Trying to be a stay at home mom

Dara - posted on 09/07/2010

I started a day home so I could be at home with my kids. I am a teacher, and my job was consuming my life, so I put my career on hold. Looking after a bunch of kids as well as my own is definitely tough, but at least I'm at home, you know? It comes with its own difficulties, but it works for me. I will do it until my baby goes to school.

Betty - posted on 09/07/2010

I've been a nanny for the last 4 years and have worked for 4 different families(at one point 3 at once). None of these families were friends or even friends of friends, I just put myself out there on a few different websites like sittercity.com, gonannies.com, and care.com. Now that I have a stepdaughter I see the value of being able to stay home with my kids so I plan on switching from being a nanny to tending a few kids in my own home.
I know someone who's had a lot of success with e-bay too, she shops around for really good deals and then sells the stuff for a 100% profit. So if you like to shop...
Also, cooking with whole foods at home, growing your own garden, and learning how to salvage houshold items you would otherwise throw out.
Working moms spend so much money on childcare, transportation, and food. Then they come home wanting to spend time with their kids so nothing gets cleaned and dinner is take out. They have to hire someone to mow their lawn and vacume their floors because they don't have time to do it all. Maybe you should calculate how much money you are actually gaining by going to work and then decide what to do. Maybe if you were home it would be easy to change your lifestyle because you wouldn't need the same lifestyle anyway. Just some thoughts(:

Veronique - posted on 09/07/2010

I know how you feel! I work my entire 2 pregnancies and ever since i've been a little girl i wanted to be a stay at home mom but sadly i have a mortage to pay and bills and 1 salary for now is just not enough. So i made a compromise with my husband. I will work for the next 2 - 3 years which gives him plenty of time to finish renovations and then we will try for baby #3 then after my mat leave i will open my home daycare which my oldest will have started school so i will have my now 10 month old which she will be 2 or 3 + the new baby and the other kids i will babysitte. That's the only solution i found for now!
Good luck on your search :-)

Christine - posted on 09/07/2010

Jennifer... I would suggest working part-time so you don't miss out on so much and at the same time you get a little time away in the business world. I felt the same way after my 1st born was 5 months, I had to return to work and was worried about missing out on so much!
I had the luxury of keeping my job and only working 4 hours in the early evening hours. This enabled me to spend time with my daughter all day and when my ex would get off work, he took her, I would then go to work for 4 hours, then the rest of the evening were ours together. Although being a full time mom seems so appealing it's easy to lose touch with yourself and who you are. Remember, the grass is always greenier on the other side... so we believe. Try to do both but give more hours to your baby and only a few to the working world if you can. Good luck!!

Alisha - posted on 08/19/2010

You do what you can! Part-time jobs are nice too so that you aren't away 5 days a week. Or else become a nanny and bring your daughter with you.

Good Day! - posted on 08/19/2010

Realistically, how much of your budget can you trim? Can you downgrade phones, skip eating out, start to coupon to cut the grocery budget, buy second hand clothing, get rid of cable, etc? Maybe you already do those things, I don't know.



If you don't have a written budget, start with that. Then decide what things are not necessities and cut them.



If it is still not possible for you to get by without your income, consider an at home job. Could you keep another child in your home? Could you tutor elementary kids after school? Or, could you go to work after your partner comes home from work?



Also consider direct sales (Avon, Mary Kay, etc.) I do that, as do many other moms I know. It really helps, and you get to do it from home. There are a lot of reputable direct sales companies out there that sell anything from jewelry to handbags to dips to soaps. Find one that fits your interests. To help you get a start, look at the DSA, Direct Sellers Association. If the company is a member of the DSA, they are reputable and not a scam. Good luck!

Megan - posted on 08/19/2010

I am a stay-at-home mom and I love it. I am glad my fiancee makes enough money that we live very comfortably and have saved (and continue to save) for a house.
I am going to be babysitting for a friend and really the money I will make is just for me for a bit of spending or saving money. Whatever I want to do with it.
If you did have lots of connections and friends there it would be wonderful to pick up say Avon or Discovery Toys.
I know how hard it is to not only make friends but keep them as well.
Can you bake? If so try making cakes for people to bring in some cash.
In a couple of year I am going to take a baking course and make cakes and such on the side. I am also thinking of doing a realtor course once my daughter starts school.

Megan - posted on 08/19/2010

Im a stay at home mom and being home all they time can be very brutal. Part time jobs have always been a plus you get work time so you can be somewhere other then home and it helps a baby not get clingy to the point they refuse to be put down. But everyone is different.

Heather - posted on 08/11/2010

I love what I do from home! I help other "Go Green and Eco-Friendly" and bring in residual income for doing something once. It doesn't get better than that! I work from home and help the environment, help improve other people's lives and make the world a safer place one person at a time. If you'd like to do the same, contact me and I can show you a webcast online or meet you in-person if you live in the Los Angeles/Orange County/Riverside, CA area.

Kelly - posted on 02/15/2010

Just put the emphasis on QUALITY time vs. quantity. I stay home with my sons, and I haven't worked in almost 4 years, but it's a sacrafice. I think that the grass is always greener; sometimes I wish I had an outside job. Anyway, if you truly want to stay home I'd look into how much income you'd like to bring in to make your life as comfortable as you'd need it to be to be happy. I know friends who have put their "careers" aside and just work part time (at local stores or no-stress) jobs to bring in a little income while they primarily stay home. There are a lot of options out there. You need to do what feels best for you. She is growing fast, but you are there for her. I can tell. It's all about balance. I hope you find something that works for you.

Jennifer - posted on 02/15/2010

I would definitely love to stay at home and take care of other kids but I'm new to the area and I have no connections.. I wouldn't know where to start.

Christina - posted on 02/15/2010

Hi Jennifer,



I felt the same way when my kids were babies. They are now 6 & 8. I went back to worka ns just recently started looking for options to stay at home. I was contacted by a group of ladies after posting a similar post in January. I now have the potential to earn enough money to quit my job in the next couple months. If you get started now, you might be able to stay home! I would love to share more if you are interested. Send me a message or email (christinasueno@gmail.com).



Dont wait because you'll look back and wonder why you didnt do more to stay home. Trust me.



I hope everything works out for you!

Jessica - posted on 02/14/2010

I am home with my son now but its not going to last forever either although I wish I could stay with him forever. I plan on going back to work when my son turns one.
One thing I was thinking about though was maybe staying home and possibly baby sitting for other moms to make income. I dunno just an idea...hope it helps.

Billie - posted on 02/14/2010

Is there anyway of getting a stay at home job? So you are with you baby, I stayed at home for the 1st year of my daughter, I took extended leave and got a benefit. Problem is, work decided they would fire me in the mean time while on leave so they could put my replacement on a full time contract. But thats ok, I moved on to own my own business which my daughter came to work with me everyday and then I brought another one. I have now sold my business and moved, but where I work they are flexible with having my daughter at work when I need too. But she was enrolled in daycare and now school. You need to have the bonding time with your baby, but if it happens to have to be after work and weekends so be it, make the most out of the situation you are given.