If you weren't a SAHM...

mandymack · February 2009

... what would you be?

What was your life like before becoming a SAHM? Did you work? Were you in school? Were you between jobs or changing careers?

Alexandra*sMom · February 2009

I worked until Alexandra was 18 mo. I quit because she was so sick in daycare. I was a probation officer and loved it.

userdeleted · February 2009

Before I was a SAHM I was a student, then I worked as an administrative assistant for about 6 months before I got pregnant and became SAHW about halfway through the pregnancy.

If I wasn't a SAHM that would mean we didn't have any kids yet. I would have probably gone to get a Masters in Library Science and become a librarian, hopefully at a university somewhere. I think I'm much happier in this life though

EnglishMajor03 · February 2009

Ahhh...the life that was huh? So much less complicated! In my previous life I was working for a bank in their Public Affairs office and rising the ranks fast. I've realized over the last 19 mo. that I am just not a great SAHM, though I do it because DD can't go to daycare (medical situation). I do think it's best for her, and most kids, but miss daily my old job.

gatogrrl · February 2009

For ten years, I was a writer and graphic designer for several large nonprofits. I didn't want to move into management, though, and never had completed my bachelor's degree. So I went back to school and worked as an assistant while finishing that. Then I kept on going to get my master's degree, and that's when DD was conceived. I am three classes shy of being done. Then I'll just keep writing my stories and hope it leads somewhere down the road...

Andrea11 · February 2009

Before DS was born, I was an elementary teacher. I had to resign about a month before he was born, and I knew I wasn't going back. DH says that I have to go back for the 2010-2011 school year, but we'll see Wink

mandymack · February 2009

I was a "Big 4" Auditor and then, an Executive-level Senior Accountant for a Private Equity Firm for the three years I was out of college and absolutely HATED it!!! I thrived, was promoted and the work came fairly easy to me but I just didn't love it and had often thought about changing jobs within my Accounting career when I found out I was pregnant.

It was so easy to quit, especially since DH's salary was nearly triple mine (he's in Film) and I honestly can't imagine going back to work!

June_Bug08 · February 2009

Ah...those "old days." Getting dressed in a suit and heels, stopping at starbucks on the way to work and sitting there wishing I was somewhere else then going home and doing it over and over and over again...

I worked in the U.S. Intelligence field

JDCSKF · February 2009

I was a police dispatcher = Shift work, mandated overtime (with short notice), had to work holidays, Non flexible schedule. It was a love hate relationship. I loved the work that I did, but hated the the hours. If I didn't have DD, I would still be doing it.

littlemermaid · February 2009

Before I was a sahm I was climbing the "corporate ladder" working for one of the Big 3 car companies. The days of wearing pant suits, business suits, high heels, and pantyhose are long gone. I've been a sahm for 8 years so it seems like forever that I worked outside of the home.

ali-1411 · February 2009

When I got pregnant with Jakob I was in my freshman year of college and working for my uncle cutting lawns. I also worked in the school bookstore, cleaned houses, secret shopper for banks, changed those signs on top of the gas pumps...You name it, I probably did it at some point!

I graduated with my degree in Finance right before Jakob's 3rd b-day. I've had 3 different jobs since...was laid off from the first, quit the second to move cross-country, and I just quit the third in Dec to SAH. I was doing internal finance / accounting work.

I'd love to go back to school and get a MBA in IT. I love working with different software systems and figuring out how to do stuff. If we could just figure out how to pay for it...

drunkenwife · February 2009

If I wasn't a SAHM I'd be a SAHW/Student. Of course, if I didn't have a kid I'd be graduating a LOT sooner and would probably already be looking for a job.

Stacyc625 · February 2009

I was finishing law school, studying for my CPA exams, studying for the Bar, and working full time in the wonderful world of corporate America as an International tax analyst and traveling a lot with work.

i am still studying for my last CPA exam at home with DD. I work from home now (still doing what i was doing before).

HarrietNJMommy · February 2009

I'd still be doing Construction Management. I did it for 10 years pre-kids. Very male dominated field, but I was great at it. I have a Civil Engineering degree.

