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Working Moms
Poll---Getting to know you
What do you do for work?
What hours do you work?
Where is your LO while you're working?
Biggest challenge about going back to work:
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice?
I'm just curious what everybody's story is! :-)
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Poll---Getting to know you
What do you do for work? I WAH as a customer service rep for an internet based company
What hours do you work? 9-5:30
Where is your LO while you're working? He is at my house with his nanny or sometimes at her house
Biggest challenge about going back to work: I just returned to work, but so far it is hearing DS cry and having to let the nanny take care of it. I also find it hard handling household responsibilities, DS, and working.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? If I had my choice, I would stay home. However, now that I'm back I see why people like it. It is nice to have a break! Funnny how work seems like a break sometimes.
What do you do for work? Program manager for a large software company.
What hours do you work? Whenever I drop DD off till whenever she gets home. I WAH and I have flexible hours. It's usually about 9:30-5:30, and then I'll log on and catch up at night when she's in bed if I need to.
Where is your LO while you're working? 4-11 months: nanny share. 12-23 months: SAHM who watched her (no other babies) out of her home. Now: She just started preschool this week!
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Initially, pumping! I never had the greatest supply and it was a constant struggle to keep up with DD. Now... hmmm. It's really pretty easy. The biggest "challenges," if you can even call them that, are really things that are common to all moms (not just working moms), like making sure DH pulls his weight and finding "me" time.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? Right now, yes, I do have to work. But that's because we made (and continue to make) choices based on having two incomes. Does that make sense? For example, we moved a year ago, and could've easily bought a smaller house in a different area with a mortgage payment that we could do with one income, but we chose the house that we did because we knew we'd have two incomes.
We know we'll have two incomes because I have no desire to SAH. I love what I do, I'm a great role model for my daughter, my job is secure, my company offers great benefits, my team is family friendly, my working hours are flexible, I make a great income that is allowing us to give DD many wonderful experiences and save for her college and ensure that we won't be a burden on her when we get older. Why on earth would I SAH?
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
What do you do for work?
I work for a small investment management firm
What hours do you work?
8:30 to 5
Where is your LO while you're working?
They go to a preschool near our house that offers before/after care
Biggest challenge about going back to work:
Working on little sleep. I need sleep to be able to think at work.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice?
Didn't really have a choice. I have SLs from law school. But, I also didn't put in all of the time and effort to SAH either.
What do you do for work?
I work for an environmental consulting/IT co
What hours do you work?
8:30 - 5
Where is your LO while you're working?
DD at daycare, right now DS is with my mom, starts daycare next week once Grandma leaves
DH had been home with him for a month. Daycare didn't have a spot when I first came back.
Biggest challenge about going back to work:
Lack of sleep
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice?
My DH is in grad school, and the mortgage needs to be paid ;-) No, really I actually love my job and want to work.
What do you do for work?: I am currently active duty air force. Airspace manager
What hours do you work?: Generally 7:30am-4:30pm Of course subject to change depending on the flying schedule
Where is your LO while you're working?: Daycare center on base, jsut down the street
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Nothing reallly...everything runs smoothly. But EBF when DD was younger and working full time SUCKED, I hated having to stop every few hours to go milk myself LOL.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? : I like my job, and I like contributing to the household. I am not a SAHM type. I did have a choice, the AF lets women separate from the military if they have a child even if their enlistment isn't up, but I chose to stay in.
What do you do for work?: I'm in fundraising
What hours do you work?: 8 - 4 if I'm lucky - most days I take work from home and do work when kids are asleep
Where is your LO while you're working?: Daycare center at work
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Staying organized, missing my kids, lack of sleep, making time for myself and my husband
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? : I didn't have a choice. I have a ton of SL debt from business school. I do really like my job, and I do think there are some things my kids get from being at daycare (with their "friends") - but I wish that I could SAH. Now that I'm pg with #3, I may not have a choice. We'll see.
