Wholesome recipes, homeschool resources, and tutorials for all things handmade

How to Love Being JUST a Stay at Home Mom

//  Leave a Comment

Dear Bad A** Girl that has to give up her dreams of being a big boss CEO to be…sigh…JUST a stay at home mom. You’re not alone, let’s talk about it.

tattooed mother squatting behind son whos riding in a blue toy Ford T model car with the words "How to Love being Just a Stay At Home Mom" written over photo

By the time you get done reading this post, I hope you will understand that being just a stay at home mom is a privilege, not a punishment.

You Were Called to be just a Stay at Home Mom

This space is for mamas learning to embrace the calling of being home. God didn’t make a mistake placing you here:

  • in the kitchen – making nourishing food to fill your family’s bellies
  • on the floor with your babies – teaching, playing, creating life long memories
  • in the quiet, unseen moments – turning a house into a home

I’m here to encourage your heart and remind you that this season of motherhood is holy work. Let’s find joy, purpose, and peace in where He’s planted us.

Why Is It So Hard to go from Hustle to Home?

It’s hard to give up a dream career to be just a stay at home mom because if we think about where this thought of “just-a-stay-at-home-mom” comes from it’s actually something that we have been told since kindergarten. That being a stay-at-home-mom is NOT A REAL JOB.

Or even worse, “an embarrassing waste of a girl’s potential.”

Being a stay-at-home mom doesn’t always feel glamorous especially when society has a habit of adding the word “just” in front of a role that is anything but small.

But there is nothing just about raising human beings, nurturing a home, and showing up day after day in ways that often go unseen. Being a stay-at-home mom is a full-time commitment that you can learn to truly love.

Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches – Proverbs 10:4-7

How to enjoy your role as JUST a stay at home mom.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you but I only recommend products that I actually use and love. Read the full disclosure here.

1. Reclaim the Narrative: just a stay at home mom

The first step in loving this life is letting go of the shame that society throws your way. Because you are not “wasting your potential”. Giving your children a consistent foundation, a safe place, and a dependable presence is influential. Plus, you are raising the next generation with the values and morals that YOU find most important.

You are not Just A Stay At Home Mom, you are The Keeper of your Home.

Proverbs 31:27 says, “She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.”

A stay at home mom has extra time to cautiously watch over what is going on, in and around her home. We are blessed with the time to reflect on what changes need to be taken in order to make our homes a safe space for mind, body, and spirit. For ourselves, our husband, and most importantly: our children. We are the ultimate guardians of the home.

2. Finding the WORTH in being Just a Stay At Home Mom

It’s easy to feel like your efforts don’t count if there’s no paycheck, promotions, or performance reviews – but your work matters. The meals you cook, the extra hugs you give, the messes you clean, and the values you teach are laying the groundwork for your family’s future.

Find meaning in all the moments – reading the bedtime stories, making from scratch sourdough waffles, the scraped-knee kisses. These are priceless, but if you have to, put a dollar sign on these moments if that’s what you need to do to make your JOB feel more important. You will end up realizing how important it is in the long run.

Stay at Home Mom = Round the Clock Day Care

graphic cartoon of mother with 3 children and dollar signs surrounding with the word "childcare" written below

According to the site Illumine, the average cost of child care in the U.S. for one child is $10,989.

Full service Wash N’ Fold

chart showing the cost for a Wash N Fold for a family of 6 vs how much it would cost to do laundry at home and the math equation below it

For a full service Wash N’ Fold service, the yearly total for a family of 6 comes out to be $16,200 per year if you do a 30lb load of laundry a day. (which is the case for myself and 3 other friends I asked.)

Some might object and say laundry should be a divided task between both partners but here’s why I disagree. Stay at home moms are already in the home so doing the laundry can easily be integrated into the daily rhythm and can be done while doing other things like watching a video on “How to make Mayonnaise in under a Minute” or while teaching a homeschool lesson on Polar Bears. But as with any SAHM tasks, these are objectual and may be the thing you hate most so whatever floats your boat floats mine.

A Clean Home

According to a poll taken by you.gov.com the number 1 chore people hate most is a tie between cleaning the bathroom, doing the dishes, and laundry.

cartoon photo of a stay at home mom cleaning her house and a paint brush swiping against the wall with various cleaning items beneath her

Cleaning is a form of love. Every dish you wash, bed you make, or floor you sweep is an act of love for the people who live in your home. It’s not just about chores but about creating comfort, safety, and cozy peace for your family.

But it also takes a lot of freaking time! So let’s crunch the numbers! When a stay-at-home-mom cleans, she also is an organizer and a designer soooooooo…

Because independent cleaners typically charge $20-$40 per hour, professional organizers usually charge between $50 and $150 per hour, and on average you can expect to pay anywhere from $2,000 to $14,000 for an interior designer’s services.

