My cousin recently quit her job to become a stay-at-home mum. There were several push and pull factors for her, but one of the main reasons is to support her eldest son in primary school. It was a decision that took a long time for her to make.
Several months into this SAHM role, she commented that her children are a joy! Besides taking on housewifery work including washing and cooking for the family, marketing, and sending and fetching her two kids to and from school,she also coaches her children in their school work, especially the elder one. Indeed, the eldest's results improve greatly. Not only that, the children grow closer to her than before. However, what impresses me most is her commitment towards the children, in the form of taking concern of their psychological well-being. With more time at home, she engages them in deeper conversations, and from there, learns about their progress in school and listens to their feelings and thoughts. She even talks to the school teachers and get them to assist her child in adjusting to changes in school. In other words, she no longer just frets over her worries, she now has the time to do something about it.
While concerns of our children's well-being is our priority, it is not to be interpreted as a SAHM's idiosyncrasy or obsession to hover over our children because we have so much time to dispose off. Such keen observations of our children's needs come from our ability to pay greater attention simply because we are there. As a working mother, I could only get a glimpse of what my children were like, from others' account. Now, I get to experience them.
Staying at home is not about looking for problems with our children and fixing these problems. It is also about enjoying them. My cousin has made observations of little habits of her children, and what she discovers amuses her. I can see that she appreciates them much more now. I am really happy for her.
As a SAHM, we really learn to live simply, and to enjoy simple things in life. Such simple joy cannot be replaced by that of an aquisition of a big car, a big house, or an expensive Louis Vuitton bag....