What do you do for work? Pharmaceutical Sales
What hours do you work? I will be part time/job share when i go back after leave in the fall.... working full time Thurs and Friday and every other Wed.
Where is your LO while you're working? DS will be in daycare for 3 days a week every week... the twins will be in daycare 2 days a week every week, and with my mom every other Tues when I work. Every other Tues when I don't work- I"ll have the twins alone (while DS is at daycare) so that the twins get a little extra mommy time.
Biggest challenge about going back to work: MONEY for daycare... we are going to be SOOOO broke.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? With DS and with the twins I will be taking the maximum that i can take which = about 4 months.
What do you do for work? I work at a University.
What hours do you work? 8:30-5
Where is your LO while you're working? My mother watches him. However, in the fall he will go to a kids day out program 1 day a week.
Biggest challenge about going back to work: My mom and sister are SAHM's so I felt guilty about going back to work. Like I was giving up on my son or something...weird I know. I felt a great amount of guilt.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? I had no choice. Financially we couldn't survive on one salary.
I work at a private University as the Assistant Registrar
I usually work 8:00 - 5:00, DS does to an In Home Day Care right down the street from where I work, I drop him off about 7:45, and pick him up about 5:15. He is really happy with his Day Care provider, and she loves him very much.
Probably just like everyone else, my biggest challenge is managing my time, finding time for everything in my life and keeping my marriage strong.
I didn?t really have a choice if I wanted to go back to work I guess. I make more than my husband, he works as a teacher at a private high school. I love my job and love the challenge of my work. To be honest, while I am at work I don't really think about DS too much, just focus on my job so that at 5:00, I can focus completely on him! I do not think I would change things if I were to go back, I love working and having a baby in our lives!
What do you do for work? I work at a university as a programming coordinator for international students and I also teach English as a Second Language and French. It's like two full-time jobs rolled into one.
What hours do you work? Right now, it's 8:30-5, but I'm so afraid of the fall because there will be evening and weekend hours on top of that daily schedule. I also have to take work home (paper grading, class prep). I just don't know how I'll manage taking care of a LO and keeping up with all my job responsibilities.
Where is your LO while you're working? He attends the on-site daycare on our campus. I feel so lucky to have him so close to my office. Going to see him at lunch is the highlight of my day.
Biggest challenge about going back to work: 1. Lack of sleep and an hour-long commute each way - It's so hard to stay awake! 2. Fear of not being able to balance work and home life with a stressful job
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? I didn't have a choice about going back because we can't make it on one income right now. I really hope to find a more family friendly job in the future. I already had a tough time keeping up with my work schedule before DS was born!
What do you do for work? I work at a University.
What hours do you work? 7:30-4:30 for summer and breaks and 7-4 during the semester.
Where is your LO while you're working? Home with DH.
Biggest challenge about going back to work: pumping and a little resentment/jealousy that dh was staying home. (even though I don't think I would want to)
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? no choice but I love my job. DH decided to quit his job to stay home and go to grad school and that is the best thing for our family. I am happy with our decision and I feel good about it!
What do you do for work? I'm a lawyer in a firm.
What hours do you work? Usually about 8 to 5:30 in the office. If I have things I don't finish, I work at night at home after DS does to bed.
Where is your LO while you're working? The firm daycare.
Biggest challenge about going back to work? Probably pumping. Overall, it was a suprisingly easy adjustment for me, though.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? I always knew I was going to go back to work. We could conceivably make it on one salary, but like flyer23 said, we have structured our life based on both our incomes. I also have student loans that I want to pay back, not DH. I wouldn't be happy not contributing financially. Plus, I actually like my job, and the intellectual challenge of it. So, even if we could do it on DH's income, I'd work anyway.
What do you do for work? Medical Writer
What hours do you work? 8:30-5pm, WAH 2 days a week
Where is your LO while you're working? Company Day care; I love the teachers there!
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Going back to a grueling travel intensive work schedule. My contract was ending in 4 months and I was on the lookout for a better job which was family friendly.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? Yes I had a choice and I chose to work and provide for my family in partnership with my DH. I love being a working mom and I believe its made me a better person; a better mom and a better employee!
