Monday, April 26, 2010
Usually, when people make strange comments to me, I blow them off. However, lately people have been coming to me time and again with statements like, “I don’t know HOW you stay home with your baby. I can’t imagine doing it. I would be SO BORED!”
I find myself highly offend by statements like this because I NEVER, EVER find myself bored or without something to do.
When my husband and I made the decision that I would resign from my teaching job and stay home with our daughter, then six months old, it was not a decision that was made lightly. We made this decision with many things in mind, because we would be cutting our income in half.
1. We do not want to be three strangers living under one roof.
2. We want to raise our children ourselves.
3. We need someone to be in charge of the grocery shopping, meal planning, bill paying, and every other little thing that gets taken care of on the weekends.
4. We want to show our child(ren) that it isn’t about how much money you have.
5. We want to be a Godly example of a marriage and family for our child(ren).
6. We don’t want to be 18 years down the road and realize once our children move out that we are strangers.
Among other things, the above were discussions that we had before making the decision that I would stay home with our children.
I have been a stay-at-home Mom for nearly one year now, and it is truly the best decision we ever made. In this transitional year, I have come to realize that I work MUCH harder as a stay-at-home Mom than I ever did as a teacher. I get more done in one day than I EVER did as a teacher! I also feel as though I am happier and more impactful in my child’s life now.
All in all, I’m not JUST the resident bill-payer, laundry-doer, cleaning lady, chef, boo-boo-kisser, band-aid applicator, and mess-picker-upper. I’m the Mom, and I wouldn’t trade my job for all the money in the world. We are better parents, better spouses, and a better family for it.
If you are a stay-at-home-Mom who questions your position in the world, someone considering staying home with your children, someone who wants to stay home someday, or someone who “can’t IMAGINE staying home because you’d be so bored,” think about the impact you can make on your family. If it isn’t for you, I totally understand, but some of us are living our dream as Moms who stay home.
Showing posts with label child. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child. Show all posts
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Babycenter.com
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The first thing my OB/GYN said to me when I became pregnant was, "Stay off of the Internet! It will drive you crazy!" Well, of course, I couldn’t listen...totally. So, to follow his advice as best I could, I was very selective about the websites that I patronized. I found one website to be knowledgeable, user-friendly, and welcoming. Baby Center!
BabyCenter is such a wonderful website for women trying to conceive, women struggling to conceive, expectant mothers, mothers who have miscarried, and mothers of children of all ages. If you are interested in signing up, you input your due date and BabyCenter will send you a weekly email about your child's development. My favorite, by far, was the earliest weeks of pregnancy when so much of your baby's development is occurring. I knew when she got her fingerprints, when she was the size of a peach pit and when she had color to her eyes. It was so comforting, and exciting to know every step as it occurred.
Now that I am the Mom of an older, growing child, I am often asking myself questions like, "Why is she refusing to let me hold her spoon?" "Why is she having difficulty napping?" "Is this normal?" "Is that normal?" And before I know it, my weekly email from BabyCenter pops up and they are SPOT ON with her development. It is so comforting to know that your baby is developing much like other babies their age.
Another favorite facet of BabyCenter is the "birth month club." You can read funny threads, or serious ones, written by mothers who are due to deliver in the same month as you. My all-time favorite threads were the "confessions" that people wrote about their daily occurrences. "I drank a mountain dew and my baby is bouncing around in there like crazy." "I wanted to attack the cashier at Taco Bell because he was slow to give me my gorditas." DOESN'T IT JUST MAKE YOU WANT TO GO READ SOME?! They are so funny!
I also had the opportunity to sign up for many email coupons and values through BabyCenter's advertisements. They offer so many fabulous deals for parents, and they just pop up before your eyes!
Check out BabyCenter and you are sure to find great deals, find a "home" on the Internet, and find a good belly laugh when you visit!
Visit Lindsay Walker's Piano and Voice Studio. You KNOW you want to!
The first thing my OB/GYN said to me when I became pregnant was, "Stay off of the Internet! It will drive you crazy!" Well, of course, I couldn’t listen...totally. So, to follow his advice as best I could, I was very selective about the websites that I patronized. I found one website to be knowledgeable, user-friendly, and welcoming. Baby Center!
BabyCenter is such a wonderful website for women trying to conceive, women struggling to conceive, expectant mothers, mothers who have miscarried, and mothers of children of all ages. If you are interested in signing up, you input your due date and BabyCenter will send you a weekly email about your child's development. My favorite, by far, was the earliest weeks of pregnancy when so much of your baby's development is occurring. I knew when she got her fingerprints, when she was the size of a peach pit and when she had color to her eyes. It was so comforting, and exciting to know every step as it occurred.
Now that I am the Mom of an older, growing child, I am often asking myself questions like, "Why is she refusing to let me hold her spoon?" "Why is she having difficulty napping?" "Is this normal?" "Is that normal?" And before I know it, my weekly email from BabyCenter pops up and they are SPOT ON with her development. It is so comforting to know that your baby is developing much like other babies their age.
Another favorite facet of BabyCenter is the "birth month club." You can read funny threads, or serious ones, written by mothers who are due to deliver in the same month as you. My all-time favorite threads were the "confessions" that people wrote about their daily occurrences. "I drank a mountain dew and my baby is bouncing around in there like crazy." "I wanted to attack the cashier at Taco Bell because he was slow to give me my gorditas." DOESN'T IT JUST MAKE YOU WANT TO GO READ SOME?! They are so funny!
