Learning This World as a Suzy Homemaker

It's interesting what you find to watch whenever there is literally NOTHING else to do. After all house hold chores, any possible put off project is done and kids are in bed, one starts browsing Netflix. Next thing you know you're understanding the Facebook meme's and understanding, heck even sympathizing with, the crazy mullet wearing man who breeds tiger's.

I did indeed binge watch The Tiger King and I was sorry to hear that Carol Baskins won and took over Joe's zoo.

This year has been quite awful. Between time lost and not being able to go anywhere, being at home all of the time can be very stressful. Not to mention it was one of the most beautiful summers that we've had in a long time.

My absolute silver lining is my kids always. An extra sparkle got added this summer. My 2 boys are excited to have a baby sister on the way! To top that off I'm also becoming a realtor!

I may start a new blog for that Journey I haven't decided..... All I know for sure is 2020 has been an eye opening hell ride.

Life always finds a way to present new struggles. For us, along with millions of other people, that struggle is Covid 19.

The uncertainty in the beginning was overwhelming. Our youngest son was still on formula which was hard to find, toilet paper, (where did it all go!?) baby wipes, diapers, a lot of food in general gone.

Luckily, I had a small savings from working with my Dad and brother. So whenever things looked like they were heading south I headed to the store with my mom and we bought what we could.

I loaded up on "school" supplies for the older boys and some other activities to keep them entertained. We hunkered down at home unsure of what was going to happen and only leaving to go see family.

We spent many days out front, saying hello to the neighbors as they walked by everyday. Eventually even started taking daily walks ourselves. I developed a routine. Morning, afternoon and evening cups of coffee on the porch while the kids played.

I've always lived life by the day, just assuming that my life would turn out a certain type of way. In school I was pegged a heathen before I even knew what that meant.

My parent's sent my siblings and I to a private school. They weren't overly religious or particularly hard on us about following the Lord's path. Just two simple and humble people who worked hard to give us what they never had. A loving family raised by two parents in love and in the same home.

My dad is and has always been a hard working man. He's always worked his rear off to give us a good life. We didn't always have the best of everything, but as cliche as this sounds we had each other. He's always taught us that it's not money that should make you happy, but the relationships that you surround yourself with.

My mom worked hard too. She's always been a stay at home mom. Working hard to keep us fed, clean, and properly clothed. The roll of homemaker these days is well underplayed. My dad worked hard outside of the house and my mom worked equally as hard inside of the house taking care of us. She made our residence a place of warmth and comfort. She made it a home.

Originally, whenever I started this blog, I had just recently moved into a little house in the country with my boyfriend of 4 years. We were expecting our first child and I was trying to find a new hobby. We agreed that I should be a stay at home mom and being an active person I needed something to entertain my mind. I didn't grasp the concept of blogging back then so I let the idea drop. I should have kept up with it. Even if for nothing more than my own mental well being.

In January of 2016 we welcomed our baby boy into the world. September of 2016 we broke up like many times before but this time for good. August of 2017 I got together with my current boyfriend and this August 2019 we welcomed our baby boy.

He had a boy to his previous relationship in December of 2014. We are a family of 5 with all boys under the age of 5.

It has been a struggle for us learning how to mix families. I got back into blogging as a way for me to express myself. I don't expect to have a following. But if someone finds this I hope my struggles provide some clarity in your situation or if nothing else some minor entertainment.

It has been 3 years since my son's dad and I broke up. I've been blessed. My brother and his fiancee watched my son a lot whenever I was working 16 hour days for days in a row. It's not easy being a single working mom. My parents let us continue to stay with them and for that I am eternally greatful.

Two years ago I started dating a man that I love more than life itself. He was also a single parent of a little boy and a man I've known for a long time. We broke up for about 8 months and got back together last fall. November of last year we found out that we were expecting. I'm now a boy mom of 2!

Parenting in it self is a struggle sometimes for any new parent. Co-parenting on the other hand is a whole new ball game. To be able to put the well being and best interest of your child above everything is sometimes easier said than done.

Normally whenever I'd go through a break up I'd become a chain smoker and briefly a borderline alcoholic. I've never been the best at knowing how to handle my emotions.

My dad came to my house to get my son and I the night that I broke up with my son's father. We along with, my cat, dog, and fish all moved back into my parent's house. They were my godsend.

Once it was apparent that this break up was the real deal. I had to figure out how to be a working mom. I came across a job at UPS loading the delivery trucks. It was perfect! My son would sleep while I was at work and was just getting up whenever I got home. Getting a job was only the beginning of my struggle.

    So this is a whole new world for me. Fortunately, I’m one of the lucky few who have a partner with a steady enough income that I’m able to stay at home and raise our now 4 month old son my self instead of employing someone else to take care of him. I’ve always enjoyed working and having my own money. Now that I’m “Suzy Homemaker” I miss having money of my own so I’ve been trying to find ways of bringing in money. My favorite so far would be the app ibotta available for iPhone and Android ( Please use my referral code if you sign up ecojjtu :) I get $5 and you get $10 for my referral)  it’s super easy to use and the cash back stacks up fast. It has cash back for a lot of common and most often used items like milk, eggs, bread, orange juice and tons of other items too! My next favorite would have to be Ebates ( again please click this link if you decide to sign up. You’ll get $10 for my referral  http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=dG1EDheUFB1mSl4PMM5g9A%3D%3D&eeid=28187 not to mention if you know people to refer the more people you get to sign up the more cash they give you for referring people.) 

   Other ways I’m finding to make a little extra cash is by trying to sell odds and ends on eBay. That one is a slow process but if you have stuff lying around and aren’t in any hurry to get rid of it eBay is definitely a great way to go. 

   Walmart has a savings catcher in their app. After every Walmart shopping trip scan your receipt with their app and if there’s any lower advertised prices in your area they will credit the amount to you. If you’re still a fan of Target their cartwheel app is a great way to save money at their store. Not to mention if you’re one for stocking up when you shop they have a lot of offers that come with a gift card. Also, you can combine their cartwheel offers with coupons and their credit card which saves you 5% on your shopping trip. The savings stack up fast and you can always pay off your credit card on the way out the door.