Why I Chose To Be A Stay-At-Home Mother: Part 2

      Here is the second part of last week's article! This article will continue with the next two points of why I chose to be a stay-at-home mother!

3. Because I want to be sure that my children are taught in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.”  A child is greatly influenced by whoever they spend the most time with.  As a mother, I want to be sure that my children are taught in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). That being said, I do not think it would be wise for me to leave my children at a daycare or with a babysitter all day who may or may not have the best influence on them spiritually.  By staying home with my children before they are old enough to go to school, I can make sure that they learn the spiritual basics needed so they will be ready to continue their learning about the Word of God once they reach school age and have to leave the house for hours at a time. It is true that children who go to daycares and babysitters can still learn about God through Bible classes and Bible devotionals at home, however, I believe that it is best for mothers to have the most time available to teach their children about God, and more time can be available to do this if a mother stays home with her children. 

4. Because I love my job!  When I was in college, I heard a lot of negative comments about women who chose to have children and stay at home with them. A comment I often heard was that a stay at home mother was making a “career” out of having children. This idea has been fueled by the liberal Feminist Movement which encourages women to only focus on themselves and put their children last. Children in today’s society are considered more of burdens than blessings, but I choose to consider my children blessings. Therefore, I want to spend as much time as I can with them, and I want to have every opportunity possible to teach them in the way of the Lord! That is why I love what I do! I also loved having a career as a Mental Health Counselor, but I love my role as a stay at home mother so much more! 

     I also want to have as many children as God wants me to have! As was stated before, I think it is sad that today’s society views children as a burden, which is why some women either choose to not have children, or choose to limit the number of children they have due to a desire for material possessions or for some other selfish desire.  The Bible speaks of children as greater than any material possession we could have.  “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (I Timothy 2:15). Of course, this does not apply to couples who want to have children but physically cannot do so. I pray that couples facing this challenge are able to have the children they so dearly want! I know God will bless me in the way He sees fit, and if it is His desire for me to have more children besides those I already have, then I will accept them happily. Having a house full of children means so much more to me than having a house full of any material possession money can buy! “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate”  (Psalm 127:4-5). 
          I hope this article was able to give some insight about my choice to be a stay-at-home mother. I am glad that there are still mothers out there who choose to stay home with their little ones before they are old enough to trot off to kindergarten and beyond! Time passes so fast, and if, Lord Willing, I live long enough to see my children grow up, I know I will never regret the time I chose to spend at home with them rather than work a secular job away from them. I know that there are some husbands who want their wives to work so that they can keep their luxuries, and that their wives do not want to work outside the house. I pray that these husbands will have a change of heart and allow their wives to be able to share precious time with their children. 

       Children are only children for a short time, and I hope this article will help those who are expecting or want to have a baby think more about how important it is for mothers to be available at all times to their little babies, and to take the responsibility of raising their own children seriously rather than placing that role upon someone else. I think if more mothers viewed their job of taking care of their little ones as important as their secular job, then they would be sure to not miss an hour of being with their little ones and watching them grow! 

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