Top 10 Things This New Stay-At-Home Mom Has Learned

Amy George

It has been four months since I started my new venture as a stay-at-home mom. As I shared in my last column, this was quite a transition for me. I went back to work after both of my daughters were born and have always loved working outside the home.

I must admit, I have loved this new experience of being home more with my girls. I love snuggling with them after they wake up from a nap. I love not being rushed in the mornings. I love exploring new things with them. I love just being with them.

Let’s be honest, though. It’s no walk in the park. Each day brings new challenges. Some days are absolutely fabulous. Other days I am literally counting the minutes until Chris walks in the door. I am, by no means, an expert on motherhood. But, please allow me to share some things I have learned on the job. Taking a page from David Letterman, I’ll call them the:

Top Ten Things I Have Learned as a Stay at Home Mom

1. No matter how hard I try, my home will never be completely clean.
2. It’s useless to try and pick up toys while my kids are awake, because as soon as I do, they will drag out more of them.
3. There is no rhyme or reason when it comes to a child’s meltdown. They may have loved that Dora the Explorer cup yesterday, but pour their milk in it today, and they’ll go bananas.
4. Telling my kids “in just a minute” when they ask me to read a book or play with them totally defeats the purpose of why I’m staying home.
5. There is no explanation as to why a child who napped without a problem every day at daycare lies in her crib and talks for two hours during nap time at home.
6. Number six is absolutely maddening.
7. Playing dress-up is so much fun.
8. If I want to take a shower, get dressed and wear make-up, I do it before my kids wake up. I may be tired, but it sure beats trying to dry my hair with a two-year-old tugging at my shirt and crying, “Mommy, hold me!”
9. I am amazed at what I can do with one hand. Seriously, I think I could change a tire with Lily on my hip.

And the number one thing I have learned as a stay at home mom:

10. Hanging out with my kids is the coolest thing in the world.

Amy George is a former news anchor for WHNT NewsChannel 19. She and her husband, Chris, founded the Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund in memory of their daughter, Melissa Suzanne. The fund raises money for the Neonatal ICU at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. They have two other daughters: Ann Catherine (3) and Lily Baker (2).