Chrisy-Wyobride · February 2009

I am sure I'd be a practicing Architect, probably an Associate at a mid-sized firm & doing design mostly. Basically what my DH is doing because we were pretty much on par when I quit. I probably would hate most days like I did back then & be even fatter because eating out (which I did for breakfast & dinner) was the only thing that I looked forward to during those work days. I would probably also be renovating/remodeling our home or a house to flip at night/weekends.

brightning · February 2009

I have a master's in journalism and used to be a newspaper editor. But for the last 2 years I worked, I was a 6th grade teacher. If/when I ever return to work, I'll go back to teaching.

BlessedMommy723 · February 2009

I just graduated with my BA in Middle Childhood Education when I found out I was pregnant with DD. I got a job in a daycare until I had DD... but if I wasn't a SAHM I would like to work in a tutoring center or as teacher. I would LOVE to be a librarian in a middle school though...

Ciarrai · February 2009

Well, I'm not exactly a SAHM. I'm a WAHM. I'm a wedding photographer and photographer with my own business. Still, if I weren't a WAHM, I would still be an engineer/rocket scientist. I used to love it (most days) and still miss it. The hours were too much for me with the girls, though. These days, my hours are after they go to bed at night and two or three mornings a week when they're at the sitter/MDO for 5-6 hours. It's not ideal but better than the 11+ hours they'd be in daycare if I weren't home...

kat523 · February 2009

I was an event planner and coordinator for a major pharmaceutical company in my former life:) I worked with a great group of people but the work wasn't as fun as I would have liked. the FDA put a damper on creativity;) I got Pre-E and HELLP when I was 34 weeks and that was the end of that:)

stcroixbride · February 2009

this is such a sore spot for me, because had things gone the way they were SUPPOSED TO (and had been promised to me as I was walking out the door for my maternity leave), I would still be working full time. I actually worked full time for 2 years, desperately trying to get my career back that was taken away from me through no fault of my own while I was on maternity leave ;P I worked for a non-profit, they ran into money trouble, cut my position but moved me to another department, then when the job I was supposed to have been training for when I returned came up, they wanted someone with "experience" and hired someone from outside rather than train the person who had put in 3 years for them. Yeah, I was DONE after that...since THEY took away my shot at a year of experience ;P rat ba$tards

We hadn't planned for me to leave my job, so I had to stick it out for a while while we got things in order financially. I did look elsewhere for FT work, but a new job in my field that would allow for the flexibility I needed just wasn't in the cards. So, I now work PT for my friend's company (super flexible), which is probably the best balance for me since my DH works, travels AND is a PT student. He just started a job that would allow for me to be home FT (although on a VERY tight budget), and I decided to keep working - it keeps me slightly sane.

Anyway, had my life gone as planned, I would have been an education policy analyst...with maybe some lobbying work on capitol hill thrown in, too.

ONE of these days I will be at peace with all of this...haven't gotten there yet. I'm still pretty hostile about it.

Expecting0207 · February 2009

Right after college I was a programmer for a year and that wasn't for me but I found my niche as a Software Quality Assurance Analyst - testing new software and trying to break it and find bugs before the clients did. It was great for several years - I was able to work from home a few days a week, had flex hours, wore jeans to work, and was sent to conferences in Hawaii and in Orlando - we even had a private night where the conference had private access to Animal Kingdom with food and drink flowing freely! Then the economy tanked and I was laid off two weeks post partum with DD2. I'm much happier now, though this is not what I planned.

DH works in a hospital and ultimately when the kids are in school I'd like to volunteer there. We took our Golden Retriever to obedience classes and ideally I'd love for her to be certified as a therapy dog and take her where DH works. I know that sounds cheesy but that is my ideal.

citygirl_ · February 2009

I was the personal assistant to a chef. It was very exciting in that I got to meet so many cool people, do something different everyday, etc, but it got too demanding as his fame grew! My priortities were with my pregnancy and family and he didn't get that. Oh well, it was a great experience. Once, M. Night Shyamalan even sent me a big box of amazing candles for helping him plan a party at one of my old boss's restaurants!

ncsubride · February 2009

I worked at a private preschool at a teacher until I was pregnant and then I became an adminstrator and loved every minute of it. If I weren't a SAHM I would def. go back to work there.

My dream job though is to open a children's book store.

Kerri

Mominator · February 2009

I worked in corporate finance for a Fortune 1000 company and was in the process of getting my insurance license.

littlelamb99 · February 2009

I was a pharmaceutical rep. So glad that's over.

