I love and appreciate all the diversity on this board and it seems we have new participants nearly every day asking similar questions about SAH so, I thought I'd do a poll about how we all got here.
Pick the one that BEST desribes you or pick "other" and reply to explain if you want to.
Re: (Clicky) POLL: How did you come to SAH?
J2 11.17.08
I call myself a SAHM even though I work part time(mostly evenings). I only work about 15 hrs a week. I work at Old Navy which is great b/c I get clothing discounts and it is where I was full time before DD. They have been really great to me and who doesn't love an employee discount?!
It was our plan that I would stay home after DD b/c daycare and gas for commuting(about 45 min each way) would have eaten up a good part of my salary. My job wasn't 8a-5p either I would close the store a couple times a week and that wouldn't work with hubby's job and daycare hours. I only commute about 15min to the Old Navy I work at now. The downfall about leaving my full time job was dropping great health care. My hubby is a sub contractor so we had to get independent health care.
I am a SAHM because I could not find a job when we moved here. We are military and the base DH was sent to is in an area that has very poor employment opportunities.
I love my little one and am glad that I am home with her though.
I didn't plan on it. I had my DD and planned to go back to work when she was 7mo. I had the daycare and everything. Then, I got pregnant again and sick again and that stopped that plan.
Then, I crunched some numbers and discovered that between daycare and commuting costs, plus bumping us into a new tax bracket and losing a variety of credits and deductions, it wouldn't be worth my time - and I was an attorney making decent money.
I started to focus more on my real estate career, which required less daycare and less commuting. Got pregnant with #3, on the pill.
So, now, I'm home, on "bedrest" (ya...with 2 kids). I'm referral only, so I'm not really working, but if I get a lead, I get 25% of the commission.
I plan to do back to real estate next spring. I do want to work. But, with the cost of daycare and commuting and taxes, the money I'd take home wouldn't off-set the stress of it all, so my going back to life as a lawyer isn't likely to happen.
I am a SAHM because I got laid-off.
I like the time with DS but am starting to get very stressed out about the finances. 4 months and counting and the job hunt is getting worse instead of better.