It is a very personal, and often difficult decision that all moms have to make to decide to either stay at home with their children, or go to work. It is a decision that requires a lot of debate between both the parents, including third party factors like a person’s financial state. Not just whether or not the mother wants to. A third option, which is becoming more and more common in the 21st century is a stay at home father. While every option is acceptable as long as your children are in the hands of safe and loving caretakers, their is only one option for me. One option I’ve known for as long as I can remember.

My mom stayed at home with me and my four siblings until I was in the sixth grade, and even then her first job back was at my school. I was used to my mom being able to pick me up from school in the blink of an eye when I was sick. She could drop off my gym clothes if we forgot it was gym day. She could come to any school event or social. Not to say that you are a bad parent if you can’t do those things but that is one of the perks of having a stay at home parent. I even see it now in my sister who fully embraced the lifestyle when her first child was born. She is walking in my mothers footsteps and I only hope I am able to as well some day.

With this hope of being able to be the main caretaker of my children comes many joys and a lot of happiness for me. I feel like I have lived a lot of my life dreaming of the day. I played with dolls every day growing up, taking care of them and nurturing them. It only excites me that this may become a reality some day.

What doesn’t excite me is all of the negative stigmas that come with being a stay at home mom. I specifically remember sitting in my 10th grade history class and hearing my teacher ask, “Who wants to have a career and doesn’t want to be a stay at home mom?” I was the only girl who didn’t raise her hand. Granted, I want both, but still it’s the matter of the fact.

I can do both. I can work, then take some time off to raise my kids and once they are all in school pick up where I left off. I have goals and dreams too, but a part of that is staying at home with my children while they are young. That is what is important to me. I want to spend that time with them that can never be replaced. They will only be babies for so long.

I shouldn’t be made to feel like I am giving up on my life or career for wanting to do this.

By making this choice I shouldn’t be told that I don’t have any plans.

This decision in no way, shape, or form means that I am taking the easy road or just lazy.

This is not old fashioned or outdated, children still need to be raised by someone.

Staying at home to raise you’re kids does not mean any of these things. It is not easy, it is challenging and difficult, but that is a challenge I am more than willing to take.