What’s in an acronym?
As a network engineer, I’m very familiar with acronyms related to the computer industry. These abbreviated word shortcuts make it faster for me to communicate with my colleagues. For example, instead of asking “What is the Transmission Control Protocol Internet Protocol address of the computer?”, we can say “What is the TCP/IP address?”, you get the picture.
Unfortunately, acronyms have become such a part of my everyday language that I use them when talking to my husband, who is not in the information technology (IT) field. Frank calls this techno-babble. “You’re slipping into techno-babble mode again” he reminds me frequently. That’s my verbal queue to define the acronym I’ve used. In fact, I think he coined the phrase techno-babble, and I’d like to give Frank full credit for that 
In case you’re interested in learning more networking acronyms, check out Home of the Network Acronyms. Thanks to Jan Elders for this extensive list!
Ok…so what does this have to do with my coming home mission? When I started researching “how to become a stay home mom”, I found many acronyms in the parenting category. Here are a few:
AP – Attachment Parenting
BF – Breastfeed
NAK – Nursing At Keyboard –>Have done this a few times
SAHM – Stay At Home Mom
SAHD – Stay At Home Dad
SAHP – Stay At Home Parent
WAHM – Work At Home Mom
WAHD – Work At Home Dad
WAHP – Work At Home Parent
WOHM – Work Outside the Home Mom
The first time I encountered SAHM, I quickly figured out it meant Stay At Home Mom. I must have been tired the day I came across a message board referring to WAHM, because I had to conduct a search at Acronym Finder.
Check out the first definition:
WAHM – Why does this Always Happen to Me
Ha! Will this become a self-fulfilling prophecy once I’ve become a SAHM or WAHM? I don’t think so. I am so fired up about coming home that I plan on changing that definition to a more positive one:
WAHM – Winning At Home Mom
I love it!
