if you had a choice....

raciunasejl

Good morning ladies. I currently work technically part time but full time hours, therefore I don't get any benefits. However I am next up for a promotion right before my LO is due. So my question to everyone is would you stick with it and go for the promotion to have something to come back to, or would you just become a SAHM. I am having a hard time deciding for myself as this is something I have been working towards for so long, yet I feel that I would love to stay home too. I'm caught. My SO is behind me whatever I chose but I am wondering what you ladies think. Thanks in advance!

jlaOK

I would go for the position and at least try it out and see how it works for you and your family.  If you don't like it, you can always quit and become a SAHM.

salt78

If it were me, I'd go for the promotion. I could never in a million years be a SAHM. Ditto PPs that if you don't like it, quit and SAH.

CrazyToast

promotion - because I love working, and am bad at SAH.

Zimger

I would go for the promotion but I am the breadwinner in my family. I am also still paying off school loans. So it makes sense for me to go for the promotion. I think you need to consider the pros and cons in regards to your personal situation and then proceed from there.

ASmallWonder

jlaOK:

I would go for the position and at least try it out and see how it works for you and your family.  If you don't like it, you can always quit and become a SAHM.

Ditto this.  SAH isn't for me so I know I'd take the promotion but even some people who think they want to SAH realize it's not a good fit.  I'd take the promotion and see how you adjust to life as a new family and if you feel being at home is what you want to do, you can do that then. 

katieh1017

If you like the job and want to work then go for the promotion. If you want to SAH then SAH. I like my job and working, besides that I need to in order to maintain our lifestyle. It's a personal decision... I didn't want to SAH.

brewcitybride

You will get answers both ways, and obviously only YOU can decide. But I would take the promotion. I've been a stay at home mom, and it wasn't for me. I am much happier emotionally working and am a better mom for it.

everam01

This is a very personal choice, of course. I had the choice to SAH or continue working, and decided to continue working. There are tons of factors to weigh, so maybe make a list of pros and cons. 

KL777

I would SAH.  It won't hurt to take a couple-few years off.

1026pumpkin

I'd go for the promotion- you really have nothing to lose.  If you decide you don't like it or would rather SAHM, it's very easy to quit.  If you start off SAHM and you don't like it, it could take awhile to work back up to where you were.

Breezy8407

I would try for it. Like others said, if you decide you want to stay home, you can always quit later on.

laurakaz13

I would go hard for the promotion.  Of course, I could NEVER be a SAHM so that would never be an option for me. 

This is obviously your choice, but it doesn't hurt to try to get it. You can always leave it it's not something you really want.

MammaBear81

I want to SAH (not financially possible right now), but my advice would be to take the promotion. Some people really want to SAH, before baby, but find it's not a good fit for them after baby comes.  This way at least you have something to come back to, and you have your ML to figure out if you want to SAH or not.

kcisthebombdotcom

I was faced with a somewhat similar dilemma--I had a part time job that needed to turn full time because of business demands. I made the decision to SAH. I figured that there are plenty of jobs in my field (HR) that if I didn't love it, I could always find a different job. I was definitely a little skeptical of making that choice because I hated my maternity leave--I was always itching to get back to work by the end of leave. I've really found myself enjoying staying at home even more than I thought I would. I keep a really busy schedule of playgroups and activities with the kids so I'm not sitting around twiddling my thumbs all the time. We joined the Y and I take fitness classes 3xs a week by myself while the kids go in childcare so I feel like I get more "me" time. My stress level is so much lower--if one of the kids gets sick I don't have to worry about missing time from work/DH missing time or sending my sick kids to my mom's house. If I decide I don't feel like getting out of pajamas one day, we don't have to. The freedom is awesome. I recently started freelancing for DH's company when they have a project for some extra money/keep my resume active/give me a challenge on occasion and I really like that--I would recommend doing something like that if you work in a field where freelancing is a possibility. The agreement was that when my youngest started first grade I'd go back to work full time and I'm already dreading that day--not going to lie.

With that being said, I think the PPs had a great point that you could always give it three months then resign if you feel like you'd rather be at home.

Margaret Lemon

elmoali:

jlaOK:

I would go for the position and at least try it out and see how it works for you and your family.  If you don't like it, you can always quit and become a SAHM.

Ditto this.  SAH isn't for me so I know I'd take the promotion but even some people who think they want to SAH realize it's not a good fit.  I'd take the promotion and see how you adjust to life as a new family and if you feel being at home is what you want to do, you can do that then. 

All this....I was sure I would want to be a SAHM. I had a 6 month maternity leaveand loved it, but thanks to advice on this board, went back to work just to see. Turns out, I don't think I am the SAH type after all.  Taking the promotion gives you the most choices. 

GlinkaGirl

If I had a choice I would SAH. I agree with previous posters though that it's easier to go for the position and if you don't like it resign to SAH.

flyingsaucer

I would SAH if I could, but I agree that you don't really know until you try.  Take the job and if at the end of your maternity leave you decide to stay home, you can

AnabelsMama

GlinkaGirl:

If I had a choice I would SAH. I agree with previous posters though that it's easier to go for the position and if you don't like it resign to SAH.

This.

rubber_chicken

This is off topic but I'm really confused about how you could be working full time hours but still be considered part time.  Sounds shady (on your company's part, not yours)

iverske9

I would go for the promotion, and not make any rash decisions until after you have the child. Most women do not know how they will react until they have a child. Some women think they want to work and then have a hard time going back, some (like me) went stir crazy and loved going back. You are a first time momma so until you have LO you really will not know.