e023 – The Part-Time Jungle Podcast: Choosing To Be a Stay-At-Home Mom with Carrie Plesuk

Carrie Plesuk worked as a pediatric occupational therapist for seven years before welcoming her kids, now ages seven and five. Having always been a homebody and having dreamt of being a stay-at-home mom, she decided not to return to her job, instead staying home with her kids full-time. As her kids now reach school-age, Carrie is very gradually re-entering the workforce with a job that combines two of her passions…child development and the great outdoors. Working one half day per month as a TimberNook instructor and being able to bring her kids to work with her has been the perfect transition for Carrie. She is feeling ready for this next phase of life and is about to start the training program to become a TimberNook associate provider.   In this episode: Choosing to stay home can involve intentional planning and decision making to make this option more feasible.  Helpful tools in managing a stay-at-home mom juggle include having a village, a schedule, and “me time”. Remember your why and what’s important to you and your family. Leaning into your choice for juggling motherhood and work can be tough when you are experiencing self doubt and other people’s opinions.    Connect with Carrie: * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carrie.plesuk * Find out more about TimberNook of Greater Calgary: * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimberNook-of-Greater-Calgary-196418557608088 * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timbernookcalgary/ * Website: https://www.timbernook.com/provider/timbernook-of-greater-calgary/ * Magazine mentioned by Carrie: Today's Parent: https://www.todaysparent.com     On this episode of The Part-Time Jungle Podcast, I had a great conversation with Carrie about the intentional planning and decision making that went into her choice of being a stay-at-home mom. Carrie shared how having a village, a schedule, and “me time” have been helpful tools in managing her SAHM juggle. She also talked about how remembering why she chose to be a stay-at-home mom helped her to lean into her choice and navigate her own self doubt as well as other people’s opinions   If you prefer to listen, check out Episode 23 of The Part-Time Jungle Podcast. Carrie is so warm and easy to talk to and I am so appreciative of her openness and honesty in sharing her journey in navigating being a SAHM. I really enjoyed our conversation and I know that you will too! ALWAYS DREAMING OF BEING A SAHM Carrie has always been a homebody. She loves being at home. As well, Carrie shared that she always dreamt of being a stay at home mom since she was a little girl. She said that in this day and age, this may seem strange or different, but this was what she hoped to do for her future family. Carrie’s mom stayed at home with her and her sisters when they were little and she loved it and felt lucky to have her mom at home.    MAKING A PLAN As Carrie got older, she thought about the reality of actually deciding to stay home and putting that into action as an adult. She thought about things like whether her future partner would agree and see value in it and also whether or not it would be financially feasible.