What do you do for work? Medical Writer
What hours do you work? 8:30-5pm, WAH 2 days a week
Where is your LO while you're working? Company Day care; I love the teachers there!
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Going back to a grueling travel intensive work schedule. My contract was ending in 4 months and I was on the lookout for a better job which was family friendly. The pumping and nursing was hard too but I'm so glad I stuck to it for 14 months!
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? Yes I had a choice and I chose to work and provide for my family in partnership with my DH. I love being a working mom and I believe its made me a better person; a better mom and a better employee!
What do you do for work?
I work for a server hosting company as an Account Manager
What hours do you work?
8-5
Where is your LO while you're working?
At a wonderful daycare with camera so I can stalk him on the interwebz
Biggest challenge about going back to work:
I feel like I get very little time with DS during the week. My husband also travels, so sometimes I get overwhelmed with work, Carter, housework, crazy dog without my husband around.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice?
we could have made it work, but it would have required a ginormous lifestyle change. I was always 80% sure I wanted to be a working mom.
What do you do for work? Human Resources Manager for a large government contractor
What hours do you work? 9-5
Where is your LO while you're working? After the twins were born we had an au pair then they transitioned to an in-home DC at 15 months. We switched to a nanny after the baby arrived.
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Juggling it all. I feel like I have a decent handle on the job and home life stuff. But, I rarely spend time with my friends or do things for myself. When I do have a little spare time I prefer to sleep!
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? Our lives are structured based on two incomes (and I make more than DH). My goal is to drop to a part time schedule by the time the twins are in school.
My twins are 5! My baby is 3!
DS#2 - Allergic to Cashew, Pistachio, Kiwi
DS#3 - Allergic to Milk, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts and Sesame
Where? I manage a department for a national financial services company
When? Early. Ugh. I work with the stock market but on the west coast. bleh.
Where is LO? At home w/ his nanny. DH works from home some days - so sometimes he has his daddy around too.
Most difficult thing? I miss DS SO MUCH. And I look like crap at the office - LOL!
Did I have a choice? No. DH runs his own business that is unfortunately struggling in this economy. So for now.... I work.
What do I do- I'm a manager of a tanning salon
What hours- 7:30-2:00
Where is LO- My sister lives with us, and watches DD while I'm at work
Biggest Challenge- DD not having a very solid schedule
What do you do for work? Set up insurance claims and assign them out to adjusters and a few other things
What hours do you work? 7:30am-4:00pm
Where is your LO while you're working? daycare
Biggest challenge about going back to work: getting up and ready in the mornings
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? i had to
I'm just curious what everybody's story is! :-)
What do you do for work? Human Resources
What hours do you work? 8:30 - 5:30
Where is your LO while you're working? Kindercare
Biggest challenge about going back to work: I'm much more forgetful now - mommy brain I guess? Of course, I miss my DS but I'm glad I work.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? I'm the primary breadwinner so not much choice; but I prefer being a working mom. I was starting to go a little stir crazy on maternity leave...
What do you do for work? Director at a non-profit cancer center
What hours do you work? 8:30am - 5pm
Where is your LO while you're working? 3 days a week, daycare, 2 days, with his grandma
Biggest challenge about going back to work: MISSING MY DS
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? I love my job and wasn't ready to give it up. It makes for a more comfortable lifestyle for us and we are able to save for DS's future. Also I think it makes me a more well rounded person.
What do you do for work? Counselor
What hours do you work? 9-4, off on Wednesdays
Where is your LO while you're working? DH has been staying home w/ her for 7 months due to a layoff. Prior to this, she was in daycare and it worked well for us.
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Missing DD, but it's gotten much better (back 15 months). Now I sometimes get a little jealous of DH's time with her, but happy they're so close.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? Financially I needed to work at least part time to keep our house. I sort of had a choice but we would have been very poor w/o my income. Extra happy I returned though, since now I'm the breadwinner!
