3 Tips to Ease the Transition to Being a Stay at Home Mom

Whether you have always dreamt about being a stay at home mom or you are making the transition unexpectedly, one thing is certain this is one of the toughest, most fulfilling (and most underpaid) jobs out there. There are no sick days or personal days, and the hours are insane. And yet, you have the opportunity to spend uninterrupted quality time with your kids, teaching them and shaping them, watching them learn new things and conquer milestones.

Here are a few tips to make the transition a little easier:

1. Expect Some Bumps in the Road

No matter how you envision life as a stay at home mom, expect it to be more difficult than you imagine and understand that the transition will not be without challenges. No matter what your career, you are going from spending eight hours a day where you could challenge your mind, problem solve and socialize with other adults to spending 24 hours a day, seven days a week, working to meet the needs of your often very demanding small children. You're going from a place where you were respected for your intelligence, had personal space and you could be a top priority for yourself to an environment where your needs and wants are completely ignored unless you prioritize them. It may be messy and hard work, but the work of a stay at home mom really is a beautiful and an utter privilege. Going into it without rose-colored glasses on will make this transition a little easier for you. But you should also still give yourself time to adjust.

2. Maintain an Income Stream

For many women leaving a career to become a SAHM, one thing that many miss most is having their own paycheck. Beyond the freedom that comes with making your own money, maintaining a revenue stream, no matter how big or small, is also a great way to help you keep your foot in the door professionally, so that you aren't left with big gaps in your resume if and when you decide to reenter the workforce.

There are many options for flexible work if you are willing to get creative with your time management and think outside the box. You could do some consulting work for former employers or clients in your previous work industry or try something new. Many women find success by becoming an independent business owner with an established direct selling organization like Amway. While you may be wary of such types of businesses, wondering if is Amway a pyramid scheme, a little research about the structure of the business shows that it is in fact very different from a pyramid scheme. While pyramid schemes are a form or financial fraud in which new investors are required to pay previous investors, the direct selling model relies on product sales to generate income for each of the many independent business owners. For each product you sell, you can earn back a percentage of the product cost as a bonus with your sales group, which is comprised or other independent business owners who work together with you. 

But really when you have a great all-natural product that you believe in, worries and fears about the business model melt away. Your enthusiasm and belief in the products make it all too easy to generate sales and build an income stream during nap times and after bedtime, making this option a win-win for both you personally and your family.  

3. Prioritize Self-Care

Self-care means different things to everyone, but no matter what it looks like, it is critical for your mental, emotional and physical well-being. In order to be the best mother, you need to prioritize taking care of your own needs. It could be making time for exercise, eating healthy, having a weekly mom's night out or even just putting on a face mask while binge-watching Netflix after the kids are asleep. If you don't prioritize your needs, no one else will. Make time to do at least one thing every day that is just for you. 

You'll never get this time with your kids back. No matter how hard being a stay at home mom feels on some days, rest assured that when your kids are all grown up, you will look back and cherish these precious days. By expecting challenges, maintaining your own income stream and prioritizing self-care, you'll be able to make this transition with your eyes wide open to more easily see all of the beauty that lies in the chaos.