Daily Chatter

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Three Things Thursday ~ Changes Edition



You remember when I changed out of my worn out kinda grey-ish no longer comfy ultra stinky Sauconys into my fabulous sea green bright white ultra light weight super comfy Sauconys, right?  I am convinced that retiring my worn out kinda grey-ish no longer comfy ultra stinky Sauconys was exactly what my form needed.  Since the switch my feet, ankles and thigh have been talking much much less.  And thanks (maybe) to some sweet Tommy Cooper gear review coming soon  I think my aches will soon be a thing of the past!


This is my last week of summer vacation.  S'ghetti girl goes back to school on Tuesday.  I know I complained about how I'd work out our routine when school ended in May but now I wonder how I managed with early morning buses and homework to fit in on top of everything else!  This week was to be a practice for the change in our routine.  Epic fail!  So far we have gone to bed late, eaten supper late, got up late, gotten home late...
I am hoping it's just nerves and we will pull it all together come that first 5th grade morning. 
It could get interesting.

Like many of you, I have a big girl job.  It is my place to be successful on my own outside of the roles I play in everyone else's lives.  But lately, I really don't want to be there.  I know it benefits my family to have my income but I keep thinking about all the things I am missing with the little kids and remembering having so much more time when my oldest was little.  I didn't really have more time.  In fact I worked much more back then.  Somehow I just squeezed more into those hours or so it seems. 
My husband would like nothing better than for us all to finally move and that would mean me quitting my job and being a SAHM.  So those of you who make it work with only one income, how do you do it?  How do you keep your own identity outside of your roles as mom and wife?  Do you feel you have given up anything with only one income?  I really would love your input because today, I really want to move! 
Today, I don't really like my Big Girl job very much.

13 comments:

  1. Obviously I am not an expert on this topic... but your non-Mom identity doesn't just come from your big girl job. it's who you are - a runner and a nature lover and a free spirit! Whether you work or not, those things won't change.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been a SAHM/very part time working mom for about 7 years now. I'm sure we've given up things, but we lived way below our means before I quit work, so we had significant savings. We are careful with money, but we still manage to do most of what we want. This year is the first year that money has felt "tight", but that's because I bought a new car and I refuse to touch the money I make (I consider it extra savings).

    I've had no trouble keeping my own identity. Between my running, my blog, and the random other stuff I do, I sometimes feel I have too much identity LOL.

    Good luck with your decision. In my case, it finally had to just be a leap of faith and it did work out for us.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I stay at home and I don't have any troubles keeping my identity. I think that's why I started running, to have a title beyond "mom"!

    I can't even imagine how much you'd run if you didn't have a Big Girl Job. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been a SAHM for 8 years. We sacrifice a lot for me to be able to do it- i.e. vacations, eating out, nifty spendy clothes etc..
    but it's worth it. My running is actually what helps me stay "Lacey" amidst a world of "mom's" and "Honeys". I love being with my kidlets everyday. I love being able to see them take their first steps, say their first words- first days of school first play dates ALL of it. It's hard sometimes not being "out" of the home more. But really, in the scheme of things, my running keeps my balanced enough that I really don't NEED that outside stuff as much as you would think! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  5. We have always been a one-income family, so I don't really know any other way. I say if you can adjust to a lifestyle that will let you live on one income, do it.

    I love being with my kids everyday. Getting to be at all of their activities. Helping them with their homework. Helping in their classes. I don't think you'll lose yourself if you stop your big girl job. Your identity will morph, but you will find your way. The answer is in your heart. Just listen.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tough choices! I've always been fortunate 'cause I work for myself from home, so I get the best of both worlds. I think that with running such a big part of your life, you're good to go whether you work or don't. Good luck with the decision!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have been a SAHM for 11 years. I have learned to define myself through other means besides work. I run and race. I volunteer. I don't feel that we have less because of one income, but we have only had one income since we have been married, I don't know any different. But, if this is something that you want to do you should do it. Good luck. p.s. where would you move to?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm a teacher, so I get to be a SAHM during the summer. I go through periods when I wish I could be home with them, but I love my job. If I didn't, *I* would move heaven and earth to be home with them. Good luck to you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I gave up my career when we moved out of the country 12 years ago. It was a tough transition because I identified myself by what I did and I wasn't yet a mom.
    There's more to life than a job though and I know you'll love spending more time with your kids. I say go for it. You won't regret it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Go for it! Don't keep living a way that makes you unhappy. You will find ways to sacrifice and pinch pennies. Be happy the best ways you can and being with family seems to make you really happy :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I desperately wanted to be a stay at home mum but our finances just couldn't cope. But I still quit my profession (veterinary science) and built a business from home so we could have the extra income and I could be where I was needed.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Praying for you. I too have been a SAHM for 8 yrs. I believe God led me to that decision. I will be finding full time work eventually, when hubs retires, but now I just work while they are in school.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Being a SAHM is the best job I've ever had. I struggled a while after my kids were born to reclaim an identity other than 'mom', but for a while being 'only' a mom was all I wanted. Living on one income has it's challenges, but if you really want to do it you can. Everyone does it differently, so there is no right way to live on one income.

    ReplyDelete