Two days after I left my job, I found out I was pregnant with my first son. I spent the pregnancy and the first year of his life trying to justify my decision to stay home. I felt worthless at times, because I wasn’t contributing to our family by not bringing in an income and I was not using my college degree. I was even embarrassed to tell people I was a stay-at-home mom. When our second son was born, I felt more secure in my decision, but occasionally, I still questioned it.
Then I randomly decided to visit your website. I read “In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms” in two days! Because of the support of my parents and your reinforcement, I’m now proud to say I am a stay-at-home mom.
I’m glad we didn’t fall for the two-income trap or the trope of trying to “have it all.” Just having my children and my husband makes me realize I DO have it all. The joke is on the women who are trying to be everything to everyone, instead of being mothers and wives. They are the jacks-of-all-trades, yet masters of none. I am an ever-evolving master of my trade.
Elaine
We Avoided the Two-Income Trap