From Stay-at-Home Mom to Working Mom: My Journey to Find Balance & Grace by Janine Owens

Motherhood Career
5 years ago

From Stay-at-Home Mom to Working Mom: My Journey to Find Balance & Grace

I don’t have the answers. In fact, according to my 10-year-old daughter, I don’t know much of anything (she might be right, but I won’t tell her that). I have three kids (10, 5 and 22 months). My husband stayed home with our oldest for the first two years of her life; I stayed home with the last two for the first year of each of their lives. I hated it. I loved my kids, but for me, being a SAHM was so isolating. I was a career woman at heart so I went back to work. 

What I thought was the ticket to my happiness turned into a confusing tetherball of emotions. I now missed my kids – yet I had missed my work for so long. So which did I want? 

I want both. It’s always going to be both. The early morning meetings for work that allow me to be home to get my kids off the bus in the afternoon. The adult-only Friday lunches that recharge me for a chaotic Friday night “kids-gone-wild” dinner. The sweet spot isn’t a spot at all – it’s a myriad of meshing my old life and my new life together into one big ol’ ball of balance and grace. 

I don’t have the answers, but I know that I’m closer to the “sweet spot” when I’m a balanced mom.

SAHM & WAHM: Here's a Simple Trick to Be More Productive at Home!

5 Ways Working Moms Can Support Their Child’s Teacher!

We Are All Working Moms: Embrace Your Status & Embrace Others, Too!

Brittney Payton on the Constant Guilt & Struggles of Being a Working Mom

Elisa Schmitz
I love this so much! Like you, Janine Owens , I want both, and I have both (crazy as it is). Thank you for sharing this! Welcome to our community of writers at 30Seconds.com. We are so happy to have you and can't wait for more from you! :-)
Janine Owens
Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm looking forward to working with you as well :-)
Mike Prochaska
I love this!! So can relate. I loved being a stay at home parent but now they both in school I want to work while they gone. I know a lot of dads and moms who feel same way you do. I
Janine Owens
Agreed 100%! It's a very delicate balance and hard to describe to those who haven't been on both sides of the coin. Glad you can relate, it's nice for me to know I'm not alone :-)
Ann Marie Patitucci
I can relate to this so much, Janine Owens ! Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective with us. And welcome to our community of writers!

join discussion

Please login to comment.

recommended tips

Happy International Women’s Day: Celebrating Women's Achievement & Driving Gender Equality

Volunteering: Gain Marketable Jobs Skills Through Helping Others!