My Filter's Busted.

I am a stay at home mom.

I am okay with that. <3

Here are ten reasons (though I could come up with way more) of why I am a stay at home mom.

1. I got to bond better with Kaylee.
2. I get to work better with her on things like manners, counting, the alphabet ect...
3. I know that she's not off at some daycare where she could get very ill, abused, abducted or molested.
4. I get to keep my house clean and eat meals with her teaching her family values and table manners.
5. It builds better memories for Kaylee. When she looks back at her childhood she won't see me kissing her goodbye everyday. She'll see us going on walks to pick up leaves in the fall. Playing in the snow in the winter. Going to the park in the summer and picking flowers in the spring. She'll remember the blanket forts and story time. She'll remember me being there.
6. It gives Miss. Kaylee a feeling of safety and knowing she can depend on me to be there.
7. I haven't missed a first anything. Not her first steps, words or foods. I was there for it all.
8. Not only has Kaylee benefited but so have I. I have grown as a person and I know what's going on around me. I am aware of the sex offenders in my neighborhood, I know which streets are safe to play on and I have been able to research the school system that I live in.
9. She has stability. A constant. I am not a caregiver that can feel like quitting and just walk out of Kaylee's life. I am not a relative that can decide to move away. I am here mother and with the exception of me dying, I am here. I won't quit. I won't move away.
10. I have found a best friend in my mom. When there was no one else, there was my mom. I want to give that to Kaylee.

I am not saying that mother's SHOULD stay home. I am saying that I stayed home because Jeremy and I decided that's what was best for our family. I did try to go back to work but I realized that was not good for Kaylee.

I would also like to erase the stigma that stay at home parents are lazy and co-dependent. I work hard everyday to keep Kaylee occupied and happy. I make home cooked meals for me and my family. I do laundry and make sure the bills are paid and we don't run out of our necessities. I have my own friends and  Jeremy and I make all of our decisions together. 

No we don't get to shop at Gap or JC Penny but Wal Mart works just as well for us. Kaylee can tell me her ABC's, identify almost all her letters and tell me what sounds they make, she has manners, She can count to 15 by her self, 20 with help. She has an extensive vocabulary she can tell me her address. She identifys almost every number 1-9. She knows her shapes and colors and can draw a few of them. We are working on her writing her letters and spelling her name. I do not think she would know half of this stuff if I would have just stuck her in day care. 

I wouldn't want to raise my child any other way.