During our entire marriage and even before I was married, I have prayed that I could stay home with my kids.  When the time grew near for us to have children, I did not know how that could possibly happen.  My husband was going to be going to school for his Masters’ Degree and simultaneously working as a teaching assistant (getting paid below the federal poverty level).  The demands of his work combined with school did not leave any time for an additional job.  I was working at the bank at the time earning about twice what he was, and it almost seemed like we should wait until he graduated and was earning more.  My mother and sisters though, encouraged me to follow the spirit and have a child, and cited many examples from their own lives where they had been greatly blessed for their decision, even when it didn’t seem like they would make it financially.

After a few months of trying, I was pregnant. When I crunched the numbers though, it seemed like no matter how hard we tried, we would not have enough money to make it through the approximate year we would have to live on such a tiny income.  Despite this, I began putting money into savings as fast as I could.  Even though my income could have provided us many nice things, I used as much as possible to put into savings.  I also said no to many things that I would have liked, but that would have caused us a monthly payment.  Some of these things have become practically necessities for many people in today’s society.  I said no to a bigger house, a cell phone, cable/satellite TV, a car payment, new baby things, and many other things.  My co-workers were driving nice cars, living in nice houses, eating lunch out every day, and going on nice vacations, while I was still driving around in my old ’78 Diesel Mercedes, eating leftovers for lunch and buying most of my baby supplies from garage sales.

Despite all these sacrifices, it did not seem like we would have enough in our savings account by the time Anika was born.  Somehow though, by the time she arrived, our savings account was good enough to let us scrape by for the first year of her life.  I can’t even really tell you how it happened.  Now my former co-workers ask me if I am working, even part-time.  I answer happily and thankfully that I love every minute of staying home with my little girl.

After pondering my own experiences and the experiences of my sisters and friends, I believe that although it is sometimes not possible for moms to stay home, working mothers are more numerous than maybe they could be.  I find that my experience was not unique, some moms have reported husbands getting unexpected promotions or raises, while others report expenses being suddenly reduced or eliminated, still others find that their checkbooks mysteriously balance even though they shouldn’t.  All of these miracles seem to happen only after the couple takes the leap of faith and appear to be just on the edge of impending financial woes.  Just maybe, with a little desire, prayer, faith, and expense skimming, more mothers could stay home with their children too.

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