working moms

RedZee · June 2012

I'm really excited to start my job, but I'm also really scared about transitioning from a SAHM to a working mom. I feel like I'll barely get to see DD and I have no idea how I'll have time or energy to do certain things at home.

Anyone have any tips on the transition? What's hardest? What do you like about it (other than the paycheck)? [I'm aware this is silly, but I probably want more of a pep talk and mostly want to hear good things. I want to hear the truth, but I want the truth to be good and happy because I want to start this job and feel good about it.]

I do think the transition will be harder for me. DD will love going to daycare and making friends and playing, I hope.

HALFM00N · June 2012

Your situation is great: you can work from home on some days and also go to work, so not the typical 5 day work week. If you are commuting, I'd let them know what hours you prefer to be there, so that no meetings are set beyond those times (there are exceptions) but I found they really stick to my weird hours here.

DD will love daycare from week 2 onwards (mine liked it from day 2 onwards).

I don't really like my job bc of the situation here, I hate the commute and also find it hard taking care of our place. I let spending time with DD come first because I know I can't ever get that time back.

If I had things my way, I would live near campus and I would feel a lot better about my job. The hardest part about working for me is cooking and cleaning. You get used to everything else. It's rewarding to be involved in projects, talk to other adults and to help contribute to the household income. I am sure you worry a lot about if you DH lost his job or something like that, so now you can be more relaxed.

I find that organizing stuff on the weekend works best for us. I note all of her breakfasts (she eats breakfast at school too lol) for the week, and lay out five outfits complete with shoes for DH to take care of her in the morning. I also choose my outfits on the weekends instead of figuring it out on the morning of or on the weeknights. I run the dishwasher MWF and do laundry TTH. DH does most of the cooking but I chip in sometimes or we eat at family's. I try to keep our weekends free of chores, so that we can just kick back. My sister cooks four meals on Sundays and eats out on Fridays, so if that works for you, then you can try that. Daycare provides all of DD's meals (all organic/ homemade) and water/ milk.

It's really not that bad, the routine is great! I just wish we had more vacation days

CaniacMom · June 2012

I have been a working mom all of my oldest child's life. I went back to work when he was 6 weeks old. I am one of those women who sucks at staying home. It is just my personality. I tried it for 3 months when he was 6 years old and was not happy.

Some of the things I like about working outside of the home:

1. Lunch hour - I can eat lunch alone without worrying about anyone else's needs. I sometimes run errands at lunch time so I can get in and out of places quickly, sometimes meet up with friends for lunch or just eat alone and read.

2. Adult Interaction - Not only the social part but also, I have worked with a variety of people over the years and have received the best advice on child-rearing and life in general from people at work.

3. I truly love my job. I have had so many great opportunities in the past 7 years at this job. I have been able to travel to places I would never have been able to on my own.

I am not ashamed to take short-cuts at home. If that means using a mix instead of making if from scratch so be it. Maybe my floors do not get cleaned as often as I want. I concentrate on giving my children time first and then fit everything else in.

I am very lucky that DH works a schedule that allows him a lot of time off during the week. We schedule appointments for the children around this to minimize my time away from the office. I go to all of Joshua's check-ups- I just meet him at the doctor's which is close to my office. DH has been taking care of the orthopaedic visits for Justin each week.

I am also lucky that my boss is very understanding and lets us manage our schedules - if I need to take a few hours off to take care of things for the kids I do not get the least bit of trouble.