Everything you aren’t spending

You can also take into account all the money you are not having to spend now that you’re just a stay at home mom.

Cost of gas, eating out, professional clothes, and wear and tear on the car are just some of the things that come to mind.

@thetattooedmommaofficial ♬ original sound – The Tattooed Momma

3. Create Rhythm, Not a Rut

Routines help children but they help you feel grounded too. Firstly, a routine doesn’t have to mean tedious or lack of interest. Add variety where you can: take walks, do crafts, rearrange furniture, cook a new dish every now and then, or start “themed” days like Waffle Wednesdays or Taco Cirlce Tuesdays. Life at home can have color and creativity. Even though it is technically the same every day, life as just a stay home mom is never actually the same every day.

4. Being Just a Stay a Home Mom Isn’t Your Identity

Being just a stay at home mom doesn’t mean your personal identity disappears. Whether it’s a hobby, a side hustle, a workout routine, journaling, or starting a blog 😉 – carve out something that fills your cup. It doesn’t make you selfish, it makes you human.

For example, I wake up one hour earlier than my kids to have a cup of coffee in complete silence and watch the sunrise or do a little rabbit hunting. My kids know that if they wake up during that hour, they are not allowed to “bother” mom because this is my time to begin the day slowly so I can prep for the chaotic, noisy, busy – but fun – day with 5 kids.

5. You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup

Motherhood can be isolating, if you let it be. Seek out other stay at home moms who “get it” if you need to. Whether it’s playdates, mom groups, or online communities, connection can be crucial for some stay at home moms. Sharing the journey with others can lighten the load and remind you that you’re not alone.

Additionally, if your husband doesn’t recognize or appreciate your effort, you can start to feel invisible. You can be the most nurturing, resourceful, creative mom in the world – but if you’re doing it under the weight of a dismissive or disrespectful husband, the joy will fade. Every stay at home mom deserves to feel valued, heard, and backed by the person she’s building a life with. If that’s not happening then the problem isn’t you, but the foundation you stand on.

6. Give Yourself Credit for being Just a Stay A Home Mom

No one claps when you fold the laundry or manage a toddlerdactyl tantrum in public, but YOU should. Celebrate your wins- no matter how small. You are working all day, every single day. The work you’re doing is invisible to most, but it’s shaping your family’s life – one child at a time.

You’re not Just A Stay At Home mom

You are not just a stay at home mom. You are a teacher, a chef, nurse, counselor, chauffeur, and a protector. Mothers are the heartbeat of the home, the keepers, the Guardians of the home. And when you choose to embrace this season, with all its mess and magic, you will find more joy than you ever thought possible.

And realize that being just a stay at home mom is not a punishment, but a privilege.

Let’s Connect!

Pin It!

Favorite Amazon Finds for a Stay at Home Mom

You’ll Also Love

pinterest pin for the blog post How I Got Pregnant with PCOS. photo of newborn baby in background
pinterest pin with the words "dirt bike riding gear checklist free download" and a photo of a native boy jumping on his yamaha yz 65
photo of 3 orangey-yellow candles makde from beeswax and molded to look like honey comb.

Simple Homemade Yogurt in the Instant Pot – No Fuss

//  7 Comments

Simple Homemade Yogurt in the Instant Pot – No Fuss

a no-fuss easy way to make homemade yogurt in the instapot. for the busy homesteaders who strive for functionality and simplicity.

1 gallon of simple homemade yogurt packaged up in 2 64oz mason jars and an 8oz mason jar

If you follow my social media accounts you know that one of my favorite breakfast staples is a delicious yogurt smoothie because it’s quick, easy, and packed with healthy probiotics. So of course, as a mom, I’m here for it.

Unfortunately, good quality store-bought yogurt comes with a hefty price tag if you’re having it often. Especially if you plan to serve it up for your entire family.

That’s why I was determined to learn how to make quality yogurt myself but also make the process as simple as possible.

scroll down for video and printable recipe

wooden spoon scooping out simple homemade yogurt from the instapot mealthypot

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you but I only recommend products that I actually use and love. Read the full disclosure here.

WHAT IF I’M LACTOSE INTOLERANT?

Many lactose intolerant people can tolerate yogurt but not milk because of the fermentation and straining process. My daughter is very lactose intolerant but has zero problems with the homemade yogurt I make because it’s fermented for a full 24 hours.

The longer it ferments the more sour it will taste but the longer it ferments, the more the lactose is broken down.

WHAT TOOLS DO I NEED?

All you need are 2 kitchen tools: first being a smart pressure cooker with a yogurt setting like the Instant Pot. I personally use the Mealthy Pot because at the time when I purchased it, it had more features than the Instant Pot and at a better price tag.

The second item is optional and that is a straining cloth so that you can turn regular yogurt into Greek Yogurt, sour cream, or even make a yogurt cream cheese!

WHAT IS A MOTHER YOGURT STARTER?

