I write this from the perspective of an honors and activities galore, working college graduate, who has turned into a snot covered — my hair hasn’t seen a brush in days — lives off chicken nuggets and mac ‘n cheese stay-at-home-mom.

What a life change, let me tell ya. Man, oh man, did I struggle with it.

Even though I don’t get up every day and leave the house to interact with other professional working adults, exercise my brain, or even put on pants that aren’t leggings and/or pajamas most days, it does not mean I’m withering away. It sure doesn’t mean I am wasting the years I spent working my tail off in college. Think of it more as a willingly done, semi-permanent career change with no apparent end in sight.

My brain may be toddler mush currently, my heart may now skip a beat with excitement at every tractor/bus/semi I see (boy moms unite!), but that doesn’t undermine the years I spent learning. Education is empowering. Education is life changing! Even though I don’t currently work a 9 to 5, it doesn’t mean I’m wasting my degree. College taught me how to converse properly with those I don’t necessarily agree with (e.g., toddlers and sometimes my husband – sorry, honey), how to be open to communicate, analyze, persevere (potty training, sleep training, all the trainings), and most importantly how to work hard for something I believe in.

I may not have my hard-earned degree hanging behind a desk, but that doesn’t mean that I’m wasting it. I didn’t waste those years learning. I didn’t waste anything.

I never wanted to stay home, but here I am.