6 Benefits Of Being A Stay At Home Mom

If you’re contemplating making the switch to becoming a stay at home parent check out these 6 benefits of being a stay at home mom.

It’s been said that “children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” (Dr. John Trainer). From the moment I first held my sweet little girl the truth of those words sunk deep into my heart . I’ve had the privilege of being a stay at home mom for more than a decade now and although some days are quite messy, loud, and stressful I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Even as a special needs parent, with extra struggles in the home, the blessings of staying home with my children will always far outweigh the trials.

Children truly are the most important work and it is an incredible privilege to pour into them and watch them grow and blossom before our very eyes.

Benefits of Being a Stay at Home Mom

Whether you are contemplating staying home with your newborn child or considering homeschooling a variety of ages, I’d like to share a few stay at home mom benefits that I’ve learned over the years. I fully acknowledge that not every mother is able to stay home with her children and that every family’s situation is unique, but if you have the desire to be a stay at home mom I’d encourage you to read on.

#1. Life is Less Rushed

One of the top reasons to be a stay at home mom is that it provides an opportunity to slow down and savor each moment with our children.

The average American family is rushed, stressed, and overcommitted… and its taking a toll on our relationships. Although being a stay at home mom invites its own kind of stress and busyness, life in general is slower paced with less time restraints and commitments.

As parents we sometimes, unintentionally, fail to realize how the hustle and bustle of life affects our children. Slowing down and spending more time with our little ones provides immense security and comfort for them and lessons anxiety, exhaustion, and overstimulation (for us both!).

Although my own two children are older now I will never tire of cuddling up with them on either side of me, as we hold hands and pray for the start of another day before diving into our schoolwork. Every morning on that couch my heart fills with gratitude as I am reminded of the sweet blessings of being able to pause our mornings in this way and the freedoms we have to do so.

Staying home with our children allows us to slow down and soak in precious little moments as we realize the big moments they truly are.

#2 Extra Time to Pour into Your Children

The most obvious reason to be a stay at home mom is to have extra time with your children. I truly believe that many of us parents have the best of intentions in raising our children, but eventually get caught up in the sheer busyness of life and the endless distractions thrown our way.

However, the hard truth is that a full calendar and meaningless pursuits will never impact the hearts of our children.

They need much more than warm beds, full stomachs, and transportation to and from extracurricular activities. They desperately need to know that they are worthy of our time and attention.

Our children need our praise, presence, correction, discipline, guidance, wisdom and our love.

Extra snuggles, tickles and squeals of delight, bedtime stories, teachable moments, wonder and awe… family walks and bike rides, deep conversations, laughter around the dinner table.

Each of these priceless treasures is fleeting. They vanish much too quickly. We will never again get the opportunity to pour into our children at this phase in life. We must do it now.

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#3 You Become Their Primary Example

I believe that it has always been God’s desire for parents to be the primary example of their children. Who better to teach and guide them than those who love them fiercely and have gleaned some wisdom along this journey?

Culture often paints a picture of children primarily seeking acceptance and guidance from their peers. However, deep down, no matter what their age, children are actually looking to us. Looking to us for affirmation, encouragement, and wisdom.

Whether or not we realize it, at any given moment of the day, there are likely to be little eyes watching our every move and little ears listening to our every word. They see our successes and our failures… they hear our graceful words as well as our grumbling and complaining.

Our children will clearly see that we are imperfect beings, but we’re also given an incredible opportunity to show them the depth of love that we hold for them. If our desire above all else is to pour precious truths into their hearts and cherish them as the sweet blessings they truly are, then we can be an example worthy of them to follow, despite our flaws and shortcomings.

God’s desire has never been for us to be the perfect parent raising perfect children, He’s simply called us to trust Him and obey. If we are faithful to love and lead our children to the best of our ability while pointing them directly to Jesus then we’re succeeding in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. We won’t always see immediate fruit from our efforts and that is okay. Seeds are being planted.

Spending extra time with our children and leading by example is truly a gift.

#4 Financial Benefits of Being a Stay at Home Mom

The majority of women who choose to work outside the home do so to bring in extra income. Surprisingly, however, this extra income dwindles down to very little once the added expenses of a working parent are factored in. Below are some of the financial benefits of being a stay at home mom.

The median female income in the United States in 2023 is $39,000 per year which equates to around $31,200 net pay. Average daycare costs are $15,000 per year (with nannies costing more and babysitters costing less). Americans spend $2,000 a year on fuel per vehicle, $3,000 on work lunches and coffee, and $1,755 on work clothes. This equals $21,755 in expenses, leaving a more accurate yearly income of about $9,445.

In all actuality it could be that many women are rushing off to work each day to a $4.54 per hour job, instead of cherishing extra snuggles and celebrating milestones.

If that $9,500 is truly needed to make ends meet there are adjustments that can be made to account for the loss. Simply shopping grocery store sales and making homemade meals each day can save a great amount of money each month. Downgrading your car to forgo a loan or downsizing your home to have a lower house payment can help. Lowering monthly entertainment expenses and opting for free activities/ spending more time outdoors can also be of great benefit.

If your heart truly desires to stay home with your children, but finances are holding you back, I’d encourage you to write down your current income/expenses and get creative in ways to adjust your standard of living. It could bring about a whole lot of joy in the process!

#5 Flexibility and Convenience

Another benefit of being a stay at home mom is the flexibility and convenience. Extra time available can eliminate the stress that often arises when a parent needs to miss work in order to care for a sick child, attend doctor’s appointments, and run important errands.

#6 Protect the Hearts of Your Children

I’ve heard it said more than once that we should never shelter our children, but I firmly believe that this couldn’t be further from the truth. One of our primary roles as parents is to protect the hearts of our children, which most definitely includes sheltering them from harmful influences vying for their attention.

“Sheltering” doesn’t mean keeping our children in a box far from the rest of society, but rather teaching them what they need to know and then refraining from placing a weight upon their shoulders that their young hearts and minds were never meant to carry.

We need to protect our children’s innocence and allow them to enjoy the blessings of youth without feeling the need to thrust them into the harsh realities of the world.

Being a stay at home mom gives us a little bit more time to dig into the hearts of our children. We get a crystal clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses, maturity, and needs- and can come alongside of them to teach, train, and meet those needs at the right time and place.

Being a Stay at Home Mom is More Than Worth It

I do not want to romanticize the idea of being a stay at home mom. It is certainly not without its trials, and honestly some days are just downright hard, but my children will always be worth it.

Your children will always be worth it.

My own mom made the decision to leave her downtown office job to become a stay at home mom when I was in elementary school and my younger brothers were toddlers. She later decided to homeschool us once I was in my teen years.

Growing up we didn’t have the fanciest house or nicest vehicles. Nor did we go on luxury vacations or receive expensive toys and gadgets as gifts. However, we had something so much greater— the gift of her time.

Her love.

Boundaries.

Guidance.

And her example.

And for that I will be forever grateful.

I firmly believe that as mothers our primary goal is to pour into our children. Not in a way that idolizes them, but in a way that teaches them what’s most important in life. It is our privilege as parents to raise up the next generation who will stand up for what is right and live a life that will honor their Creator.

Cherish that Time Together

Momma, instead of hurried meal prep and lunch stops, pack a picnic lunch and take your children to the park. Explore the beauty of God’s creation, go on a bike ride, pick wildflowers (or dandelions), and gaze at lovely butterflies.

In place of long commutes and business meetings… chase your little one down the hallway as he squeals with laughter and cuddles up on your lap for endless stories and tickles.

You can do this, sweet friend, and you and your children will be blessed because of it.