back to work or stay home?

Caitriona - posted on 08/01/2011

Hey Nicole, It's a tough dilemma, but although there are many similarities with other Moms/families, bottom line is you and only you can make the right choice. What's right for you,may be totallywrong for another Mom. My best advice would be-take some time away to yourself and really think about what you would love, in a perfect world. Leave aside the constraints (financial,how to etc) and answer that question. Then once you know that, you need to figure out a plan to make it happen. It's amazing once you get clear on what you really want, all these opportunities pop up to help you on your way. Have no regrets. Make the decision now you are happy to live with. There are tonnes of ways you can make money from homeand be there for your kids. Best of luck, Caitriona

Sapphire - posted on 06/22/2009

I am a teacher, and returned to work when my son was 6 mnoths old. My neighbor was a teacher, who became a SAHM watched my son until he was 16 months old. Then she moved :-( He began a daycare facility at 18 months, but then I dropped down to a part-time teaching status 3 days a week. I will be returning Full time teaching in August, but my son will be 4 1/2. I just enrolled him in a private pre-school/early Kindergarten.

Pamela - posted on 06/22/2009

I was working fulltime while I was pregnant with my son , I was on maternity for 1 year , and the day before I was suppose to go back to work , I quit my job to stay home with my baby ,, I dont trust any daycare for some reason , and I barley let anyone watch him , I am a stay at home mom and i LOVE IT !

Wanda - posted on 06/22/2009

I had intended to go back to work after my son was born but that changed when he was born prematurely. After he came home from hospital, I didn't trust anyone to look after him. I got over that but still didn't put him in day care becasue my pay would have gone to cover the cost. After my mat leave was over, I gave up my full-time office job for a part-time cashier job. I work evenings and hubby watches him while I'm at work. We have had to make sacrifices and money has been tight some months but I wouldn't do it differently. I love being here for my son and he enjoys the time he spends with Daddy. Once my son is in school full time , then we may have to re-evaluate the situation but I have a few years before that happens.

Barb - posted on 06/22/2009

I was working full time when I had my first baby and had intended on going back to that job, but.... once I was with him, my husband and I decided that I could find something part time. So I found a part time customer service position that worked well with my schedule and had a girl friend who did in home day care, so knew I had good care for him when I wasn't with him. Then I had boy #2 and still stayed part time, but my husband wanted me to work a little less and thought we could afford for me to stay home. I have been a stay at home mom since November and am mostly loving it. I am such a social butterfly, that I miss some of the adult interaction that I got from my work, but I am loving all the time I get with my boys. I may pick up a little part time evening job sometime, just for fun. We'll see. If you can stay home, I would. You can never get this time back in the future.

Faunda - posted on 06/21/2009

I to worked at a day care center and had 3 kids while working there. My husband got a new job after baby 3 and I qit working because it was not going to be worth paying for daycare. I started my own home daycare business and did very well. I was able to stay home and still make a little supplimental income. My youngest is now starting K in the fall so I have returned to the daycare as a substitute so I can still spend time with my kids and make it to all their extra curricular activities without having to take time off. I am just not available for those days so I will not miss anything they are involved in. I love it!! I do have a teenager that is now old enough to watch his brothers so I am not paying daycare other than a little to him for giving up his time. I do have my AAS in Child Development at a local community college that I received after baby 1. That helped with my home daycare as far as my rates and if you do want to do daycare in your home I would highly recommend you have a parental contract. Good Luck!!

Karen - posted on 06/21/2009

I went back to work part time in the evenings so my husband watches them. I did that after all three of my children were born. I'm a hairdresser and love what I do,so for me its not so much about the money but more to just dabble in my craft and have some "adult" time. If financially you can stay home...DO IT! The kids need you rather then a stranger raising them. Not to mention I can say I've seen my childrens 1st steps and all the other milestones they've hit. There only little ONCE. There will be plenty of opprotunity to make money when the children are in school or even later then that! You don't get these years back,stay home and just enjoy the journey of motherhood..its such a blessing!

