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Indiana Babies
lemen99
member
Beth
lemen99
member
Why I was working part time:
-Primary reason: LOVe the people I work with, LOVe my boss, LOVe what I do, LOVe getting out of the house and feeling a sense of "purpose" (Dumb as I know taking care of a baby is purpose)
-Bonus reasons: Great money, my insurance is better, stay current in my field, stability (if Ryan were to lose his job)
-I knew Full time wasn't an option (I wanted to see Andrew more than that, and wanted a better sense of life/work/family balance)...but part time was so ideal
Downsides::: Andrew can't be in daycare....and even daycare p/t was going to be $850/mo. The nanny is even more than that. part time makes the least sense financially. I also have to pay a fee to maintain health benefits since I'm part time.
Why I am now SAH
Primary reasons:
1) We don't have a nanny for Andrew after Aug 13 and still advised he doesn't go in daycare. It's hard to find a nanny for the fall, and last school year our nanny didn't work out well. My mom doesn't want to do it. our current nanny is amazing but goes back to purdue in august.
2) We want to expand our family and given that I'll be very high risk, my MFM indicated not working would be better, esp b/c my group is relocating to the plant (lots more walking, more driving, and the oil and fumes). Also when I get pg I'll have a lot of doctors appts (if things go smoothly at LEAST every other week) and it's hard (really hard) for me to miss work that much given that I have very little extra vacation time.
3) When my group relocates to the plant, I'll be gone an extra 40 min (or longer in winter) a day and that translate to being gone more, and paying the nanny an extra $10+ per day plus gas money (the money I bring home is degrading quickly). Also this is further from my and andrew's doctors. now if I take him to the doctor I can just be a little late. At the plant I'll basically have to take the entire day off. I schedule them in the afternoon when I can but often I don't have control. We see a LOT of doctors right now so this is a factor.
4) Our family seems to be missing a bit of balance and I think this will help. For example I've only been able to use my vacation days during shutdown and to cover when the nanny is sick and take Andrew to the doctor (a lot)....that leaves like no flexibility.
5) Andrew is becoming much more social but with the nanny he doesn't get that. We consider a nanny-share, and that would be my 2nd option if I didn't SAH, but for other reasons above we opted for SAH. I can take him more places and to play dates etc and also be careful that he won't get sick esp this RSV season coming up.
6) If we have 2 anyways, I don't think I can afford to work part time and maintain childcare for 2 kids. if I wanted to work for nothing I could but given the other reasons I don't...
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Beth
That all makes sense to me - it sounds like you're making the best decision for your family.
I love SAH, and plan to do so until Scarlett is in school/preschool.
I will say one of my favorite things about it is our flexibility for vacations, visiting family and just whatever comes up. We only have to work around Jeff's work schedule and it's easy because his work has a flex time schedule (just have to get in your 40 hours per week for the month - doesn't matter when/how for the most part).
Thanks! I like the reassurance
That's our plan too. I do hope to go back in some regard once the kiddos are in school.
yep - that's what we need. Right now it's so hard for us to go anywhere with both schedules and me using all my time at shutdown (Ryan doesn't shutdown) and for doctors. We've had a lot of stress the last 1.5 years and I think it's really tough on Ryan especially, and I think this will help.
My family has a condo in FL and my grandparents are there all winter. I can go for free anytime (but can never go). I told Ryan I could take Andrew there for a week during the week this fall or something. That pretty much sealed the deal. Fun for me and Andrew, a break for him, lol
Just thinking of all the things we can do that we can't do now makes it exciting.
This is probably the only thing that makes me jealousEEE of SAHMs. I'd be living in heaven if we didn't have to work around two crazy schedules.
Flexibility is great esp since DH is a teacher. When I worked it was always impossible for vacations. The place I worked prior to being pregnant I was always told when I asked off for things that I was not a teacher and could simply not have that schedule.
I switched employers just as I found out I was pregnant, while it was more flexible there, I was working just as late as I was getting home from working in Broad Ripple. Since DH also coaches someone needed to be able to get L from daycare before they closed. Plus I would have pretty much been working to pay for daycare and formula. It was a hard decision to quit but I am glad to have this opportunity.
Kathy - we do that too - Jackson and I will go off and do something for a few days while Jeff stays home and goes to work. He doesn't mind because it still gives him a break, even if he doesn't get a "vacation."
My uncle owns a house in Hilton Head, which is about 6.5 hours from Knoxville and he has let me have it for free on short notice in off times - since its so close and we're so flexible, we're like the only ones who can do it.
It's really nice, and Jackson and I would go by ourselves if Jeff couldn't make it.
Anyway, flexibility is quite nice.
And while Jeff jokes about how he wishes I was working and making money, I think he realizes that since we can afford it comfortably, it makes both of our lives a lot easier if one of us is home. He really has very little working parent stress because I handle so much with day to day stuff (and it doesn't stress me because I have time - most of the time).
exactly!!!!!!!! That's a lot of my thinking.
I'll have to eat it up at first until I'm about 20w pregnant and will be afraid to travel. ha.