The Stay At Home Mom

March 1, 2007 marked my first six months as a stay at home mom. If this were a regular corporate job, my status would move from probationary to permanent employee.

The probationary period, to clarify for those who may be unaware, is a period during which the employer assesses a particular employee's ability to do a specific job. It is not tied to the employee's personality or working style or habit or working relationships. A probationary employee is likewise not entitled to certain benefits like a retirement plan. In the Philippines, an individual is usually given six months by a new employer to prove his/her ability to do the job.

Once an employee has proven that he or she has what it takes to do a job, the employee is then made a "permanent" employee and enjoys all the rights, privileges, and benefits in a particular company. The "permanent" employee can then no longer be asked to leave his or her post, unless there is a serious cause to ask the employee to resign or for the company to terminate his or her services.

Given that background, then I guess I would be a stay at home mom forever or permanently? Am not too sure yet. I like the hours, the reduced stress, and the fact that I am able to spend more time with my kids but economic realities may lead me back to the corporate world at some time. For now, though, am enjoying my life immensely and if there is still some doubt whether I would ever want to return to the corporate world, I am 100% sure that the life of a stay at home mom is what I want to have permanently. If I do get back to working in an office at some point, I guess I will be saving like crazy so I can promptly go back to the bliss of staying at home. =)

During my mom's time, we called moms who stayed at home housewives. Then we called them "stay at home moms" although we are never really just staying at home. We are at the schools of our kids, running errands, everywhere. Then, we eventually coined the term "work at home mom" but that's a funny term because moms work everywhere! They work at home, in the car, in the mall -- a mother's job is never truly done.

Of all the jobs or tasks I've ever had though -- nothing beats being a mother. It is tiring, never-ending but is also so fulfilling. In the past, I've always thought I was born to pursue a career in the corporate world. That I was not meant to stay home to watch the kids. Was I so wrong. The past six months have been challenging and different but I have found the life that I'd like to live forever. I am definitely living the best months of my life and I am dead sure that my kids appreciate my being around a hundred times more than any boss in the corporate world ever can. =)

Are you a stay at home or a work at home mom too? If you are just starting this new lifestyle, you may want to check out the following sites:

www.athomemoms.com

www.wahm.com

www.jobsformoms.com