I just started a WAHM job as a representative for Wildtree. I love their food and the opportunity to still stay at home and get out a few nights a month are sooo exciting for me. The food is all natural so it coincides with my past job---educating others about staying healthy.

m.allen · February 2009

Before I found out we were pregnant, I worked in hospital pharmacy. ?Right after our bfp, dh got a job offer so we moved in order for him to take the job and I took a job that allows me to work from home. ?I would love, in the future when we're done having kids and they are all in school, to return to hospital pharmacy. ??

kellnbri · February 2009

I taught kindergarten for 6 years before becoming a SAHM. It wasn't until after DD was born that I was able to stay home. Its a good thing because I was getting run down and was in need of a change. When I go back to work (hopefully not until the kids are in school) I will go back to teaching. It is the only thing I have ever done. I would like to try maybe second grade though.

axh2277 · February 2009

I was a trademark paralegal for a quick service restaurant. It had always been my dream job to be in-house and I loved it until I had DS and then everything changed once he was diagnosed with failure to thrive because of his GI problems.

Notwifezilla7 · February 2009

I was a first grade teacher. I still actually have a my tenure and have not officially resigned as of yet. I plan to take one more year of leave and hopefully resign after that year. Just want to make sure I have a job in the event DH looses his.

I also finished my Masters in Education seven weeks post-partum. I am looking into doctoral programs in education and hope to enroll either in the fall or spring of next year. My long term goal is to SAH while taking a class or two a semester. Hopefully when it's time for the dissertion & research, all of DC will be in school. I would love to work as a professor someday. That's the longterm goal.

KL777 · February 2009

I would be an Academic Advisor (my prior position). Yes, I worked. I would also be pulling my hair out trying to juggle being a wife, mother, time to myself, AND pull down a 40 hour work week outside the house. Whew! That would be alot!

vivjek · February 2009

...I would probably still be living in the Netherlands, and having to work for financial reasons.

When we moved to Australia for DH's job, I had just finished my first year-based contract with my former university, teaching undergraduate classes in the English department (I have a graduate degree in Literary Studies). They offered me another year-based contract for the 2008-2009 academic year, but I declined, since we were moving. It was my first job out of college.

I was initially planning on getting a job in Australia, but when I found out I was pregnant 2 weeks after moving here, we decided to let that go. I now plan on being a SAHM (and am currently a SAHW) at least until our time in Australia is up (August 2012).

So Long Astoria · February 2009

Before I had Betty I worked in Insurance. I was "let go" in April of last year (thank GOODNESS...I hated it) and decided to start my own business so I could stay home. That took off, so I do that now...and get the extra bonus of being able to stay home with my daughter and work at night.

Brongemonger · February 2009

I would love to be a baker in a bakery.

Before I was a SAHM, I worked for 2 years for a pharmaceutical company. However, I didn't enjoy it at all, so I don't miss it! I went on maternity leave, intending to come back, and that just never happened!

jenn7200 · February 2009

Well, I have never had a full-time job. I was always in school and had a part-time job. I was a teacher's aide and quit that when my grandpa was dying to help out my grandma care for him. Then I started substitute teaching but didn't work full-time either. I'd work a couple days a week and hang out with my grandma on the others to keep her company. I quit working when I became pregnant with my son and have been home ever since!

MrsAJL · February 2009

I recently (as in my last day will be this Friday) accepted a voluntary seperation package from my company. I worked in MarCom and was a corporate event planner. I've been in fundraising and event management for over 10 years, so I'd still be doing something to that effect if I hadn't had DS.

While being a SAHM and caring for DS is my first priority, I also free lance doing event design and management.

cp760 · February 2009

Before I had kids I was a full time Graphic Designer. I LOVED it!!! I did it for 10 years. After my first son was born I cut back to part time. Then by the time my 3rd son came I ended up leaving all together.

J+O · February 2009

I was a flight attendant. ?Very different and always on the go... I miss it, but it was meant to be. ?As soon as I found out I was pregnant I put in my two weeks, a month or two later the same airline I worked for- went under. Things happen for a reason.

I believe this was all part of my plan! ?I do miss the clouds... and I miss flying to Cali and opening the plane doors and it just smells like summer... or flying to New Orleans and when we open the doors I can smell the ocean, or being snowed in at Boston, I loved Boston in the fall though. ?It was good for me though, I think it prepared me for now... I got to see America and have my time away to explore.

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