This year has been a true challenge for our family. Not only did we move 640 miles away from our hometowns, but we also moved away from our support system. We knew going into it that it wouldn’t be easy, but knowing something will be hard and actually living through it are two very different things.
My husband made a complete career change and went into sales, which in itself is a pretty scary leap. I went from working part-time to becoming a stay-at-home mom. And to top things off, we found out we were expecting right in the middle of our house hunt.
Needless to say…it’s been a year of change.
As exciting as all of these milestones have been, they’ve also come with a lot of uncertainty. Building a new life in a new place means starting over in so many ways. New routines, new doctors, new grocery stores, new neighbors, and no family close by to call when you just need someone to watch your toddler for an hour.
Adjusting has been more challenging than I expected, especially now that things are slowing down as we settle into our new home. I find myself constantly doing something, yet somehow feeling like I have nothing to show for it at the end of the day.
The dishes are never-ending. There’s always another load of laundry waiting. Meals need to be cooked, toys need to be picked up, and my toddler somehow has enough energy for both of us. By the time I finally sit down, it feels like it’s already bedtime and somehow the whole cycle starts over again the next morning.
I’m sure once our newest little one arrives, life will change all over again. We’ll be learning a new routine, surviving on coffee and newborn snuggles, and figuring out what our new normal looks like.
But in the meantime, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something.
We are incredibly fortunate that I’m able to stay home with our children, and I never take that for granted. I know it’s a privilege that many families wish they had. At the same time, I think it’s okay to acknowledge that something can be both a blessing and incredibly difficult.
I’ve been working for as long as I can remember. Bringing home a paycheck gave me a sense of independence and accomplishment. Now, even though I know I’m contributing so much to our family, it feels strange not having that financial contribution anymore.
There’s a certain identity shift that comes with becoming a stay-at-home mom that no one really prepares you for. You go from performance reviews, coworkers, and paychecks to measuring your success by whether everyone ate something green, the toddler took a nap, and no one cried too much today—including you.
Being a stay-at-home mom is one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever had, yet it’s also one of the least recognized. It’s a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week commitment with no sick days, no vacation time, and no clocking out at the end of the day. You’re the chef, chauffeur, teacher, housekeeper, entertainer, comforter, and often the one carrying the mental load of remembering every appointment, grocery item, and bedtime routine.
Lately I’ve been brainstorming different ways I could earn a little income from home or start a small side hustle. The idea sounds great in theory, but the reality is much different. It’s hard to build something when you’re also the primary caregiver to tiny humans who need you every five minutes. Finding uninterrupted time feels almost impossible.
Still, I know there are so many moms out there making it work in creative ways, and I’d love to hear how.
Have you found a side hustle that fits around motherhood? How did you get started? Was it worth it? Or are you, like me, still trying to figure it all out one day at a time?
Sometimes the most comforting thing is knowing you’re not the only one navigating this season of life. If you’re in the same boat, just know you’re not alone. We’re all doing our best, even on the days when it doesn’t feel like enough.
Leave a Reply