Confessions of a stay at home {MOM}

The other day I was with a bunch of girls having a good time and talking about the normal Mormon mom stuff when one girl made the comment that she couldn't wait to get her life back when referring to motherhood. This statement kinda blew me out of the water that a mom would say that and how sad it was that she would think of motherhood in that way....then I started to tell myself....self, you too used to have a really hard time being a stay at home mom. So, here is my confession.

I had a really hard time being a stay at home mom after Kaylee was born. I felt lazy and worthless. I dreaded waking up in the morning to taking care of the baby, cleaning, cooking, taking care of the baby, cleaning, cooking over and over and over. I hated cleaning and I hated being stuck inside ALL day! I wanted to use my brain and learn new things. I wanted to interact with people and talk to someone who could talk back. I wanted to go where I wanted to go when I wanted to go. I wanted to hang out with friends, etc. It was a really hard time for me....probably because it was all about me....

I grew up knowing I was going to be a stay at home mom and I always wanted to be one. I just didn't realize it was going to be so tough. I started thinking, what changed for me, why do I love being home with my kids now? Why do I like to cook and clean now? After pondering this the past week or so I can only think of a few things that may have changed my perspective on life.

1- A gal (hint hint) in my ward invited me to go to Willow Park with her and her son to hang out. At first I remember thinking...why...but ok I'll go. Well, it totally opened up a new world to me that now, instead of having single friends, I can have mommy friends and do mommy things together. I'm not sure why this hadn't donned on my before but I remember going home so much happier and refreshed and a better wife and mother. I was able to talk to someone who was in the same situation as me, going through the same things as me, and it really did make my day so much better.

2- After I found out that I was pregnant with Cole, I knew I had to change some things. I did not want to put on as much weight as I did with Kaylee and I was determined to not let it happen. So, I started going to the Sports Academy. This totally changed the way I felt about myself. I had a set time everyday that was my hour to workout. Although it was tough at times to get there, it completely changed the way I felt about myself and that hour to myself gave me an extra boost for the rest of the day. The weight thing was why I started but now I do it because of the way it makes me feel. It makes me happier.

3- At Women's Conference President Uchtdorf suggested that we as women learn a new skill. This was HUGE for me because I love learning and loved being in school and getting my BA. Someday I hope to get my Masters but that time is not now. I wish I could afford to just take random classes at USU in things that interest me, but cost is definitely an issue. So, I looked else where. I had been wanting to take a Photoshop class for a really long time and I found one that BATC offered. I am still in the class and I LOVE it! I get 2 hours a week to use my brain and to learn something. I am looking forward to taking other classes at BATC that interest me that will teach me new things. This week I am starting a cake decorating class at the Hobby Lobby...not really something that will exercise my brain but it will be fun and it will be 2 hours that I get to focus on something besides mommy stuff. I have also found that taking up hobbies is very relaxing and a good way have time to myself. I love to scrapbook, crochet, crosstitch, read, blog, and make burp cloths.

4- I'm not really sure when I became a neat freak but I take great pride in my house being clean. Maybe it was just the fact that I grew up that way and my genes finally kicked in...I don't know but I get a great sense of accomplishment when my house is clean.

So, there you have it. My little story of how I became a happy stay at home mom.