Andrea is supermom, and I am not just saying that because she is my sister. She is an Air Force wife living in Ohio, and mother of 4 kids under the age of 3 1/2! I get tired just talking to her on the phone, listening to the little ones playing in the background. But, she thrives in the chaos, and embraces her “stay-at-home” role. She recently joined Twitter, you can follow her {here}. She often posts about the chaos in raising two toddlers and twins; more recently she posted a funny comment from my nephew. “Mom, where are the dinosaurs?” “They all died, Caleb.” “Did they die on the cross like Jesus?”
…
I am an Air Force wife and a stay at home mom of four incredible little ones: Caleb 3 1/2; Anna Kate 2; Camden and Levi (identical twins) 10 weeks. I will just say what you are thinking- “she’s crazy.” I am crazy, but I love it – every minute of it! Staying at home has its challenges, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I think coming from a home where my mom stayed home, played a large role in why I felt like I wanted to stay home too. Before I was married, my husband and I talked about me staying home and there was no question. We saw the challenges of both parents working and we didn’t want that for our future family. Of course, in the moment, after I had my first child, it was a hard decision for me. I was working for a great company, loved my job, and I was excelling in it. I worked 40-50 hours and I had people who depended on me, not just employees but my customers. I had a “work family,” per se. So during my 12 week maternity leave, I went through every possible scenario as to how I could go back to work. My husband, bless his heart, just listened to me and supported me as I was telling him I would bring a pack-n-play to work and put our baby in that for the day while I worked or just carry the baby around in the sling 
I was an idiot. But, my child was such a bore. I felt like a mere caretaker who fed, burped and changed this baby. The kid didn’t smile, he was just needy. I remember my sister asking me, “what do you do all day with him, he can’t talk back to you.” I told her, “I just look at him and say, hello little guy.” It was hard. I was bored out of my mind and I didn’t hear “good job, or here’s a pay raise for your efforts.” It was so thankless. But, then…no kidding, after 3 months of this, my child smiled back at me. There was life behind the spit up, burps and poopy diapers. The first 3 months sucked royally, but after that, things got better. I tried juggling working at home and going into the office for an hour here and there, but I felt like I wasn’t doing my best in either place. I quit my job and although, I missed it, I decided I would make my home my job. I would work to excel in different areas, whether that be how well I could make my baseboards look sparkly brand new or what recipe I could master. I put my efforts into learning new things that I didn’t think I would ever do because I was previously never able to find the time. Along with my mothering duties, I took up sewing, crafting, decorating cupcakes, and spent more time on my photography. This did not happen over night, I have been working at being better at my home job for over 3 years and its still a work in progress, but I don’t look back. There have been days where I envy my husband for going to work and getting away from the chaos and “noise.” We have had the fun arguments of “you get to go to work and I have to stay home,” but those happen less and less. My husband and I are a team. He “has” to go to work so I “can” stay home. It is that simple. We don’t want other people to raise our children and we don’t want to live on nothing. We are truly blessed to where I can stay home.
I was an idiot. But, my child was such a bore. I felt like a mere caretaker who fed, burped and changed this baby. The kid didn’t smile, he was just needy. I remember my sister asking me, “what do you do all day with him, he can’t talk back to you.” I told her, “I just look at him and say, hello little guy.” It was hard. I was bored out of my mind and I didn’t hear “good job, or here’s a pay raise for your efforts.” It was so thankless. But, then…no kidding, after 3 months of this, my child smiled back at me. There was life behind the spit up, burps and poopy diapers. The first 3 months sucked royally, but after that, things got better. I tried juggling working at home and going into the office for an hour here and there, but I felt like I wasn’t doing my best in either place. I quit my job and although, I missed it, I decided I would make my home my job. I would work to excel in different areas, whether that be how well I could make my baseboards look sparkly brand new or what recipe I could master. I put my efforts into learning new things that I didn’t think I would ever do because I was previously never able to find the time. Along with my mothering duties, I took up sewing, crafting, decorating cupcakes, and spent more time on my photography. This did not happen over night, I have been working at being better at my home job for over 3 years and its still a work in progress, but I don’t look back. There have been days where I envy my husband for going to work and getting away from the chaos and “noise.” We have had the fun arguments of “you get to go to work and I have to stay home,” but those happen less and less. My husband and I are a team. He “has” to go to work so I “can” stay home. It is that simple. We don’t want other people to raise our children and we don’t want to live on nothing. We are truly blessed to where I can stay home.We have our challenges at home too as far who does what chore and how much time we need by ourselves. All I can say is, we do our best. We both try to help each other out with different chores, but truly, it is kind of split up in I do most everything inside as far as chores while my husband does mostly everything outside (garage, yard, car) as well as our budget and financial planning. We both do dishes, cook meals and help with the kids. That said, it is not uncommon for my husband to clean the entire house for me. He is a blessing.
Our time spent a part from the house by ourselves is pretty slim; we both enjoy being together as a family to where we almost feel guilty leaving and having hours to ourselves. We have, however, started running errands by ourselves either at night or during nap times on the weekends. We both just know that this is just a season in our lives where we have to be very selfless. Its hard, really hard. Its hard not to give in to my selfish desires or angry thoughts; but God is bigger than me and “my problems.” He blessed me with my 4 kids so close in age for a reason and all I can do is pray for wisdom, strength and his love for my family. I know it sounds cliche, but I’ve found that if I just pray, everything will be better. I know that I can’t do this job on my own. One of my friends, a mom of 5 kids, once told me when I asked her how she parents five being a “type A” person like me, and she said, “the more kids I have had, the more I have had to rely on God.” How true that is, and has become in my life. I can go on and on about how much I have to rely on God, or how much I have had to let go of control, but I need to get back to my kids, make my yogurt and start laundry!
Our time spent a part from the house by ourselves is pretty slim; we both enjoy being together as a family to where we almost feel guilty leaving and having hours to ourselves. We have, however, started running errands by ourselves either at night or during nap times on the weekends. We both just know that this is just a season in our lives where we have to be very selfless. Its hard, really hard. Its hard not to give in to my selfish desires or angry thoughts; but God is bigger than me and “my problems.” He blessed me with my 4 kids so close in age for a reason and all I can do is pray for wisdom, strength and his love for my family. I know it sounds cliche, but I’ve found that if I just pray, everything will be better. I know that I can’t do this job on my own. One of my friends, a mom of 5 kids, once told me when I asked her how she parents five being a “type A” person like me, and she said, “the more kids I have had, the more I have had to rely on God.” How true that is, and has become in my life. I can go on and on about how much I have to rely on God, or how much I have had to let go of control, but I need to get back to my kids, make my yogurt and start laundry!
I will finish it with this: Its okay to think things are hard and not the most enjoyable, you are not alone. Love your husband and support him; it is not easy working all day so you can stay home. Trust in God and rely on Him for strength. My favorite verse in motherhood is “you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.”
