My year as a (semi-working) SAHM

When I was pregnant with my third I learned our daycare wouldn't have space for him for at least a year. My oldest had been through 4 other daycares at that point because they are closing all around us at an alarming rate. Still, I halfheartedly called all the ones within our school zone and nobody had an infant opening. I had to accept the fact that I couldn't teach middle school with a baby on my hip so I put in my resignation. My principal was kind enough to suggest a year leave which I accepted and suddenly I was a SAHM.

I had to find ways to bring in a little money since this wasn't planned and life these days is expensive. I gave myself a bit of a 'maternity leave' but once I would have gone back to teaching (about 10 weeks) I was back at it except most of this work I was able to do at home while my baby was sleeping on me or while my husband watches the kids on his off days, evenings or weekends. 

My husband works four 10's and is off Fridays so I am able to substitute teach and run the library at my school. I offered to run the library at my school when I put in my leave of absence and my principal never answered me. I wasn't surprised to hear in October that they desperately needed me. The library had fallen apart as I suspected. This was a great income for me and now my principal is willing to pay me extra to continue running it in the future. If you are able to keep your foot in the door at your old job it might be a good strategy to keep some income coming in.

I also found vendors for a kids pop-up sale and helped set up the sale on a Sunday night. Finding vendors was a one time thing, it was fun and pretty easy but not really my jam and she ended up switching venues to a little further out of my community. However, it was good experience and I had a lot of fun meeting some other moms when setting up the sale. I got this gig by reaching out and asking the sale owner if there was anything I could do to help her. She initially said no but contacted me a week later asking me to find vendors. If I continued helping her I would have asked for a higher commission. It wasn't a bad side job at all and i got a behind the scenes look at the franchise kids sale.

Lastly, I applied and trained to be a legal transcriptionist with zero prior experience although I believe my work as a language teacher helped me get in. As a legal transcriptionist I transcribe court cases, depositions, 911 calls and interviews. I don't make a lot and there isn't always work available but I can work while the baby sleeps on me so it's worth it. Plus, I really like the work! The cases are interesting and I enjoy the quiet focus of the task. I've learned a lot about the justice system and have a new found respect for our 911 workers and police officers- they have a seriously tough job. I would honestly enjoy legal transcription as a part-time job some day and I know some of my co-workers are able to make it on this income alone.

I learned so much during this year. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in more ways than one. From putting myself out there at my place of work to reaching out to a total stranger for work to trying out a whole new career field, I am proud of what I've accomplished. Of course, I am now blogging and affiliate marketing. I love writing and have a lot of experience with non-toxic living along with reading and writing so this has been a perfect side gig. Any little bit helps financially, and for me, it has been important to still work so I don't go stir crazy.

The Work-at-Home Moms Club group on Facebook has been a huge help and is where I heard of the kid sale and transcriptionist jobs. I also learned about a money making app, Swagbucks, which I write about here. It's a group of supportive moms mostly looking to make money while having more time with their kids and lots of great ideas and opportunities are shared here.

To help our finances even more I stopped spending money. Like a lot. I resist the urge to go to thrift and second-hand stores which I love because it's still spending money usually on things we don't need. I bought less Christmas and birthday presents for my kids and they didn't seem to care or notice. This also helped reduce clutter in our home which is a post for another day! I plan out our grocery store trips and meals a lot more. We rarely eat out anymore. I feel this is one perk of staying home, I actually have the time to think about food and cook more homemade. 

We also did No Spend January over here. I love this concept and my kids got on board this year too! You buy only the essentials and even then I made sure to check the pantry and freezer to make sure we actually needed something. My oldest was so into it. He crossed off a trip to the Pokemon card store and wrote the dates of when we had to stop spending money and when we could start again. This is the perfect thing to do after overspending at the holidays. I might pick a few other months to make 'No Spend' as well.

I loved work but I also love staying home. They both have their ups and downs and different stresses although being a teacher some of it is the same. Working with 150 middle schoolers is not that different than spending the day with a baby and a 3 year old! 

I've always wanted to work part-time and accepted a .5 job in my district for next school year. My family will continue to make sacrifices financially but I'm hoping this will help me get the best of both worlds. I'm sure it will bring some new stressors too like dropping my baby off at daycare for the first time- always a hard day for me and having to pack a lunch again, one of the greatest perks of staying home- never packing a lunch! 

Hopefully along with the stressors I get to keep some of the perks of SAHM life like the slower mornings we've had and always being there smiling to pick up my oldest from the bus stop. I am committed to keeping up our money saving habits likes cooking more from scratch, hang drying our clothes and giving our kids more of our time and less things.

At the end of the day every momma is just out there in the world doing our best and that's a beautiful thing ♥️ I would love to hear about your experience trying to juggle mom and work life and am here to answer any questions you might have about making an extended leave work for your family. 

Final words: Not every super hero wears a cape. Keep on keepin' on, mama!