Every mother has a story: the one that defines her and her mothering.
For me, my journey into motherhood is marked by low-income and financial struggles, and has in many regards shaped the type of mother I am today.My husband and I gave birth to twins as we were graduating from college and we were broke, in debt, and unemployed. Therefore, the first few years of our parenting journey were not only doubly hard because we were blessed with twins, but also because we had so little money to our name, even after my husband found employment. We struggled to meet minimum payments on credit cards each month and pay for all of our other bills and expenses. […]
It is now more than five years since we welcomed twins into our home, and it wasn’t until this year that our financial situation finally seems solid, as we have savings in the bank and aren’t living paycheck to paycheck, and have financial plans and goals for the future. Money is still tight in many regards as my husband is now earning a PhD and we have two more children. But, we are the best off we’ve been in our whole marriage.
Many people may find it easy to criticize our family’s reproductive, educational, and vocational choices. But, we have never taken the stance that you wait until life is “perfect” to add to your family, nor should you let finances dictate your life. The good Lord has blessed us and seen us through and we’ve made it by better than many others.
Your financial situation tends to define who you are, though, and the choices you do make. While we didn’t really let finances stop us from expanding our family, it has defined our marriage, ourselves, our future, and our parenting.
Head over to Dirt and Boogers to read my entire guest post. Find out how being a low-income family shaped my parenting. My post is part of a series of posts from Mothers sharing their personal stories of Motherhood on her blog.
Chelsea @ Life With My Littles says
I love this! I don’t think there is ever a “perfect time” to have a child. When you are forced to live frugally because you have no other option, it really does teach you a lot about how to live minimally, and about what your priorities are. And you really do learn to have sympathy for people who have even less than you.
Katelyn Fagan says
Thanks Chelsea! So much sympathy and understanding I have now for low-income families.
Melinda Mitchell says
I think you’re more blessed when you struggle a bit. then you know the real value of stuff, and are more appreciative!
Dirt and boogers is a perfect Mom blog name!
On my way over there right now!