I love being a SAHM. Yes it's tiring and frustrating and exhausting, but it's also some of the best moments in my life! I love taking care of my two little ones. They bring me lots of joy and I love when Jonas tells me he loves me. It's the best. I worked during most of the first year of Jonas's life so Clint could finish school (he stayed with Jonas) and I hated it. I felt like I missed so much of Jonas's first year. I don't remember what he did from 5 months until a year for him. And for me, I knew I could never work again because I just missed him so much. And it was stressful trying to work and spend enough time with Jonas before he went to bed at night and cooking and cleaning. Some people have to work, others want to work and I think that is great! More power to them! But for me, I didn't like it at all.
Clint and I have made it a priority so I can stay home. I think it's funny when some people (not all, just one person I'm thinking in particular) says "you're so lucky you get to stay home". This person has a cabin and lives in a bigger house, goes out to eat for lunch a lot, etc. It's not that I get to stay home, it's that we make it possible for me to stay home. We don't go out to eat much, Clint brown bags it to work every day, I don't remember the last time I went to the movie theater, we don't buy things for ourselves very often, but I'm ok with that. The thought of working again so we could have more money is not a happy thought. I don't want to work.
That being said, sometimes this "SAHM" needs a break and I finally got it! This last weekend my parents took Jonas to their house for some Dinosaur fun. It was awesome - for Clint and I. Jonas had a blast as well. It was our anniversary, so it was a more awesome break. We kept Alexis here, since she relies on me to eat, and she cries when anybody else watches her.
But Clint and I were able to enjoy things that we forgot existed. Such as:
1) a clean house - for 2 whole days! Because, let's face it, Alexis doesn't make messes....yet.
2) leaving candy wrappers on the floor from watching a movie. It was our anniversary, we had candy. :) And instead of cleaning them up after the movie so Jonas didn't see them in the morning and ask why he didn't get any, we just kept them on the ground till morning. Not a big deal.
3) Waiting a couple days before having to turn on the dishwasher. The dishwasher needs to be turned on almost every single day here - and that's with one (kind of two, Alexis doesn't use many dishes) kid. Imagine having more than two. You'd probably have the dishwasher on multiple times a day! That's a lot of dishes to wash.
4) Getting out. Getting out and going places is so much easier with one kid than two. And Alexis is always so good when we go out (which is funny because she used to scream whenever we left the house). She loves it now. Jonas throws tantrums sometimes, or takes forever to walk. We can get a lot more done with just one.
5) Sleep. We took a nap together! That never happens. One kid, especially a baby, is nice! When she laid down for a nap, so did we! Jonas hardly naps now, and working it so both kids are napping at the same time takes talent - that I apparently do not have! ha ha. And Alexis sleeps in later when Jonas isn't here. I slept in till 8:00 one morning. Nice! By the way, I think her teething stopped. She sleeps great now and she isn't cranky like she was. Weird.
However, after two days I sure did miss my Jonas. I missed his chatter, his make believe play, his cute face. Even though I don't get those things listed above anymore with two kids, I'm ok with it. Being a mom to my cute little boy and baby is the best thing I could ask for. Especially being a Stay At Home Mom. I sure do love them! And having that much needed break made being a mom even better!
Does Jonas have grapes in his cheeks?? ;) He smiled exactly like that for us at the Dinosaur Park! And I love his chatter and make believe play too! Thank you for sharing him with us! Being a SAHM is a lot of work! But totally worth it!!
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