I knew I wanted to leave work right after my second son was born. At the time we had a lot of debt and weren't managing our money very well. We knew that only way I could manage was if I went back to work full-time and got these debts cleared. So we spent nine months getting used to paying debt with my maternity pay (£128 per week at the time) and living off my husbands wage. This was tough, but definitely worth it. When the time came for me to start working we agreed to use the majority of my salary to pay debt and continue to live off slightly more than my husband's wage (we needed a little more for childcare and extra food costs). We did this for a year. After the year we realised that we could now live comfortably without my income and I handed in my notice.
I would certainly recommend this path to anybody wanting to leave work (although I'd suggest not being an idiot like me and avoiding debt at all costs). If you are planning a child then start gradually cutting back until you can live off one income. Even if that means moving! I'm serious!!! We rent at the moment, simply because it was cheaper to live near the good schools that way. Once my second son is settled we will buy in a less desirable area and cycle or drive to school.
Saturday 4 May 2013
Friday 3 May 2013
We have peace
Oh yes. Today has been an exhausting day of picking up prescriptions, cleaning rugs, tidying, scrubbing, attending cookery class and dealing with my middle son's temper. The result, however, is pure bliss. We're sat in a beautiful tidy family room, playing retro Sonic the Hedgehog and I'm enjoying a well deserved glass of red wine. My eldest (step, although I refer to him as my eldest son as he's been in my life longer than my own children and is loved as much) is with us this weekend which is lovely.
I adore family time. What makes it perfect is that I can do the hard work in the day, rather than in the evening after work. The evening is spent with my boys enjoying them! My three sons are just adorable, they all look similar, despite the eldest having a different mother, they get on reasonably well (the middle one is, well, a little explosive!) and they are very loyal young men. My husband is amazing. He's the most intelligent, caring and supportive man I know. He loves me and the boys and we love him no end back!
Not every day is perfect of course! I'd be lying if I told you that!! Mostly, though, life's bloody marvelous.
I adore family time. What makes it perfect is that I can do the hard work in the day, rather than in the evening after work. The evening is spent with my boys enjoying them! My three sons are just adorable, they all look similar, despite the eldest having a different mother, they get on reasonably well (the middle one is, well, a little explosive!) and they are very loyal young men. My husband is amazing. He's the most intelligent, caring and supportive man I know. He loves me and the boys and we love him no end back!
Not every day is perfect of course! I'd be lying if I told you that!! Mostly, though, life's bloody marvelous.
Labels:
Family,
Fun,
House,
Stepchildren
Reasons to embrace your inner homemaker
- You get to spend your time with the most important people in your life - your children!
- You can spend your evening with your partner, rather than catching up on the housework.
- You have more time to shop and cook, meaning healthier dinners at a lower cost.
- You choose your hours! Want a day off? Take the children out to the park!
- You can give your home the love and attention you want to.
- You have time to follow your dream hobby, or maybe even a business venture.
- You meet interesting people who have potential playmates for your little ones!
- No commute!
- Nothing stops you having the odd duvet day.
- You are doing exactly what you want to do!!!!!
Thursday 2 May 2013
Welcome
Welcome to Stay Home, Stay Sane - blogging my path as a stay at home mother in the UK. I started this blog to support the growing number of women wishing to stay at home in the UK. The UK government seems sadly fixated on pressuring women back into the workforce and as a result for many it is difficult to choose the path of staying at home, due to the social stigma, financial pressures or even marital pressures. I'm not arguing that being a working mum is a negative thing - I've been a working mum myself. I simply believe that woman should be able to choose the life they want to lead.
Recently, having been a stay at home mum for over a year, I was talked into going back to work by a very convincing working mother. She made the (common) assumption that I was a stay at home mum because I had no other choice. She offered me work that she felt fit around my children perfectly. For her it did. I took the position reluctantly, purely because I was to ashamed to admit that I enjoyed my life. I thought I'd be branded lazy or incompetent! 4 months later I was miserable, my house was devoid of any life (metaphorically) and my children were not receiving the kind of attention I had wanted for them. So I handed in my notice. Yet still I was making excuses for myself that were not necessarily the truth. Instead of simply saying - "I love being a stay at home mum".
Financially my husband and I are on it. We are by no means the most affluent of families, we manage a very tight ship and utilise a number of resources to save money and/or increase our income. I will be sharing a lot of my advice with you and sharing anecdotes along the way. I hope my writing can help those of you who want this life and maybe entertain those who don't! It's by no means easy, but it's fun!!!
Recently, having been a stay at home mum for over a year, I was talked into going back to work by a very convincing working mother. She made the (common) assumption that I was a stay at home mum because I had no other choice. She offered me work that she felt fit around my children perfectly. For her it did. I took the position reluctantly, purely because I was to ashamed to admit that I enjoyed my life. I thought I'd be branded lazy or incompetent! 4 months later I was miserable, my house was devoid of any life (metaphorically) and my children were not receiving the kind of attention I had wanted for them. So I handed in my notice. Yet still I was making excuses for myself that were not necessarily the truth. Instead of simply saying - "I love being a stay at home mum".
Financially my husband and I are on it. We are by no means the most affluent of families, we manage a very tight ship and utilise a number of resources to save money and/or increase our income. I will be sharing a lot of my advice with you and sharing anecdotes along the way. I hope my writing can help those of you who want this life and maybe entertain those who don't! It's by no means easy, but it's fun!!!
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