I was a career-minded woman. I loved my work, thrived in my business, and felt like I was excelling in every way. Traveling for projects, hitting big goals, and moving up the ladder—it all energized me.
Being a stay-at-home mom? That was never in my plan.
But God had other ideas.
The Bible Study that Planted the Seed
There were two defining moments that led me to my decision. The first came through something unexpected: a financial Bible study.
At the time, we were like many young couples—spending just about everything we made. Staying home with children seemed impossible, and truthfully, I didn’t even want to.
But week after week in that eight-week class, I kept hearing one phrase that lodged itself in my heart:
“You can always get another job, but you can never get those years back with your children.”
At first, I brushed it off. My consulting job required travel, and I figured if motherhood ever came along, I could do what others did—hire a traveling nanny. But the thought had been planted, and God wasn’t finished with me yet.
Timing and Change
Not long after, life shifted quickly. My husband lost his job. A few weeks later, I found out I was pregnant with our first daughter.
While he searched for work, he stayed home with her during the day. I continued in my career, and for a while, the arrangement worked beautifully. He even brought our baby to me during lunch so I could nurse her.
But as time went on, I started to feel something I couldn’t ignore. He could distinguish all her cries—the tired cry, the hungry cry, the diaper cry. I couldn’t. All I heard was screaming.
And my heart ached.
The Daycare Years
Within a year, my husband found another career position, and like so many families, we turned to daycare. At first it was hard, but eventually we adjusted. We split drop-offs and pick-ups, worked long hours, and convinced ourselves it was just what life had to look like.
Then came our second daughter.
Putting her in daycare broke me in a way I didn’t expect. She immediately stopped nursing, and I felt like she was rejecting me. The guilt was heavy.
Still, I pressed on—until the day everything changed.
The Breaking Point
One evening, I arrived at daycare to pick up my oldest daughter. Instead of being greeted inside, I found her locked out of the building—standing outside alone, screaming and pounding on the door.
That moment stopped me in my tracks.
Something inside me said, “Never again.”
The very next day, I turned in my two weeks’ notice.
A New Chapter
We didn’t have all the answers. We didn’t have a perfect plan. But we knew one thing for sure: the path we were on wasn’t working for our family.
My youngest turned one just as I stepped away from the career world. And that day marked the beginning of an entirely new life—one I never thought I’d choose, but one I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Listening to God
Sometimes God gently nudges us into a new direction. Other times, He allows moments so sharp they pierce our hearts and leave us changed forever. For me, it was both—a seed planted in a Bible study and a cry outside a locked daycare door.
The Blog
And while the transition wasn’t easy, I can say with confidence: the years at home with my children have been worth more than any paycheck. This blog is about my journey as a mom of three daughters who are all now teenagers and young adults. I hope you find joy in the the journey to balance faith, family and fun. Join my newsletter and come back to read tips, recipes, craft ideas and more.
Thank you, Amber of Auburn Raven.