I’ve come to love being a stay at home mama (SAHM) the more and more I stay at home. Life is busy with children. We’re always trying to keep them occupied and engaged throughout the week; where to take them, what to do, or what we’re eating. Some weeks I feel like the only time I get to truly relax with my children are on the days we stay home the entire day! And that’s what I meant in the first sentence–loving the staying at home part.
As a mother who has the blessing of staying at home and raising my children, we do like to get out and do things. Whether that’s the simple task of grocery shopping for the week, meeting up with another mom and her kiddos, going to the park, stopping at the store to get diapers because I forgot to buy some a couple days before, or a visit to grama’s house for the afternoon. We do make our way out of the home several days out of the week. However, it’s such a joy to know when I have a Wednesday or a Friday to just stay at home with my girls and know we have nothing on the agenda to do or anywhere go. I’d like to see more of my week spent at home then always being on the go. Here’s my reasoning:
Children thrive on routine and schedule. Yes, my girls are still very young, but instilling a schedule of our rhythms and routines happens in the normal everyday activities we are doing. I’m currently reading the book Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel. He reiterates the thesis of his book in chapter 6 when he writes, “our greatest moments of meaning are hidden in the ordinary ones.” This is such a meaningful and profound thought! The habits we are doing in our day to day create the life we live. I’d highly recommend the book if you are looking to create better habits in your own life. Especially as a young mama, I want to maximize my efforts in motherhood by learning and gaining as much wisdom in my early years of parenting, so the tough work I put in now will bear much fruit later in our lives. I will always be learning and growing, that is the process of sanctification as a believer in Jesus Christ. Growing to be more like Him.
I took a little detour mentioning the book on habits, but habits lead us back to our routines and schedule. When you are a mama who spends the majority of her time at home with the kids, then your children know the expectation of being at home. They might see taking the trip out to the store or to the park twice a week as a little treat. If you are a mama who has a scheduled activity every day of the week for your kids, then your kiddos might be the opposite and either look forward to coming home or always want to be on the go. It’s the habits you are creating. Neither way is right or wrong, but I do believe there is something special about the moments we create in our home. After all, it is our place of sanctuary away from the rest of the world where we come together as a family.
Staying at home brings me joy. I can confidently say I’m enjoying my stay at home mama life. In the end, it’s all about perspective, isn’t it? If you can’t say that same thing right now, then I encourage you to find it. Lean into the joy your home can bring. Create new habits of your household (like the book I mentioned!) Be blessed mamas, sisters, and friends!
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