Courtesy of babble.com

We’ve all seen supermom.  She effortlessly drives around town in her minivan, escorting her children to all of their extracurricular activities.  Dressed in school colors, she claps wildly at her kids’ sporting events.  She bakes elaborate snacks and her house is always spotless.  She has time to do her hair every morning and never wears yoga pants unless she’s working out.

I’m most definitely not supermom.  I have no idea how supermom operates, but I’d welcome her into my home to provide me with a tutorial on life.  Lately, I’ve been starting to wonder if I really have what it takes to be a stay-at-home mom (SAHM).

While I thrive off of interactions with people, I’ve always been an introvert who needs some time alone to recharge.  I cannot be with anyone 24/7…even my own child.

In the past few weeks, I’ve come to realize that even my flesh and blood is not immune to my need to be alone.  I’ve had to spend a lot of solo time with C in the past few weeks while Hubster worked some long hours and attended two conferences.  A heaping dose of mom guilt comes along with realizing that you’re not capable of sanely taking care of your child every second.  I’m going to compare being a SAHM to having a job, though I do see it as both an occupation and a privilege.

When I worked outside of the home, I had lunch breaks.  If I got really sick, I took a sick day.  When I had to use the bathroom, I did so without my boss crying because I left my desk.  I went home at the end of the day to do whatever I chose to do.  Each night, I slept without being interrupted by my boss.

I miss those moments of alone time!  That time to just take care of yourself and just “be.”  I don’t know if I have what it takes to be a SAHM long-term.  I know that I will continue until we move next summer.  Perhaps by then I will figure out how to be a SAHM and not lose my identity (and sanity!) in the process.  I’ve been told by other SAHMs that the first year was very difficult.  I’m learning that in order to be a good mother and wife, I need to get away.  Hubster has agreed to let me get out once or twice a week for a few hours of “me time,” and I am so glad.

How do you handle being a SAHM?