Karman - posted on 06/21/2009

Hi Nicole,

When I had my first daughter 5 years ago, I knew I wanted to stay home. I knew that I wanted to be there to see all of her firsts...that baby time goes by so quickly! If I had kept working, I would have paid over 1/2 of my paychecks to cover daycare - I didn't want to work just to pay for childcare.

Anyway - 5 years later....I have 2 girls and have always been thankful that I have stayed home with them!

For the past 4 years, I have made some extra money to pay for those extra expenses that come up with children...have you ever thought about doing something like that, so you can continue to stay home? I sell awesome children's books! If you want more info on that, let me know!

www.readtoachildtoday.com

karman4usborne@yahoo.com



Enjoy this time with your family!

Karman Brinkman

Tammy - posted on 06/20/2009

Staying at home. I have never worked since I got pregnant with baby #1. I wanted to be with my babies. I would rather live in a cardboard box on the side of the road than to let someone else take care of my babies! (And, trust me, there were times when it looked like that might happen). We have had to do without a lot of things and we live VERY, EXTREMELY modestly, but it is so worth it and I have never regretted it.

Teresa - posted on 06/20/2009

I am staying home. It bothers me sometimes. I am new to Georgia so I do not know many people. I pretty much stay home all day. I do like being a stay at home mom. I am happy with our decision because I get to spend a lot of time with my daughter. I am heading back to school in the fall.

Torey - posted on 06/20/2009

Hello Nicole,



I am a mom of 3 wonderful kids. After my first child I went back to work because we could not afford me to stay at home even though I would have loved to stay at home. After my other 2 I stayed at home 1st reason because they were a set of twins and 2nd because I would have been also working to pay for daycare. At first when I started my stay at home days my husband also made enough money to support us just fine. Then things started to get a little tight so I started to babysit in my home which bought in alittle bit of money to help out a little. Then the bad news came and my husband became laid off from his job. That was when I became worried. At that time I decided that I needed to look for something to be able to do from home that can bring in more income then what I was bring in. My prayers were answer when I came across a website that introduced me to a wonderful group of moms that work from home. Internect CEO Moms has helped me out some much by giving me a great job that I can work from home. It has helped me turn my home into a cleaner and safer home for my family and myself. Some great points is that I get to set my own hours because it is worked around my family time so I don't have to miss anything with my kids or husband. It is guaranteed by 100%. And there is No Inventory or No Parties that I have to worry about. If by any chance you would like to consider to do some kind of job from home just to help out alittle bit just think of me. I would love to give you more information about the company. Hope to talk to you.



Torey

Helping Moms Work from Home

www.moms4healthyfamilys.com

Jaime - posted on 06/20/2009

With my first daughter I was on maternity leave for 8 months, then went back to finish my nursing degree, after I graduated I worked part time. With my 2nd I was on maternity leave for 6 months, then went back to work as I was pregnant with my 3rd (she is our fantastic surprise) so I worked enough to get another maternity leave. Afte rmy last year long mat leave finished I decided to be a stay at home mom (kind of, my husband owns his own business so I did all the paperwork) I did send the kids to daycare so I could get the paperwork done but that was only 2 days a week. I was at home for 2.5years (this was including my mat leave time) when I decided for myself I needed to get back into the work force just part time. I love being able to go to work, and know I am helping someone else out that is medically sick plus bringing home a pay cheque is good (we are very fortunate that I do not need to work either) but I enjoy every part of my job. I make sure all my kids needs are taken care of first and if they have special events (even dance class) I make sure I am off that day.

Renee - posted on 06/20/2009

I went back to work after my first two children (finances would not allow otherwise). I worked part-time at night so my husband was taking care of the kids after he got home from work. It was very stressful, but we have NEVER had to pay a babysitter. I just had my third baby 7 months ago, and I still have not gone back to work. It has been wonderful, and this baby is so much happier than my first two were (I think because I am not stressed). I will have to go back cuz I'm broke... but I'm putting it off as long as possible.