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Motherhood in Kenya: Why I Quit my Job to Become a Stay-at-Home-Mom

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Betty, with one of her sons.

Working moms, have you ever thought of quitting your job to become a stay-at-home mom? If yes, what holds you back from making that decision? And if you did indeed make the decision, what has your experience been like? Well, today on Mummy Tales, we hear from BETTY ACHIENG, a mother of two who made the decision to stay at home and raise her children. Read her story.

“Growing up, my dream had always been to be a stay home mom so when I found out I was pregnant, I knew that dream would be real one day. Fortunately, my contract with the engineering company I was working in as a civil engineer ended just weeks to my due date.

After giving birth, at 26 years of age, I never bothered to look for an 8am-5pm job again. I felt a sense of peace as finally, I could say I was where I wanted to be.

Life as a Stay-at-Home-Mom

Not long after, we were blessed with our second son. I didn’t have any house help or nanny so I did everything around the house, except for days when I would get a ‘mama fua’ at least once a month. I must say there were days when I felt lonely and depressed because handling two kids below two years of age all day long and come evening, I had to be a wife wasn’t easy.

So that entire journey was a bit hard but since I had to be strong, I sucked it in. But the experience somewhat drained me because I stopped taking care of how I looked.

And somehow, I become so insecure.

At some point, I felt I needed to go back to work and make something of my life. In that season I felt so less of myself -I was a mother but deep inside I felt empty and lost.

So when an opportunity to get back to work arose, I ran with it.

I returned to employment after 2 years and 6 months of being a stay-at-home-mom. I got a job as a Personal Assistant to an Ophthalmic Medical Director.

I however didn’t know that this place I was running from (being a stay home mom) was where I belonged; where my purpose lay and where I get to be the woman God created me to be.

Becoming a Stay-at-Home-Mom Again

Barely four months into my new job, I resigned. This is because I felt that the sacrifice I was making was not worth it.

My children were most active during the day between 8am-3pm and yet those are the hours that I was away at work. Being away that time was not a sacrifice worth taking, so my husband and I agreed that it was better for me to stay at home. In addition, as a family, our desire has always been to raise our kids with Godly values, and we agreed that I was better placed to handle that.

Lessons I’m Learning as a Stay-at-Home-Mom

  • There are days when you will feel lonely, when being out of the house will feel great. During such moments, get time to go out, get a baby sitter and just take a break
  • Motherhood is a job too and it takes one’s time and energy. It is also a life school where you learn new things each day
  • Lastly, pray as much as you can. As women we are life-givers, do speak life to your kids, to your marriage (if you are married) and pray for strength daily.” -END

And that’s Betty’s story. You can read more of her writing on her blog here. Would you like to share your story as well, if you’re a stay-at-home mom? Or if you deep down in your heart desire to become a stay-at-home mom but you can’t? What holds you back? You can send me your story on maryanne@mummytales.com

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Maryanne W. Waweru is a Kenyan mum raising her two sons in Nairobi. A journalist, Maryanne is passionate about telling stories and hopes that through her writing, her readers learn something new, feel encouraged, inspired, and appreciative of what they have in their lives. Maryanne's writing focuses on motherhood, women and lifestyle. "Telling stories is the only thing I know how to do," she says.

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