tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1041290658189316981.post3844120044936999557..comments2014-07-27T14:11:47.429-07:00Comments on Not the Only Mama: The Great Stay-At-Home DebateHezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530273285929018027noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1041290658189316981.post-6313459606284425262012-04-24T10:52:50.520-07:002012-04-24T10:52:50.520-07:00Another great comment! Thank you for taking the ti...Another great comment! Thank you for taking the time to weigh-in! I really do find it interesting to hear other Mom's opinions on this topic...Hezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530273285929018027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1041290658189316981.post-40139053167588038372012-04-20T17:44:02.134-07:002012-04-20T17:44:02.134-07:00I am a stay at home mom, by choice. It was an eas...I am a stay at home mom, by choice. It was an easy choice for me. I always wanted to stay home with my children if we could make it work financially. We struggle sometimes and maybe I don't always have the newest gadgets, new clothes, or everything I see that I want... but going back to work would have meant having my child in day care full time and only working for about $100 a week after paying for it. I'm only going to be a mommy of young children for a short amount of time in my life. I don't want to give the responsibility of raising them the way I want them raised to another person. I want to positively influence them as much as possible in these years that they are most receptive to being influenced. When my children are in full time school I will probably head back to work, at least in a part time capacity. Until then my children are my priority and the great love of my life. There is nothing more important than making sure they get all the love and nurturing I can give them, as long as we can continue to make the finances balance out. Your identity is not what you do, it is who you are, your values, your actions, your example, and how you treat other people. I don't think the most important question at the end of your life will be did I stimulate myself enough, or even if you were successful enough. It will be if you loved enough, if you were loved enough, and if you connected enough with the people in your life enough to impact them in a positive way. When I'm asked what do you do? I answer a stay at home mom. But really I am someone who loves her kids with all her heart and doing the best she can to make sure they grow up happy and loved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1041290658189316981.post-41987712097788125532012-04-18T12:44:00.426-07:002012-04-18T12:44:00.426-07:00Awesome comment... thanks Colleen! I agree - I wor...Awesome comment... thanks Colleen! I agree - I worry about the finances too. I don't think not working is even an option. But I've been thinking a lot about what I'm going to do long-term... So many questions!Hezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530273285929018027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1041290658189316981.post-11697466224832479872012-04-18T09:13:06.354-07:002012-04-18T09:13:06.354-07:00If money were no object, I wouldn't work full ...If money were no object, I wouldn't work full time. I would walk my son to school. I would volunteer for school trips. I would take my daughter to classes during the day. But, I would also still have her in daycare part time. I would work part time for a non profit, or volunteer my time and skills. I need to feel like I am doing something more than "just being a mom" (even though that, in and of itself, is a lot). I like to feel stimulated, I thrive on solving problems and being busy. But in a nutshell, the reason why I work is for the money. And I can't quite figure out how to not care that much about finances!Colleen Gauthierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03781171128650485816noreply@blogger.com