Back in 2023 when my family and I moved to Kansas City, my husband and I sat down and made the decision (with me being the driving force) for me to stay home full time primarily for our kids.
As someone who has worn many hats from professional athlete, real estate investor, pharmacist, property manager, and content creator, I knew “stay at home mom” would be a change of pace that I welcomed with enthusiasm.
Now one could argue that I’m more of a “work from home mom” since I do create content full time, and I’m still a practicing pharmacist since I work one shift in the pharmacy every month. But for the most part my regular day to day is spent from home and I’m grateful to be in this space and pour into my first ministry (my family) in the best way we see fit in this season.
Now, with over a year and a half worth of experience being a stay at home mom, I feel like I can speak confidently to my experience. Here are six benefits I’ve noticed since becoming a stay at home mom:
1. Bonding with Your Children
Being a stay-at-home mom allows you to spend more time with your children during their formative years, creating a strong emotional bond and building lasting memories.
When we lived in Ohio I worked part time in the pharmacy (roughly 22 hours per week) and it was a happy medium that allowed me to feel extremely connected to my daughter while still pouring into my pharmacy career. Then flash forward a year later and we had our second child, moved to a new city without knowing anyone, and it just made sense for me to step back from working frequently and focus making our house a home. During both of these phases I felt like I was able to bond with my kids, so by no means am I saying working moms can’t do so, but I personally have been enjoying the extra time I have to be fully present for my children in the ways that make sense for our family the most right now.
2. Hands-On Parenting
You have greater control over how your children are raised, their daily routines, and the values and lessons they learn. When you’re the primary caretaker of your kids, you don’t have to worry about whether or not the baby sister/nanny’s approach to care is aligned with yours. You become the captain of your own ship, and you have the autonomy to fully raise your kids with love and with the peace of mind knowing exactly what lessons they’re being taught and who they come in contact with.
There is much joy and satisfaction in knowing that you are fully hands-on in the nurturing of your kids on a day to day basis.
3. Witnessing Milestones
You won’t miss key moments, like your child’s first words, steps, or other significant milestones. This has been one of my favorite aspects of being a stay at home mom, and it certainly is one of the perks of not having to split your attention between your home life and work life. You have the luxury to be fully present when those milestones occur and maybe even catch them on camera to cherish for years to come. These small moments add up to create big memories.
For example, here is a video of JJ taking his first steps at 11 months that I was able to witness & then capture it on video:
4. Consistency and Stability
Providing a stable and consistent environment can help children feel secure, especially during their early development. My children are very well adjusted, and I take pride in being available to provide them with a nurturing atmosphere for them to thrive and feel fully supported. I’ve spoken before on my less than ideal journey to motherhood and how I doubted I’d ever have the privilege to be a mom, so to be able to be a constant for both of my kids really is a dream come true that I vow to never take it for granted.
You can watch the video of my motherhood journey here to get a better appreciation for why I feel the way I do:
5. Cost of Childcare
Depending on your location, childcare can be prohibitively expensive. Staying home might make financial sense for your family. Although I do have a well earning career and the cost of child care isn’t more than my salary as a pharmacist, the choice to stay home still made sense for us despite some people thinking I’m “leaving money on the table” by doing so.
The time freedom to pour into other passions like my content creation business, the money we are saving on child care, and the peace of mind in knowing the level of care my children recieve daily has been priceless.
6. Flexible Scheduling
You can establish a routine that works best for you and your children without being tied to an employer’s schedule. This schedule flexibility is one of my favorite perks of being a stay at home mom because, to me, the real wealth in life is time freedom and being able to have full ownership of your time.
I strongly believe that time is our most valuable currency, so being in a place to have full ownership of my day is a massive privilege that I never take for granted. Sure, tending to kids and the household is work, but it’s gratifying work that gives me the flexibility to still pour into my other interests and passions. And I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way, for now.
So to the mom out there who’s been considering if staying home with your kids is a good move, or the working boss mama who is holding it down for her family, I see you, and I respect the work you do. Everyone’s path to happiness is different, and it’s important to stay in your own lane and find joy in every season!
Regardless of what life looks like at to moment, you’re doing a great job, and we’ve got this! 🫶🏿
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Dr. Tiffany Ofili Porter 