yeah! Different experiences and each one should be celebrated.
No problem 😊. I enjoyed reading your post.
Your thoughts here…..I learned to never place my identity and sense of worth in motherhood, marriage, academic achievements, career, anything, and anyone but God Almighty, my creator. After seeking God and repenting, things began to fall in place…… is what a life of grace looks like.
Thank you. I agree. Not by my works, but by God’s mercy. I am learning to get rid of the reward system mindset, if I do this then God will bless me. No, it’s if I trust God then He will direct my steps and make things fall in place. Thank you for pointing out grace and helping me reflect again. God bless you!♥️
I enjoyed this Temitope. I am now an “official” empty nester. Lol. I loved this article because I have seen many women struggle with this decision over the years. I have always been a single parent but was a stay at home mom for about a year and a half even as a single parent. My daughter was in 5th-6th grade. It was a time of trusting God and I enjoyed being with her more. I could go to all the school programs during the day, take her lunch, see her off to school and be there in the afternoon when she came home. I felt God leading me to spend that time with my daughter. All the rest of her life I have worked, and I thank God for the great childcare centers and babysitters I have used over the years.
Lol! Thank you for sharing your views and experience. Yes, it is an issue most first time moms struggle with. God is faithful to lead one to the right childcare center. He did that for me. It must be fun to be an empty nester! haa. I can imagine that you are pursuing new hobbies 😉
You’re welcome! My daughter left exactly one month ago today. I’m definitely looking forward to pursuing new things. 🤗
Sounds exciting! Please visit Greece or tour Europe 😉
I’d love to go to Greece and Italy. My daughter is in Spain so I hope to go there too.
Your daughter is a strong independent lady. I recommend visiting Marllorca ☺️
Thanks I’m very proud of her. And thanks for the recommendation! 😊❤️
My pleasure!♥️
Yes! I’ve gone to part time and I can relate to all this 100%. It’s so good to hear from other mommas going through the same season.
Thank you. It feels good to know one is not alone. ♥️
Thank you for the post! I am just starting this season and loved reading your perspective
Thank you for the comment. Stay blessed and enjoy this season! 🙂
Thank you for posting. definitely relating atm. Have a gorgeous boy but find myself wanting the productivity and connection work provides. Then I look at him and I’m so blessed to be able to look after him full time atm.
I am glad you can relate. Enjoy this season! It is a blessing you get to fully give yourself to motherhood without the pressures of work-life. There are other stay-at-home mom posts on this blog you may find encouraging. Please check them out in your free time. Thank you for stopping by 😉
wow…I am a SAHM and this really opened my mind. I always feel really bad because I have worked for everything that I wanted and it is hard for me to let my husband be the only bread winner. It’s hard for me to just go through the motions day by day. However I am so blessed that I am in the circumstance that I am in. I am able to stay home and raise my child full time even if my wants and needs are on the back burner my Child’s wants and needs are always fulfilled. By the grace of god this is my life.
Thank you for sharing your experience and reflecting with me. Enjoy this season! Our time is one of the best gifts we can give to our children. ♥️
This was such a great reminder for me! Thank you.
Thank you ♥️. Stay blessed.
I’m currently a stay at home mom. And sometimes I feel guilty of wanting to go back to work..
That guilt is real. Please enjoy this season and make the most of it to help your little one or children with their brain, social and emotional development. Happy New Year.