Any store-bought plain yogurt (preferably organic) will be perfect for your very first Mother Yogurt Starter. Then after that I will show you how to get your own mother yogurt starter from your home made yogurt batches.

Each time you want to make homemade yogurt you are going to need an already established yogurt bacteria. This small amount of good bacteria is going to take over your milk and battle any of the bad bacteria in the milk so that you end up with a fermented product and not a rotten one.

Also, the yogurt fermenting process is breaking down the lactose making it easier on the stomach.

If you are familiar with a sourdough starter it’s the same type of concept. People that are gluten intolerant can usually handle a sourdough bread because the sourdough starter has broken down the beginning parts of the grain making it easier for the stomach to digest.

organic whole milk plain yogurt by the brand simply choice made my aldi to use as first mother yogurt starter for our simple homemade yogurt recipe

scroll to bottom for printable recipe

INGREDIENTS FOR SIMPLE HOMEMADE YOGURT

  • 1gallon milk (see notes)
  • 1 cup Mother Yogurt Starter (see notes or blog post)

TOOLS FOR SIMPLE HOMEMADE YOGURT

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIMPLE HOMEMADE YOGURT

  1. pour the entire gallon of milk into the Instant Pot
  2. take the sealing ring out of the lid then place the lid on the pot and into the locking position.
  3. turn the sealing/venting knob to “venting” (or set the switch to venting if you have a newer model)
  4. press the yogurt button 2 times to activate the “boil” function
  5. when the machine beeps that it is done boiling, turn the machine off and allow it rest for about 30 minutes or until the milk is cool enough to touch.
  6. add 1 cup of Mother Yogurt Starter to the pot and stir it in
  7. press the yogurt button until the machine reads “yogurt” then set the cook time for anything between 8 – 24 hours. (the longer it cooks, the less lactose there will be)
  8. when the machine beeps that it is done cooking, set aside 1 cup. This will be your Mother Yogurt Starter for the next time you make yogurt. You will only need 1 cup Mother Yogurt Starter so any excess can be stored to eat.
  9. Pour the remaining yogurt into airtight containers and store in fridge for up to 2 weeks. If you want thick creamy Greek Yogurt then strain all of your yogurt until it’s at your desired consistency. (You can even end up making a yogurt cream cheese if you leave it straining long enough!)

NOTES

whole milk will make creamier yogurt while non fat and raw milk will be more runny but you can use any type of cow, goat, or sheep milk for this recipe.

(repeat) Any store-bought plain yogurt (preferably organic) will work for your very 1st Mother Yogurt Starter.

Let’s Connect!

SHOP THIS POST

YOU’LL ALSO LOVE

newborn photography with sibling
Top Baby Items for a Sleepy Baby
How To Make Homemade Bagels
Sweet Potato Cheesecake Yogurt Smoothie
Yield: 1 gallon

Simple No Fuss Homemade Yogurt

Simple No Fuss Homemade Yogurt

No-fuss easy way to make homemade yogurt in the instapot. for the busy homesteaders who strive for functionality and simplicity.

Cook Time 8 hours
Additional Time 2 hours
Total Time 10 hours

Ingredients

  • • 1 gallon milk (see notes)
  • • 1 cup Mother Yogurt Starter (see notes or blog post)

Instructions

TOOLS

  1. instapot (or any other smart pressure cooker with yogurt function)
  2. optional: straining cloth to make Greek Yogurt

HOW TO

  1. pour 1 gallon milk into InstaPot
  2. take sealing ring out of the lid then place the lid on the pot and into the locking position
  3. turn the sealing knob to the "venting" position (or set the switch to venting if you have a new model)
  4. press the yogurt button until the display screen reads "boil"
  5. when done boiling, turn the machine off and allow to rest for 30 minutes
  6. add 1 cup Mother Yogurt Starter to the pot and stir in
  7. press the yogurt button until the machine reads "yogurt" then set the cook time for 24 hours or a minimum of 8 hours. (the longer it cooks, the less lactose there will be)
  8. when its done cooking then set aside 1 cup to use as your Mother Yogurt Starter for the next time you make homemade yogurt.
  9. if you want to make Greek Yogurt then continue to the next step. If not then package your yogurt up and store it in the back of the fridge.
  10. to make Greek Yogurt pour the yogurt into a straining cloth and let rest until it's to your desired consistency. (about 2 hours = Greek Yogurt, about 4 hours = sour cream, or let sit overnight for yogurt cream cheese)

Notes

* whole milk will make creamier yogurt and non fat or raw milk will be more runny but any type of cow, goat, or sheep milk will still make delicious ready to eat yogurt.


* any store bought plain yogurt will work as a Mother Yogurt Starter. after you make your first batch though, you will save 1 cup from that to be your mother yogurt starter for the next time.

© thetattooedmomma
Category: fermented foods