I also had the opportunity to sign up for many email coupons and values through BabyCenter's advertisements. They offer so many fabulous deals for parents, and they just pop up before your eyes!
Check out BabyCenter and you are sure to find great deals, find a "home" on the Internet, and find a good belly laugh when you visit!
Visit Lindsay Walker's Piano and Voice Studio. You KNOW you want to!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Consignment Shopping
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Consignment sales are at the top of my list for saving money as you raise a family, second only to clearance and garage sales! There are many consignment stores for a variety of different types of purchases. Specifically, I frequent children’s and maternity consignment stores for gently used children’s clothing, shoes, toys, accessories, and furniture. My VERY favorite consignment store is Kid to Kid. There are many different locations across the DFW metroplex and they are very committed to only accepting gently used items that are in excellent condition. Once Upon A Child is another favorite, but their stores are slightly larger and can be a bit overwhelming if you are new to consignment shopping. Divine Consign is a twice-yearly consignment store that stocks up on consignment items and then displays them all at once in a grandiose sale in Plano and Grapevine, Texas. Today was the Divine Consign sale in Plano located inside Plano Centre. If you are just reading this and FREAKING OUT, no worries! They are continuing to sell tomorrow and Tuesday. Check out their website at www.divineconsign.net. Also visit Kid to Kid and Once Upon A Child for locations and store hours. As we all know or will soon come to realize, our children grow faster than we can believe sometimes! One day their shoes fit perfectly, and the next they are too small! What about that sweet potato stain that will just NOT COME OUT?! Well, I haven’t found a way to stunt my daughter’s growth or a miracle cure for formula and baby food stains, but I have found a way to keep it from breaking me! Shop consignment stores!! People consign gently used and often brand new clothing, toys, and shoes that I am too thrifty to buy new! As I have said in previous blogs, I find that I can truly justify that pair of to-die-for sandals for my toddler because I purchase all of her other belongings at pennies on the dollar. Today was not a total booty-haul because I wasn’t in the market for very many things. My husband and I purchased a See-and-Say, a toy piano, a small wooden toy, 6 or 7 pieces of summer clothing, a puzzle, and a portable high chair for a total of $51! The most expensive item was the portable high chair at $10!! What a steal! The neatest thing about Divine Consign is that they carry EVERYTHING under the sun for babies, but you have to arrive early and hunt – and as the sale winds to a close on Tuesday afternoon, everything marked with an “X” on the tag is 75% off!
As always, you must be an educated consumer and know what you would typically pay, or what you are willing to pay for certain items so that you will know what is a good deal and what is not. If you have missed the Divine Consign sale this time, join their mailing list and catch them next time. Fortunately, Kid to Kid and Once Upon a Child are open 5-7 days per week.
Conversely, if you are overwhelmed with clothing , toys, furniture, shoes, and accessories that your child(ren) have outgrown, why not make some cash?! Check the website for details, as there are guidelines about how to present your items for consignment.
Visit Lindsay Walker's Piano and Voice Studio. You KNOW you want to!
Consignment sales are at the top of my list for saving money as you raise a family, second only to clearance and garage sales! There are many consignment stores for a variety of different types of purchases. Specifically, I frequent children’s and maternity consignment stores for gently used children’s clothing, shoes, toys, accessories, and furniture. My VERY favorite consignment store is Kid to Kid. There are many different locations across the DFW metroplex and they are very committed to only accepting gently used items that are in excellent condition. Once Upon A Child is another favorite, but their stores are slightly larger and can be a bit overwhelming if you are new to consignment shopping. Divine Consign is a twice-yearly consignment store that stocks up on consignment items and then displays them all at once in a grandiose sale in Plano and Grapevine, Texas. Today was the Divine Consign sale in Plano located inside Plano Centre. If you are just reading this and FREAKING OUT, no worries! They are continuing to sell tomorrow and Tuesday. Check out their website at www.divineconsign.net. Also visit Kid to Kid and Once Upon A Child for locations and store hours. As we all know or will soon come to realize, our children grow faster than we can believe sometimes! One day their shoes fit perfectly, and the next they are too small! What about that sweet potato stain that will just NOT COME OUT?! Well, I haven’t found a way to stunt my daughter’s growth or a miracle cure for formula and baby food stains, but I have found a way to keep it from breaking me! Shop consignment stores!! People consign gently used and often brand new clothing, toys, and shoes that I am too thrifty to buy new! As I have said in previous blogs, I find that I can truly justify that pair of to-die-for sandals for my toddler because I purchase all of her other belongings at pennies on the dollar. Today was not a total booty-haul because I wasn’t in the market for very many things. My husband and I purchased a See-and-Say, a toy piano, a small wooden toy, 6 or 7 pieces of summer clothing, a puzzle, and a portable high chair for a total of $51! The most expensive item was the portable high chair at $10!! What a steal! The neatest thing about Divine Consign is that they carry EVERYTHING under the sun for babies, but you have to arrive early and hunt – and as the sale winds to a close on Tuesday afternoon, everything marked with an “X” on the tag is 75% off!
As always, you must be an educated consumer and know what you would typically pay, or what you are willing to pay for certain items so that you will know what is a good deal and what is not. If you have missed the Divine Consign sale this time, join their mailing list and catch them next time. Fortunately, Kid to Kid and Once Upon a Child are open 5-7 days per week.
Conversely, if you are overwhelmed with clothing , toys, furniture, shoes, and accessories that your child(ren) have outgrown, why not make some cash?! Check the website for details, as there are guidelines about how to present your items for consignment.
Visit Lindsay Walker's Piano and Voice Studio. You KNOW you want to!
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