Thinking About #2 and Work...Thoughts?
amykins1283
member
DH and I have decided to start TTC #2 after Liam's 2nd birthday. I am really anxious to start. I had a great pregnancy with Liam and can't wait to do it all over again. We want to have 3-4 children so we don't want to wait too long.
Anyway, currently I teach Pre-K at Liam's daycare. Previously, I taught kindergarten in public school but the commute and the demands got to be too much for me and so I moved down to a less demanding position that would allow me to spend more time with Liam.
I have only been at my new position for a couple of months. I enjoy it and love that I can check in on Liam during the day and that my commute has gone from 45 minutes each way to 5 minutes each way. It's the perfect job, really.
The problem is that having two kids in daycare is tough, financially. DH makes good money and my salary helps pay for extra stuff. We get a discount on childcare but it's only 30%.
If we had two kids in daycare I would not be bringing home much money at all, maybe $500 a month after taxes. The money would be helpful, but for the amount of work I do it is not very much at all. DH makes enough that, with some tweaks to the budget, I could be a SAHM. I am not sure if the SAHM life is for me, though. When I am home with Liam for any amount of time I kind of feel isolated and bored, TBH. I am used to working with 20+ kids at a time, not just one or two!
Anyway, WWYD? I am neither for nor against one way of life or the other. My mom was a working mom and I grew up in childcare and I turned out just fine. My DH was raised by a SAHM and he turned out just as well. I just don't think that working would be worth it with the measly paycheck I would be getting but the SAHM life kind of makes me nervous...
Re: Thinking About #2 and Work...Thoughts?
We will soon have 2 in day care and I feel you on the cost-jeez that will be expensive! DH is the primary bread winner in our family-I work, but I don't contribute a ton financially. Once we have 2 in day care, I won't be bringing home much money at all.
That being said, I am not cut out for being a SAHM. Even though I'll be bringing home very little, and we would be ok financially if I SAH, it's not what's best for me and my family. I think it's something you really have to think about and talk to your DH about.
Thanks for this. It's nice to know that someone else feels the same way. A lot of people don't get how I could love working with kids and being a teacher but not really want to be a SAHM. It's just not the same!
We are TTC #2 and recently figured out what the cost would be for daycare. It's insane! For reasons other than that, I am leaving my job starting Nov. 1st. I would have eventually due to daycare costs for 2.
JKat is right, you have to do what is right for YOUR family. What works for one family may not work for another. If you wanted to stay home with your LOs, could you possibly pick up some one-on-one/tutoring sessions to fulfill your desire to work?
That is a thought. I've also debated about taking online courses to get another certification so that when my kids are old enough I could go back to the public sector again. I'd have to see about the cost, though (might be as much or more than daycare!).
DH vetoed that idea, haha. We have two dogs that don't like to be cooped up or separated from us and the layout in our house just isn't good for an in-home daycare situation, IMO.
I spend mondays with him and thursdays he's with the grandparents, so he is only in day care 3 days a week and I feel it's the best of both worlds! I hope you and your DH come up with a plan that works for you guys!
I am so not cut out to be a SAHM. And my toddler is so used to his friends at "school" (they go to an in-home daycare) that he would be totally bored with me at home at this point.
I think you need to do what makes you happy, and the money will work out. You totally adjust to the cost of 2, even though it is tough. You will be a better mom if you do what is right for you - no matter what that is.