What do you do for work? registered nurse in a surgical icu
What hours do you work? 2 nights a week, 7p to 7:30a
Where is your LO while you're working? home in bed
Biggest challenge about going back to work: with this job, lack of sleep when I'm working. The days I work, I nap in the afternoon for a couple of hrs, then go to work, if dh is off the next day, I get a nap, if not, I have to suck down the coffee and wait until dc nap/quiet time.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? I took 10 months after having dd.. by that time I was ready , I missed working (I worked recovery room prior). I went back to a very parttime (3 or 4 4hr shifts a week) in a peds sick clinic... so tele triage, seeing patients (nurse visits were essentially strep swabs for strep throat, vaccines if the child had to wait for some reason, or repeat antibiotic injections, then I'd administer meds to the pts the pedi saw if needed)... I was bored out of my mind. sucked it up until we moved, then I knew I had to work more hours ...so I took this job. and I'm tired of night shifts after just a year. I did call hours for the recovery room... but then, most nights you still get sleep. some anyway. this is constant moving. I love the job, love what I"m constantly learning... but I want to work days again... hopeing to wait another year and then switch. (so ds is in dd's preschool by that point, then get a college student to watch them after preschool, dh is a professor, the preschool on campus only takes children who are 2.3yrs or older.)
so, b/c of my hours I title myself as a working stay at home mom. I am home during the day, working at night, barely sleeping. yawn.
What do you do for work? I am the HR manager at a medical manufacturing company
What hours do you work? 8:30 or 9:00 - 5:00 Monday- Friday
Where is your LO while you're working? He is with my mom 2 days, my aunt 2 days and DH 1 day
Biggest challenge about going back to work: feeling guilty about not spending enough time with DS and pumping
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? We cannot afford for me to stay at home. Of course, I don't think I would like being home full time. I would love to work part time.
What do you do for work? Manager at a law firm
What hours do you work? 8-4:30 is the goal, normally more like 8:30-5
Where is your LO while you're working? daycare near home
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Time, just not enough time - I'm always rushing, commuting and trying to get DD is tough some days (like my 2.5 hour commute last night - thanks Taylor Swift concert!)
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? In a worst case scenario, I could have stayed home - it would have been tough, but we could have done it. I like our life better with the extras though and I worry about whether I could get back into the job market if I took a long time off. I do wish there was a way to either work closer to home or PT.
What hours do you work? 9-ish to 6-ish
Where is your LO while you're working? At daycare
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Finding the time and energy to cook a healthy meal after work!
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? I had no choice, but I would have returned to work anyway. I like being able to add to the family income. (This may be just me, but I don't think a mom should be questioned about her "choice" to return to work - a father never would be!)
What do you do for work? I'm the controller for a small consulting company
What hours do you work? M-Th 8-3
Where is your LO while you're working? DS is in DC and DD will come to work with me for 6 months and then go to DC
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Getting a good schedule down
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? I love what I do and being a productive member of society.
I feel like I have the perfect balance of career and home life now that I only work 28 hours a week.
What do you do for work? MD
What hours do you work? 40
Where is your LO while you're working? Daycare
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Laundry
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? It wasn't a decision I felt compelled to make consciously. I was always returning to work after maternity leave. I have a career, I am a physician, I am independent, my husband and I have a great life. Add kids, stir.
What do you do for work? I'm the co-owner of a small business.
What hours do you work? I work Monday-Wednesday, 9:30 to 6 pm. ?30 hours/week.
Where is your LO while you're working? ?We have a nanny in our house.
Biggest challenge about going back to work: ?Finding a nanny- I was super picky.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? ?We don't need my income to live-- we save almost all of it so I suppose that financially I choose to work. ?I never considered staying at home-- I love my job, thought staying at home was deadly dull and I like my independence, making my own money and having the extra money for fun stuff.?
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What do you do for work? teacher
What hours do you work? 7:30-3:30 unless I have meetings, conferences, etc. 10 months out of the year
Where is your LO while you're working? home daycare
Biggest challenge about going back to work: just missing him!!
