The Choice

This month I had to make a choice. The library is writing the budget for the 2013-14 school year, and I had to decide if I wanted to work more or less. My choice? No work at all.

When my contract expires in June, I will be a full time stay at home mom.

In my mind, the choice was easy. I can be home with my children, supervise their education, nurture and love them, and ensure they have the best care. I'm not staying home for a break or relaxation time, that's for certain. But I chose to bring these children into the world, and I feel like it's my responsibility to raise them, not daycare workers and not grandparents, but me.

So why am I taking a beating?

Almost immediately I heard remarks about how I was giving up my career and would never be able to get it back. Stay at home moms don't make money. They don't get promotions. They don't make a name for themselves.

My response: so what?

Being a stay at home mom is not about me, it's about my children. If I wanted fame, power, and money, I certainly wouldn't have had kids. The choice I am making is about what will give my children the best possible life.

Then there's that word over which I've suffered abuse: choice.

People assume that I must be a pampered housewife with a rich husband since I can so willfully "choose" to stay home. That is far from reality. In fact, for most of our marriage, our income was at or below the poverty line. Only recently have we been able to move up a little, and by adding a 2nd child, we've taken a step back. Don't get me wrong, my husband has what I consider to be a good job with insurance. And by good, I mean we can pay our bills and put back a little extra. But I know many families who make much more than we do who claim that both parents have to work in order to have enough money.

And that's my problem with the argument: money.

It doesn't take a lot of money to survive. More than money, it takes careful planning, and that's where a lot of my work is. I have to plan meals, budget for trips, plan out project funding, and somehow compensate for those emergencies that were never in the plans. I've learned how to take little and turn it into something. So when I say I choose to stay home, I'm not saying I choose to give up a paycheck. I'm saying I'm making changes in my life.

I'm also choosing to teach my children about a certain way of life. I believe that having too much money can be a bad thing. I don't want to see them spoiled and selfish. I want to see them resourceful and appreciative. I love the look in my daughter's eyes when she discovers that Mommy can bake muffins with her instead of buying them at the store, and Daddy can plant seeds that will grow vegetables. She can learn by doing, and in the process I hope she sees that the world needs much more than money.

Now I know there are cases when both parents have to work, and of course there are single moms without a choice. And I commend them for doing what they have to do. Both of my parents had to work. My grandmother was a single mom. I get it. But I think the idea of money gets used as an excuse too often.

As a mom who's been on both sides of the equation, don't hate on those who have to work, and don't hate on those who stay home. We've all had to make choices, and in both cases there are often sacrifices. But we're doing what we can for our children, to provide for them, to care for them, and to raise them up as responsible people.

Techno Prairie Menu Plan - 3/25 thru 3/31

I try to keep my meals as unprocessed as possible. I like to rely on simply dishes and lots of vegetables. But at this season in my life, sometimes I have to stretch the boundaries a little bit to accommodate both my cravings and my time.  As the months progress, and I transition into being a full time stay-at-home-mom (more to come on that later), I am hoping my meal plans can make the jump from mostly natural to completely natural.

One thing I do love to do is cook up food in advance so we can eat on it through the week. It saves me time and money, and there's less of a chance I'm going to end up in the kitchen stuffing cookies in my mouth for breakfast. So this week, anything with a * has been prepared in advance and is waiting for me to take it our of the refrigerator.

Breakfasts
Pancakes*
Sausage*
Applesauce*
Oatmeal
Cereal

Lunches
Steak*
Macaroni and Cheese*
Tuna sandwiches
Leftovers
Bananas
Apples
Pineapple
Strawberries

Dinners
Monday:
Baked Ravioli - using spinach ravioli, organic marinara, and 2% mozzerella
Sauteed chicken breasts

Tuesday:

Hamburger patties
Roasted corn
Baked potatoes


Wednesday:
Southern Stir Fry made with brown rice and organic veggies
Smoked kielbasa

Thursday:
Prairie Dad's birthday - his choice!

Friday:
Pan grilled catfish
Pasta salad
Baked zucchini

Saturday:
BBQ Easter buffet
Strawberry cake with chocolate and cream cheese dipping sauces

Sunday:
Leftovers

Techno Prairie Menu Plan Monday - 3/4 thru 3/10

And...I'm back! Just like with my first child, I have been extremely nauseous during my pregnancy, so only the most necessary things have been getting done. But I am trying to be diligent with this blog, so hopefully we will have several updates this week!

At this time more than any other, my menu plans are subject to change, but I do have an idea of what the week will hopefully look like. I say hopefully because who knows when the pregnant lady will get a craving that is not on the menu!

Breakfasts
Cereal
Homemade pancakes
Milk
Orange juice

Lunches
Leftovers
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Brown rice with butter
Frozen pineapple
Apple sauce

Dinners
Monday:
Healthier Stuffed Peppers

Tuesday:
BBQ pork ribs
Bake potatoes
Green peas

Wednesday:
Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Rice - made with organic cream of chicken and basmati rice

Thursday:
Leftover buffet

Friday:
Hot dogs with relish and cheese
Potato salad
Baked beans
White Cheddar Cheetos

Saturday:
Spinach quesadillas

Sunday:
Hubby's Choice