These past four months have been quite an adjustment for me, one that I think I’m still going through.  I never thought that I would be a stay-at-home mom.  I’ve always been a very goal- and career-oriented person (not that people who want to be SAHMs aren’t!  I just always thought I’d be a working mom).  I ended up being a SAHM out of necessity.  Since I wasn’t already in a position of full-time work before I got pregnant with C, I discovered that in the area we live I would need to start in an entry-level position anywhere I applied.  Those positions would barely pay enough to offset the cost of daycare.  Between missing out on so much time with my son and the cost of daycare, Hubster and I decided that the small amount of take-home pay that I would receive wasn’t worth the hassle.

Now that I actually am a SAHM, I can’t imagine working full time and missing out on spending every day with C.  He changes so fast and is becoming so much fun!  There are many, many challenges though.  Being a SAHM is the most difficult job I have had (or ever will have!).  I’ve had a hard time transitioning into my new role.

When people have asked me what I’ve been up to or what I do, I’ve found myself stumbling for an answer.  Being a very goal- and career-oriented person, I’m used to setting and meeting professional goals and tasks.  I don’t do that anymore.  Even though I’m constantly busy, my task lists these days center around household tasks.  My daily life is more of a blur of laundry, diapers and dishes than anything else.  Those goals can never be met because by the time you’re done with laundry or dishes, there’s another pile waiting for you.  I feel like I haven’t been accomplishing anything because I’m not going to work.

That’s where my attitude and outlook needs to change.  Even if I feel like I’m not accomplishing something, I’m actually making a huge, challenging commitment to my family.  Raising a child is now my profession.  Raising a respectful, intelligent, happy child is now my goal.

I’m still trying to figure out what to say when I’m asked that question, “What have you been up to lately?”  I could bring up my part-time work in social media marketing that I do from home.  Or I could say that I’ve been busy raising a human being, because I’m discovering that’s a pretty darn noble profession.

Did you have a difficult time adjusting to being a SAHM or WAHM?  What’s your answer to the, “What do you do?” question?