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? I don't *really* have a choice from a financial standpoint... but I do love my job and find it very rewarding. I think teaching makes me a better mom and being a mom makes me a better teacher. Also, while I love being a SAHM for the summer, I'm always kind of ready to go back! It's hard work!
Baking Blog
What do you do for work? accounting
What hours do you work? 40hours per week
Where is your LO while you're working? 3 days a week he is in school (daycare), 1 day he is with sil, 1 day he is with grandma/grandpa
Biggest challenge about going back to work: having to get up in the moring when all you want to do is sleep! seriously, i had no issues going back. Carson was watched by only family for the first year and i think that helped me feel comfortable with going back initially.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? i had to, no choice, we are a two income family. even if i could be a sahm i would still want to work parttime, that would be a happy medium for me.
What do you do for work?
Commercial Property Management
What hours do you work?
M-F 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Where is your LO while you're working?
Daycare Center
Biggest challenge about going back to work:
Finding time to take care of my husband and our home
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice?
I didn't have a choice due to finances, but I still would have gone back to work at least part-time.
What do you do for work? I'm an internal change management/HR consultant for a large IT services/consulting company. I work from home 99.9% of the time
What hours do you work? 8 - 4:30 + evenings after the kids are in bed
Where is your LO while you're working? At home with a nany
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Feeling like I just don't have enough time in the day to do everything I want to
Why did you decide to go back to work? I make a nice salary (much more than DH). Not working would mean such a big hit to savings, retirement, college funds, vacation, etc. Unforatunaly, child care costs don't even remotely justify not working. Did you have a choice? Sure, I guess we all have choices, but not going to work based on the previous was not a good choice.
What do you do for work? Financial Analyst
What hours do you work? 8-5ish and log in at night if there is anything important I had to drop when I left to do daycare pickup
Where is your LO while you're working? Daycare
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Having a sick child has been very difficult for us to juggle since both my husband and I have meetings we need to be at every day. We usually end up splitting those days or we use his company's back-up care service (but only when she is not super sick).
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? Yes, I have a choice. I went back to work because I feel like myself when I am working. It is very important to me that I personally contribute to our financial goals. If I'm not working I stress about money. If I am working I don't. Some days I also enjoy the break!! Plus, our daughter is doing great in daycare and getting a lot out of it.
What do you do for work? I am a finance analyst
What hours do you work? I'm not an hourly employee, but I tend to work 6:30-3:30
Where is your LO while you're working? At daycare/school/whateveryouwanttocallit
Biggest challenge about going back to work: Other than leaving DD, pumping!
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? I enjoy working. I like the challenge. And, I really do feel like a better mom. At some point, I would like to cut back to P/T. Plus, My paycheck affords us a lot of luxuries, and I make more than DH.
What do you do for work? - I am an engineer in the facilities department for a local school district. I am in charge of code compliance and capital reserve projects.
Where is your LO while you're working? - He will be at daycare.
Biggest challenge about going back to work - I am not sure since I am still on leave but I imagine it will be missing my DS and pumping.
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? - I love my job and these types of positions do not open up very often so if I was to leave I most likely would have to go back to private industry which I was not a fan of. We could make it on DH's salary, but I enjoy working and am going a little stir crazy here at the end of leave, plus only DH working would mean not saving for retirement or college and I don't feel comfortable with that at all.
What do you do for work? Director of Annual Giving for a private K-12 school
What hours do you work? 8-5 mostly, slightly shorter days in the summer to make up for the events I have to be at during the school year
Where is your LO while you're working? full-time preschool
Biggest challenge about going back to work: getting over thinking the daycare teachers would forget ds in the corner of the room someday (never happened -- in fact, they said he cried so infrequently that the second he let out a peep they'd go to see what he needed because he only cried if he needed something)
Why did you decide to go back to work? Did you have a choice? we would be screwed financially if I stayed at home; it was more likely that my dh could stay at home, but even that was a stretch