As a current stay-at-home mom with a toddler, your story resonated with me. I love how you articulate emotions and reflections and even conversations I've had myself about staying home (P.S. Our mothers would definitely get along). The loneliness, the exhaustion, the joy, the satisfaction, the dilemmas--you captured it.

Coincidentally, I wrote an essay myself about the value of being a stay-at-home mom, but I really wish I would have read yours beforehand. I'm still very much a novice writer and loved your storytelling through this piece--something I wish I had included more of in mine.

In any case, I thank you for giving voice to our struggles and please know your writing is valuable to readers like me!