Career woman gone mommy. I think that’s how most people would describe me these days. And, you know what? I’m totally cool with that.
Why? I have three reasons: Tessa, Bryan, and Katie–the three little loves of my life.
When I first found out I was pregnant with Tessa, I had a cushy corporate job in downtown San Diego. I had it pretty good with a nice paycheck, a great assistant, and an office with a window. And I deserved it, too. I worked hard and I loved what I did.
So you may be wondering why I left all that behind.
Pregnancy changed me, for the better. Yes, I loved my job, but I loved my baby more. I saw moms I worked with come to work after dropping their kids off at daycare. I saw the misery on their faces, not because they hated the company, but because they had to, yet again, pry their tiny children’s hands off of their business suit jackets.
Heartbreaking.
I knew I could always jump back into it after my kids were grown and gone, but for now, Tessa needed me.
Tim, my wonderful husband backed me 100%. He was actually the first to bring it up. He knows I’m a tough chick, but on the inside I have an ooie gooie center that melts at the first sign of tragedy or cuteness overload. The last thing he or I wanted was for me to go through melt down after melt down trying to find the balance between work and motherhood. (Yes, I’m that person that cries when she’s happy. I’m not ashamed of it.)
Anyway, I put in my notice at work before I entered my third trimester with Tessa, and never looked back. It was the best decision I could’ve ever made, for my family and for myself. There is no way I could’ve given my all at work if my mind was wherever Tessa was and not on the task at hand.
Fast forward five years and two more kids later and I still don’t regret my decision. Being a stay-at-home mom is a beautiful thing and it was the right thing for me.
Let’s get real for a second here. For someone who loved the corporate world so much there was no way I was going to be able to sit home cleaning up baby vomit, changing poopy diapers, and being a milk machine slave to my breast fed babies. I needed something else to challenge me, to keep me fresh.
That’s why you’re here! After 5 years of stay-at-home mothering with three kids, I knew I had earned some sort of place in the world as an expert. I also knew it was my responsibility to learn more and share my findings with the world. So I created, in a sense, another child, my blog.
Tessa is five years old now, Bryan is four and Katie is one. You may think I’m crazy for adding one more thing into the picture, but I love the challenge.
And I consider you all as my family now, too.
Many of you need someone to relate to, someone to learn from, a safe place to come to get the raw truth. And that place, I hope, is here with me.
I needed someone to give me the green light to be where I was needed most, to do what I didn’t realize I could do. That person for me was my husband. I’m so glad he knew what to say and when to say it. I’m glad we were on the same page.
And I hope I can be that person to some of you. The person to silence your fears and encourage your dreams. We all need someone like that in our lives.
As a mother, I’ve learned many things, but one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that there are a million and one ways to reach the same goal. What I mean is that when I decided to quit my job, I made what I thought was the best decision for my family.
You may decide something else, another solution, is better for yours. I wouldn’t trade staying at home to raise my children for anything. But you may feel that working outside the home is best for your family.
More power to ya, sister!
My purpose here is simple: to give you options. So take them, or don’t. Just make sure to follow your motherly heart. It wont steer you wrong.
At least mine never has.
There you have it, friends. A little bit about me: Deb Hockenberry.