“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” —Chinese Proverb

I went to a mom’s event awhile back and all the prizes at the giveaway table had nothing to do with me. True, they were all things for mothers, but these were items for mothers who were in the sleep-deprived, explosive-blowout-diaper trenches. The mothers in the midst of their babies’ sleep regression, the mothers of teething littles, the mothers whose babies are so far from even one ounce of independence, the thought of primary school hasn’t even crossed their minds yet!

But then there was us, a group of “tenured” mothers who all had kids nearing or in elementary school. Our babies are now kids, out of our care from the hours of 7:45am to almost 3pm every day. They’re spreading their wings and figuring out how to navigate through the structured setting of school, a place designed to uncover their interests, hobbies, strengths, challenges, and relationships.

While all this is wonderful and we’d have it no other way, I have been amazed by how many stay-at-home mothers are trying to figure out and navigate their own futures, independent of their children. In a matter of a few short years, we receive this chunk of the day where our somewhat tidy house is empty, the laundry is done, fridge is stocked, and we are now pondering purpose and next steps.

In talking with local moms, I’ve stumbled upon this common ground:

We tend to doubt our greatness.

We downplay the person we were before kids.

I wish women could stop doing this. Your SAHM gap doesn’t have to be a barrier.

We make time for the things we want to and your career “gap”, it is my strong belief that you were doing the most important work. That job you left or couldn’t pour into at the time will always be there to get back to. The time will not.

As the Fall semester slowly churns into Spring, the time continues to pass. Use it wisely! Below are a few things some moms in Collin County are thinking about as next steps for the SAHM.

Ideas on Next Steps for the SAHM

• Go back to school. Options exist for mothers who stay at home and mothers who work.
• Start your own company.
• Get your realtor’s license.
• Write.
• Work at Calloway’s because you’re a plant lady and it brings you joy.
• Sub.
• Teach.
• Volunteer.
• Seek out opportunities that make you feel a tug, especially ones that evoke a bit of vulnerability.

Find something that brings you joy and see if there’s a way you can invest in yourself and produce a side hustle at the same time. In the group fitness and yoga world, this is a huge arena. Hundreds of classes, trainings, and crafts exist.

Do you have continuing education goals or work goals in a field you’ve studied before or in a completely new arena? What do you believe are feasible next steps for the SAHM?