The article explores the author's journey of transitioning from a career in higher education to becoming a stay-at-home mom after the birth of her first child. Initially excited about motherhood, the author soon faced loneliness and isolation during her husband's workdays. Despite attending baby classes, she found conversations to be surface-level, leading to a diminished sense of self and lack of intellectual engagement. As the years passed, her feelings of isolation grew, prompting her to seek help through hiring a babysitter to reclaim some personal time and connection to her former self.
When I became pregnant with my first child, my husband and I made the difficult yet practical decision for me to stay home... it just made sense for me to stay home.
I was sleep deprived, exhausted from exclusively nursing, and lonelier than I had ever been. I was jealous of my friends who were still working... desperate for connection.
Somewhere along the way, my interests and identity faded away. I needed more intellectual stimulation, I wanted to do more to connect with the community.
As months turned into years, I felt increasingly isolated. I hired a babysitter once a week in the afternoon so I could escape.
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