I became a stay-at-home mom since 5 years ago
By Lee Ka
@kaka135 (14994)
Malaysia
December 6, 2015 8:24am CST
I checked on the Facebook "On This Day" feature, and I was reminded that I started to become a stay-at-home mom since 5 years ago.
I always think this is one of the wisest decision I have made - to quit my office job and take care of my children. I am always grateful for my husband who supports me on this, though we will have to live within the tight budget. I think it's good for us too, as we learn to appreciate more and demand less. Less is more. I like the simple life we are living now.
I can't imagine it's been 5 years. I have been learning and growing a lot, together with my two lovely children. Though I am still not the gentle mother I want to be, I am improving.
I really enjoy being with my children. Though there are always challenges, there are much more joys and love.
Would you prefer to stay in the career world or be a stay-at-home parent?
16 people like this
17 responses
@allknowing (153529)
• India
7 Dec 15
I did the same - gave up my lucrative job with a multi national. I just had to do something different. Took some time off, travelled, took up some courses, learnt to swim and later started my landscaped gardening business. I am now a lady of leisure spending time tending to my garden and pets which keep me merrily on my toes.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
8 Dec 15
@allknowing I wonder if I return to the working world, I might change my industry as well. 
Good that you are working as what you are passionate. 
Good that you are working as what you are passionate. @kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
7 Dec 15
It's good that you were able to start your business, perhaps something different from your previous profession?
I am still working as a freelance programmer, though I don't work really hard as my priority is still my children, at least I am doing something I like (programming) while earning a little bit extra and I love (mothering).
@allknowing (153529)
• India
8 Dec 15
@kaka135 I was handllng administration in the office and I switched over to my passion -gardening (lol)
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
13 Dec 15
I am not at this point in my life yet, but I would want to be a stay at home mom so I can care for my child(ren). I would feel safer than putting my child(ren) into day care.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
13 Dec 15
Yes, I agree with you. Besides loving to spend time with my children, I always think I am the best person who takes care and brings up my children, as I don't really trust others in this. Perhaps I always have different parenting perspective with the people around me here, even my own parents and parents-in-law.
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
7 Dec 15
Are you working in the same industry as before?
Some of my friends asked if I'd get bored being at home when my children grow older. I do not know if I will go back and pursue my previous career, but I think it's different for me now. Perhaps I am more interested in child education, I may become a teacher when my children are older.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Dec 15
here in Southern California most all moms are working simply because it takes two paychecks to pay the 1200 month rent on any two bedroom apt and to buy a house you have to
have a high white collar paying job as they run from 50 0000 to 100000 dollars so most rent and if they have teen aged kids some of them work too. the cost of living here has gone crazy.
2 people like this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
9 Dec 15
@Hatley I can understand that. I have some friends who wish to stay at home, but they told me they just can't rely on one income only.
It isn't easy for us, but I think we are fortunate as we bought this house before the price of the houses went up very high. Moreover, as we are homeschooling our children, so we save the school fees.
I try to work at home, so I can help to bring in some income as well.
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
15 Dec 15
I have been a stay at home mom for over ten years. The time still goes by fast. I have enjoyed every minute of it.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
18 Dec 15
@whiteream Yes, I think that. It's not only a wonderful memories for us, and for the children too. Moreover, as I have two children now, I think their bonding might be better when I am staying at home with them, as they get to play and work together with each other more.
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
17 Dec 15
@kaka135 Nothing in the world could ever equal to the wonderful memories I have of being at home for my son. He will always remember that.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Dec 15
I never had a real career b ut I worked as a nurses aide for years tjhen married and the cost of living was so high that I had to wo rkl partime just o help my hubby pay the bills.I worked nights part time thjen finally wjhen our son was a teen i w o rked days parttime in the local libray so I was just partly a stay at ho me ,o m as too manyh of us here in California cannot afford to not work./
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
9 Dec 15
I didn't know the cost of living was so high over there even years ago. Glad that you were able to get some part time jobs.
My mom was staying at home and working as tailor at home at the same time. Many women here did the same in those years, as they couldn't afford to get someone to take care of the children as well.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
7 Dec 15
It is good that life in Malaysia is still less stressful than in Singapore.
I think you are fortunate to have great neighbors, and you can plant something in your garden, so that you can save on grocery.
I think you can use the land to teach your children about labor, and they will learn to value food as they know that it is tough to grow your own food.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
7 Dec 15
I always have the impression that it's more stressful to work in Singapore, though there are many things I like about Singapore, I prefer to stay and work here, as it's more relaxing.
As our income are much lesser after I became a stay-at-home mom, we are living within budget. I think it's good for the children, and good for me too. We always learn to make our own things, my children always think and suggest we can make things ourselves, and hence they rarely request to buy toys and other stuffs. Not because they think we cannot afford it, they think it's good and saving resources if we can make it ourselves. I learn gardening together with my children too.
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
7 Dec 15
Yes, I think it's worth to see the children growing everyday. Just now when I was doing some housework, and I heard my children laughing while playing. I just think this is the reward for a stay-at-home mom as I can hear their laughter, see them playing joyfully for the whole day. Nothing else can beat this.
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
6 Dec 15
I think the most precious thing you can give your children is your time. I stayed at home with mine until they went to school, then only worked part time so i was always home when school finished. I'm glad that you are doing the same with your children.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
18 Dec 15
Yes, my children are always happy as I am with them always, especially my son. I became stay-at-home mom when he was turning two, and he always likes this decision I made, though he was still very young when my mother-in-law was taking care of him. It's just very different to be with mother and with other people.
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Dec 15
I should have stayed with them, although I wasn't really in a career choice. I did have two years home with my daughters and it was great, but we weren't getting ahead, so I thought it would be best for me to work part-time so we could have money in savings. It's been seventeen years and still there's no money in savings, although there was money in a retirement fund until my husband's fall seven years ago. We had to spend that-on bills so we could get help paying the hospital bills. Even then, I've been paying the remaining amount since then.
You've made a wise decision.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
10 Dec 15
Sorry to hear about your husband's fall, hope he's fine now. You must have a difficult time, but hopefully those hard days are over now.
It isn't easy to be a stay at home mom for some families without working at all. I have spent two years to look for opportunity that I can work at home and also save some money before I quit my office job. I am still working as freelance programmer, though I am not very active in finding projects, but at least I help to bring in some small income.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (11488)
• United Kingdom
7 Dec 15
I would love to be able to stay at home.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
7 Dec 15
I worked for my son's education. I even donned short hair. When he graduated last 2013, I grew my hair long.
my schedule working until 5PM was better than when I worked in graveyard shifts. Now, I work because it has become my vocation and my passion.
1 person likes this
