Starting to feel guilty for being a Sahm

[Nothingontvitscrap]

Worked all my life..part time at school, then college & uni, then full time after uni, until I had Dd later on (39-fertility problems)
When she came along, everything changed in me, I didn’t want to leave her and really went off my job and probably won’t go back to that particular field (teaching)
I was fortunate enough to stay at home (fortunate, depending on what you’d prefer to do, I get why many want to go back also)
We’ve done ok but haven’t had the nice holidays we had before or things for ourselves…it’s all gone on Dd, after mortgage, bills etc. I’m not too fussed about new clothes or things for me…I only really miss the travelling, but with a little one, would probably find that hard anyway.
Next year, Dd will be in school full time (she’ll be 5) and I know I’ll need to go back to work, I feel guilty though that Dh has been working and not having anything for himself..things he might want to buy for hobbies etc. It’s not been easy for me either as I do every single thing in the house and have found it challenging at points with Dd, but I’m ok with not having extra for myself.
I just feel guilty recently..aibu

Oh all normal I think. You have a baby and throw yourself into it for four/five years. Then they go to school and you slowly emerge from your baby fog. Things gradually get back to normal, emotionally and financially, and you look back and wonder what all that was about.

Don't feel guilty about not working, the baby and preschool years are short and precious and you gave it everything you had, but now you're shifting gear into a new phase and will start to find your new normal.

@Squashpocket What do you mean by looking back and wondering what all that was about?

Think you did just fine if I’m honest. Im sure your wee one thinks so too and that’s what really matters. As a kid I never really wanted my mum to take me travelling or to Disneyland or whatever, I’d just have been happy if she did normal things like go to the park with me or come to sports day or take us to the beach and things. My siblings say the same.

Nothing to feel guilt about. We have to do what suits our family at each stage of life. Before DS was at school we couldn’t afford for me to be a SAHM or DH to be a SAHD so we both worked 4 days so we at least got 3 days a week each with him.

a kid under 5 would be just as happy at the local park as they would be in disney. I took DS to Disney at 6, and honestly, glad we waited til then