What am I losing if I “abandon” my role as a stay-at-home-mom? Am I going to miss out on all the post-nap snuggles from my baby during her last year before kindergarten? What if my husband needs more help from me for our construction business than I’m able to give?
These are some of the questions I ask myself as I walk the path from stay-at-home-mom to working mom.
This path was one that was placed in front of me. A friend, now colleague, recommended the position to me. I will be a high school language arts teacher for the 2018-2019 school year. I interviewed, accepted the position, applied to an alternative license program and recently received my license to be a teacher in the state of Colorado.
While there were many steps to go from stay-at-home-mom to working mom, I didn’t force this career. It just happened.
In this regard, I feel like it was meant to be. This is the path I am being directed towards. I’m thankful for this feeling of peace. Transitioning from a veteran stay-at-home-mom of six years, to a working mom will be a change that I’m sure will have its ups and downs, and I will need to fall back on this initial feeling of peace.
I’m fortunate that our six-year-old is going to be in the school where her Nana is the librarian. My four-year-old will attend preschool five days a week (which she loves) and spend her afternoons napping and with her Papa. It really couldn’t be a better scenario. After this first year I will have an almost identical schedule to our girls.
Then why am I still apprehensive about this change? Maybe it’s because change tends to be both exciting and scary.
Fear of the unknown plays a part as well. I’ve never been a teacher, and my “real job” resume since graduating college is fairly short.
Fortunately my excitement to be an educator continues to grow exponentially along side these fears. My heart is anxious to help and give back to our community. I have a new appreciation for all educators. Teachers work hard, and they care more about their subject matters and students than you know.
My self-imposed rule for transitioning to a working mom is to schedule everything, including, “Meal planning,” and also to “Be wife and mom from after school to bed time.” By doing this, I force myself into not trying to fill in the time that belongs to my family with something else that can and should wait. Being a good wife and mom for me also includes fitness. Going to a workout class where the girls can join me will be apart of this mom time.
I’m not sure how my life will look in two months. I’m hopeful that with a good planner and the desire to succeed in this transition that I will succeed. We will succeed.
Have you gone from stay-at-home-mom life to working mom? What are your suggestions? I would love to hear them!
