MomsGetReal is excited to welcome guest contributor Kelli Lund!

Some people think being a stay-at-home mom is all fun and games. Others think that it is belittling and degrading, or that it in some way insults a woman’s potential in life. As a full-time mother, I can honestly say that both these notions are as far away from the truth as you can get. Being a full-time caregiver is an incredibly demanding job – physically and emotionally. There are no vacations and no sick days. You are “on call” around the clock. It involves many moments where you have to give up what you want in order to give your child what they need. When my husband and I decided that I should stay home and raise our children, we knew that he would be our sole source of income and we would have to give up many of the luxuries that families with dual incomes often enjoy. But we are happy with the decision we made for me to spend all my time at home. I believe that being a mother is the most noble and selfless role that any woman can hold, and devoting all your time to motherhood is the most fulfilling thing you can ever know.

Nine months into our marriage, we welcomed our beautiful baby boy into the world, and I quit work to stay home with him. Everyday with my son was full of so much joy and happiness. Still, it was hard not to feel a little bit jealous when I heard about our friends buying homes and nicer cars, traveling the world, taking cruises. I sometimes wondered what our life would be like if I was able to bring home money too.

Then the unthinkable happened. We lost our darling son to SIDS when he was four months old. Our world was shattered and we were suddenly thrust back into a life without any children to care for. Eventually I went back to work, but it was so unfulfilling that I hated going. With both of us working, we had more money than ever, but I just wanted to have my son back home with us. I was willing to give up every penny to my name, if only I could spend another moment with my boy.

Now that we are parents again, I try to take advantage of every moment with my daughter. I am never tempted to go back to work, because I don’t want to miss a single minute of my baby girl’s life. Spending my time with her fills me with a sense of joy and accomplishment that I know I could never get from a career, no matter how much money I made. We have to sacrifice a lot for me to be able to stay home, but it is all worth it. Motherhood is the most demanding and fulfilling job that any woman could ever hold. I am proud to be a full-time mom.