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The old saying, "If I knew then what I know now..." has been on my mind more and more as I get comfortable in my thirties. As a young girl I had big dreams of finding my prince charming, having children and living in that quiet suburb with the white picket fence. Thinking that it would be an easy life and that I would do things much better than my own parents did. I would cringe hearing my mother almost daily tell me that I'll understand when I have my own kids. I would give her the all too famous "eye roll" every single time I heard it. And of course she was right, (darn it!)

I didn't really see myself as a housewife; I did expect that I would keep my job and continue to work, just as my mother did. But of course we made the decision that it would be best for me to stay home. 95% of the time I am happy with that choice, the other 5% I sometimes feel that I need to be in a padded room! There is only so many times you can read the same story over and over, clean the same room over and over, or watch the same show over and over, without feeling like you've lost touch. Of course I wouldn't change a thing; I love my kids and my husband beyond words. But I am only human and do need a break every now and then.

If I knew way back when I had a job how our money situation would be I would have saved a lot more when we had it instead of buying needless items. Having a good paying job when you're young, you tend not to think of the future. We are comfortable, we just can't go shopping on a whim like we used to. Thinking twice or three times on purchases was never in my makeup, but it certainly is now. I wouldn't change our current situation, I am very thankful we can survive on one income so I can stay home and raise our girls; I would just like to have been a little more prepared for it financially and sometimes mentally!

I'm no expert on being a stay-at-home mom. If I could hand over any advice to young women that asked for it; I would say, follow your instincts, only you know what is best for you. Don't rush into marriage with the "Prince Charming" goggles on; if you think it's all going to be a nice run in the park, you're sadly mistaken. Take everyday as a new day, a new challenge, tackle it as best you can, you will reap the rewards in the end, it may not be right away but you will get that pat on the back when the time is right. I could be as simple as your child saying I love you.

When I think long and hard about what I know now as opposed to the past, my only regret is not saving enough money, I still, honestly, would not change anything else. I did find my "Prince Charming", (only he isn't as polite as Disney portrays him), I have my two beautiful, healthy girls, and I have my house in the suburbs, the picket fence just needs some mending; in time it will mend itself.

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