The One Downfall to Being The Stay At Home Parent: Being Lonely

I shouldn’t have to start off saying this, but I will: Being a mother is the world’s greatest blessing. Being able to be home with my children is an even bigger blessing. I’ve always known I wanted a lot of kids and to have a large family of my own. There is one downfall though, feeling lonely.

The days can fly by with four kids homeschooling, appointments, sports training’s, parent drop-off/pick-up for one, all the meals I make (you get it, busy). But when you sit down for that minute or driving in the car, (when you’re not avoiding grandmas driving on-coming in your lane). When you’re wide awake at night when all is quiet for those moments to yourself, you realize it’s lonely.

Looking for ADULT conversations

Being a Stay-at-home-mom (or dad) you don’t have ADULTS around. Co-workers to share inside jokes with have an adult conversation over lunch, make plans to meet up after work with a group, or to share frustrations about how the day has gone.

You don’t get to build bonds with other adults; you rely on your spouse or friendships you’ve had before parenthood or if you were lucky enough, friendships formed because of parenthood.

For me, my husband and I are on the run after dinner. With five kids and four of them in sports, we don’t get much downtime. By the time practices are over and we’re all home again, he’s exhausted from his day, the kids, traffic and just wants to mellow out. He’s not up for conversations at 9pm.

There are some hobbies

So yes, it’s lonely. I try to do my own things and hobbies, like writing on here or making random graphics for Instagram and sharing our day in the stories. Sometimes if my brain relaxes I can read a book. Although most of the time it’s always thinking about the next thing we need to get or where we’re going.

I do text and have conversations with some people throughout the day, but it’s just not the same as talking on the phone or in person conversation. I love my children, but sometimes that adult interaction is needed.

I’m not here to complain. Like I said in the beginning, I know I am blessed with five healthy children and the ability to stay home with them (and financial sacrifices come with that). I am just here to point out the quiet part most stay at home parents do not say out loud:

It is lonely.

Read my thoughts about Motherhood