To all you stay at home moms....especially of toddlers?

Question

god bless you!! i am a working mother and i took 2 weeks off to stay at home with my little one who is 2 years old. my two weeks are up as of tomorrow and i am completely 100% exhausted. it sounds bad but i honestly cant wait to go back to work. i feel guilty about it. i feel like my toddler deserves a better mommy :-( honestly...it is just too hard and i dont know how you gals do it everyday. but its just not for me :-( like i said my son is two and i do now know where all of you get that patience from cuz i love him to death but i find that its just too much for me. my hat goes off to each and every one of you i look up to you and have gained a new found respect for you. you have the hardest job on the planet and i commend you for making that choice. god bless all of you and keep up the great work!!

Answer 1

Thanks Kat.

Mommy of Aubrey 7 months, and caregiver fo two 4 year old twins, and one 2 year old.

Answer 2

You're awesome.  I wish more working moms had to the opportunity to do what you did and see that we aren't on vacation.

Answer 3

Thank you! I think being a stay at home mom is an extremely tough job! My husband used to think I got to play with the kids all day and have fun - until I went on vacation for a week with my sisters and he stayed home with our two, who were 3 and 5 at the time. Now he appreciates it more!

You're not a bad mother at all. Staying home isn't for everyone - and what you do is go to work every day to provide for him which is just as good!

Answer 4

Well, thanks. It is challenging, but I can imagine that going from working full time to 100% toddler time would be pretty hard without any adjustment time. Don't be too hard on yourself!

Answer 5

thank you very much... and do not think that you are not a good mommy. You are.... some people get so used to a routine of working and not caring for their child on a 24/7 basis which can lead to what you experienced. But never think that classifies you as a bad mom.

Answer 6

Thanks, if only their father could see it from your point of view.

Answer 7

It is exhausting. Anyone that ever claims being a SAHM with a toddler is a "cake walk" just never did it.   I look back at my son's days as an infant and newborn with th sleepless nights and I marvel that I had more energy then than I do now when he sleeps through the night and is gaining a little of that toddler independence for certain things.

I find for me a routine is essential to my own sanity with my little one, otherwise we'd both be bonkers by the end of the day.  There are nights I go to be bed when my son does because it is so exhausting, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I quit teaching to stay home with my little man because I'm fortunate enough to have a husband that has a job that allows us to do that, I realize not everyone has that luxury.  It's hard on some days when there is no adult conversation with other adults around, but I CHOSE to be a SAHM because they are only little once. They only have their "first's" one time and I didn't want some stranger getting all those instead of me.  I would have felt so cheated and like I missed out on his childhood somehow.  Every day I get a hug, a sloppy kiss or those crooked little grins that my little boy gives me when he says "mommy"  it is music to my ears.  Somehow on my worst energy days and when I feel like I can't do one more thing in the day he can come give me a hug and say "mommy" and suddenly my energy is charged up all over again.

Answer 8

Since I became a stay-at-home mom 5 years ago, I would agree with you.  It is the hardest job I've ever done and I worked full-time 60 hrs. a week before I had children.  Working outside the home was much easier.

Answer 9

Thanks!

Answer 10

Thank you! But you should not put yourself down like that! We all have difficulties and challenges. I have 3 children and sometimes I feel like I am not doing the best I can. But what works for me is keeping a sort of schedule to keep the day flowing. That leaves little time for problems to creep up on us! We should all support eachother too, as moms! No choice is better for everyone- its what is best for your own family! Have a great day!

Answer 11

Thanks! Now if only the rest of the working world who thinks it is a breeze and we sit on our bums all day could stay home for a little bit haha.

Your not a bad mom, this isn't for everyone and even we need our days off from this job too. I find it fun where if I were to get up and go to 'work' every day I would be drove insane!!

Answer 12

I work full time too, and I stayed home with my 2 sick toddlers for 4 days last week and it was so draining, I got ill and run down myself.  I always thought I wanted to stay home, but I have to work to support the family, so I don't have a choice.  But those 4 days made me realize that staying home is so hard and I don't know if I could do it, and cook and clean on top of that??

Answer 13

Thank you! We need that sometimes. Don't feel guilty though, we get stressed out too. At least once a week when my husband gets home fomr work I tell him to take the kids and go far away. We all feel that way every now and then.

Answer 14

Wow, thanks.  But you are a great mom too, we all do what is right for our own particular family.

Answer 15

Thank you!  There are certainly days when I would love to be heading off to work.  It takes lots of patience and a supportive spouse.  My toddler days are over, but I do remember those long days.  My youngest will start kindergarten in August, so I may go back to work.  Don't know yet.

Answer 16

thanks girl! just to let you know...going away to work is too much for me! to each is own. having another income nowadays can be very important too so im sure you are very much appreciated

Answer 17

Thank You very much......you are not alone. Some people are just meant to work instead.  It is hard to do, it is not a cake walk.  I do enjoy being home though. Thanks again for your kind words.