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MSI was a stay-at-home mom for about a year before I wanted to do something in the real world again. With adults. Not mommy-and-me classes where every conversation was about breastfeeding and sleep regression. I wanted to feel like Anna again.
I joined a network marketing company — I just wanted out of the house a few hours a week. When I brought it to my husband, it was met with criticism. Who will watch the baby? How much will this cost? You don’t have to work. Who will handle the house if you’re working at night?
It was the first time I’d felt real excitement. It was also the first time I felt the need to shrink to fit someone else’s needs.
That cycle continued for 18 years. The urge to grow — met with “how does this affect me?” Marriage requires consideration for each other. But so does helping your partner fulfill their dreams as a human being.
Staying home doesn’t erase who she is. It doesn’t turn her into a robot who loves every meal, every mess, every second. She needs a break — and if that looks like a side hustle, it should be cheered on. Not stifled.
I was also told childcare was my responsibility. My choice, my cost.
These things build resentment. Not because we were bad people. Because expectations weren’t discussed and there was no honest dialogue.
I gave up financial autonomy because it wasn’t worth the fight. That hurt me deeply when my marriage ended.
Know your numbers. Know where you stand. Protect yourself — even without an income of your own.
I’m launching my first membership for stay-at-home moms who want clarity on their finances, want to be protected if the worst happens, and feel the pull to do more. Protection doesn’t mean abandoning your marriage. You owe it to yourself and your kids.
📌 Comment MEMBERSHIP to get on the list. We start April 13th.
@msannagoff
