About choosing to stay at home

I was thinking of my post yesterday and reading your comments, and I realized my post want totally another way of what I envisioned when thinking about writing a post on the matter. So today I offer you my thoughts about the benefits from staying home, and why we choose to do so (as opposed to rant about those who don't). You also get a bonus; I made a dress for Mariann this morning, while Merrick slept 2 hours in a row a naptime!

Happy with the new dress

When I first confessed (yes, confessed) to Papa that I wanted to stay home I was scared to be judge as lazy. A huge weight was lift from my shoulder when Papa said he never went to daycare and hoped I'd stay home too. Phew!

In around a half of century, woman from Québec passed from submissive religious being to (imho) submissive working being. They wanted, oh so badly to get out of the kitchen and work. Be able to become independent. Free. They won; they work... But they spent a long time working and taking care of the house as well, leaving them burned and surely not free. Because the man of the house surely didn't want to do any "woman things", as he worked so hard during the day... Fortunately mind have changed and man are doing their share...most of them.

But they really, really wanted to work, those women. They made their place in the government and voted law for the family. Subventioned daycare, better maternity leave (up to a year now), paternity leave as well. Then, let's all go back to work.

I love my new trick for making backs. I found I disliked making button holes.

My [very personal belief] is that children, in most situations, are better raised with their parents, one of them at home (because dads at home rock too!) It holds many advantages for both parties; I personally don't know when I'd find the time to do house chores if I had a job. I tend to leave this part of my mommy at home tasks last; when my children are fed and asleep in their beds, when I actually had some "me" time, or now that they both get older I found I can wash the dishes or fold some cloths here and there while they play together without needing me.

I just can't picture myself only spending daytime with them on the weekend. We go out on weekdays... And we only meet old ladies (that find me awesome hehe) or mom with a tiny baby in a stroller. I'm being told I'm so brave for going out with both; I get weird look from lunching in restaurants in the middle of all the bureaucrats (that have half an hour to lunch) with two kids, on my own. We go in parks that are unfortunately empty most of the time. We get one ingredient for dinner when there's nobody in the whole supermarket. We live the day instead of living after 5 o'clock.

I think that black and white polka dot with multicolor stripes looks great, when you're almost 3.

Socialization? We're always out. I don't know who decided that in order to socialized you had to be placed with a bunch of kid the same age and systematically learn some skill. Let me object; I don't really find it sane. This is not the type of socialization I envision for my children. No learning to be the meanest or wanting the coolest newest thing. More learning to share and act with persons of any group of age. Hey, my 3 year old already know that in order to make any type of muffin you need to put egg first, then oil, then brown sugar and lastly flour, a little bit at a time. She also greases the mold while I stir all she threw in the bowl, without me asking. But sorry she doesn't recognize all the shapes yet, neither she can count to 10.

sorry for all the blurriness. I need to get my lens some cleaning too...

I'm raising a happy toddler that once in public isn't scare to go do her thing knowing I'm not too far. I'm raising a baby boy that will, at his own pace, while he might not look independent at all in comparison to those babies that already go to daycare, will become as independent, knowing that when he'll need me I'll be there. Near.

And they'll remember that. That I was there.