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Robin

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Detoured: The Messy, Grace-Filled Journey from Working Professional to Stay-at-Home Mom

by Jen Babakhan (Goodreads Author)

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Robin said: " This book has changed me and touched my conflicted heart.

I left a career of 20 years to stay home with my son as a first time mom at 41. Mostly it was by choice, but there were also some medical issues involved. I will never regret the decision to s This book has changed me and touched my conflicted heart.

I left a career of 20 years to stay home with my son as a first time mom at 41. Mostly it was by choice, but there were also some medical issues involved. I will never regret the decision to stay home, but I have had struggles surface that were not anticipated. I went from being a confident career woman in tech, able to handle stressful deadlines and situations, to feeling painfully isolated and anxious about not being good enough at motherhood. I had waited so long for a baby and a family. I was extremely blessed to have the gift of being at home. Why was I having such a hard time with this new life? Why was I feeling lonely? Why was it so hard to let go of a career I didn't even like anymore? So much guilt surfaced. Was leaving work and the income that came with it a horrible and selfish mistake?? It didn’t help that I kept hearing that because I was older and used to a different lifestyle I didn't have the same patience or energy as a younger mom (which also kept me from reaching out to other community moms because I didn't think I’d be accepted or fit in). Was I too old to be a good mom?

Thank goodness that I have such loving support from my husband! HE was actually the one who connected me with the Jen Babakhan’s writings and insisted I read an article he had found from her (he also pre-ordered the Detoured book for me!). He needed me to know how special I was and how much he recognized that this shift in my life was not easy. He could see that I was suffering with feelings of isolation, doubt and guilt. He also knew I needed to connect with another mom who understood these feelings for this all to really sink in. The Detoured book, with Jen’s raw and truthful experiences within it, became the key I needed to believe that I was not alone in this journey. She gets it, really gets it.

My son is now 3 and heading into preschool. Big shifts are happening and once again, emotions are on the upswing. Who am I now? What worth do I have to employers given I have been a stay at home mom for the last 3 years? What do I contribute now that my son will not be home all day? As I attempt transition back to working again, I am beginning to address these new questions. This time I have Detoured, the available extended guide and the other moms I have met through reading it. Detoured reminds me that “My work is NOT my worth” and I need to show myself some grace. I was given this new life because God knew I could do it, he wanted me to be a mom and to experience love on a whole new level.

My wish is to get this book in the hands of as many new moms, dads, caregivers and their supporting family and friends as possible. Moms (or other caregivers) will find comfort in its relatable content. Family and friends of moms will better recognize and understand the feelings being experienced and therefore be able to offer better support.

I wish I had a book like this from the very beginning, but it is a gift I am grateful for even now. ...more "

Jul 08, 2019 04:19PM · see review