As a soon-to-be first-time mom, I’ve had my grievances with making my decision to stay home with my little one once she arrives. I figured, the first few years are the most important, and once she’s at the age to start school, I’ll be fine to let her leave the nest.
However, the thoughts: “Will I become bored?”, “How will I juggle freelance gigs at the same time?”, “What will my day-to-day look like?” – have all ran across my mind. But I think the ultimate deciding factor came down to, “who do I want to raise my child?” With all the important women in my life living states away, I literally had no choice but to buckle up and get ready for this ride called “motherhood”.
Still questioning whether you should make the leap too? Here are 6 reasons why millennial mothers are opting to stay home.
1. It Gives You More Flexibility
There’s no way you could ever attend fun Mommy-and-Me classes, go to work for 8 hours, shop for groceries, then cook and clean while breastfeeding all at the same time. For me, staying home means I can make time for my child and the things we want and need.
2. It’s Safer
I’m not in any way bashing childcare services here, but they have not always had the best reputations, especially as of lately. With the mass shootings, discrimination battles, and the fact that I’m bringing a black multicultural human being into this world, it’s pressure enough.
I can’t fathom keeping it together if I got word that my baby was being neglected or mistreated in any form or fashion. To me, it’s just safer to keep her near me until she has a voice to speak up if anything is going on.
3. It Allows You To Be Creative
I’ve thought long and hard about what type of projects I could do to keep myself busy during this time, because, let’s not forget babies sleep half the day away! I’ve already made a list of the fun projects I want to start, from learning how to improve my makeup skills to cooking gourmet meals to maybe even starting up a little online store. With (actual) time, dedication and persistence – anything is possible!
4. It’s Cheaper
Let’s not fret. It’s wayyyyy cheaper to stay home with your little one than it is to dish out up to $500 a week! Can you imagine all the diapers, formula, and trips you can take with the money you’d spend on childcare? This alone was a major deciding factor for me.
5. It Allows You To Nurture
Having a baby comes with a new responsibility. You not only have to provide for them but you also have to raise them right. Giving your little one up to a stranger while young could ultimately shape them to have characteristics and traits that you wouldn’t necessarily ever teach them. Furthermore, you could be missing out on their most precious moments.
6. It’s Necessary
For me, it’s necessary to watch my baby grow and to teach her things I feel she will need to stimulate her senses. I want her to breastfeed as long as possible and there are certain things that I want her to gravitate to. So, for me, it was a no brainer to just take the leap of faith and stay home with my new bundle of joy.
What are your thoughts? Join in on the conversation and leave a comment down below!
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
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