Returning to Work after the Baby

Mags04 · January 2013

Have you decided whether you are returning to work after the baby?

I haven't decided yet. DH and I talked about both scenarios before TTC. Of course I would love to be a SAHM. My job is very demanding with long hours and it is so hard working full time with just one child. I can't even imagine how to do it with two. That freaks me out. On the flip side there is the benefit of two incomes. Ideally I'd jump at the chance to work part time but it seems to be impossible to find a part time job in my industry.

achadwick19 · January 2013

In the future I'd love to be a SAHM, but we just aren't financially ready for it. The problem I have is that I want to get a new job after the baby is born because I'm really not loving being a toddler teacher. It is just way too much work for the amount of money and since my mom owns the school I work at, my child will be going there and it will make it harder for both of us. So now I just need to figure out what job I want.. No clue!!

Glottalstop · January 2013

I absolutely am. I love my career and there are a lot of promotional opportunities here. Plus, I live in a high cost of living area and things would be extremely tight if only H worked - I do make well beyond what daycare will cost per month so my income won't be a wash at all.

direy25 · January 2013

Glottalstop:
I absolutely am. I love my career and there are a lot of promotional opportunities here. Plus, I live in a high cost of living area and things would be extremely tight if only H worked - I do make well beyond what daycare will cost per month so my income won't be a wash at all.

Yup, all of this. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be able to SAH or work part time but I just got a promotion in June and my boss is basically grooming me to take over his position when he retires.

thedash · January 2013

Even with two I make significantly more than the cost of daycare and I want to be able to comfortably save for retirement, college, etc. So, I'll keep working. However, I did change to a much less demanding job after DS. I worked long crazy hours and often worked weekends. Now I have a very 9 to 5 schedule and life is much easier.

carolyn6609 · January 2013

I will definitely be going back to work. We couldn't get by on just DH's salary. He makes more than I do, but I get really good health insurance so I carry our benefits. I think my ideal situation would be to work part-time, but unfortunately that is not in the cards.

1026pumpkin · January 2013

I'm planning to go back. After going back with DS#1 to a high stress job, I did take a paycut to go to something a little more manageable, but I enjoy my field and am glad I went back.

Some advice that somebody gave me- it's much easier to go back to work and decide that you hate it and quit, than it is to quit a good job to stay home and decide that you hate it (or can't afford it) and try to get another good job. That was definitely the kick in the butt I needed to go back to work after my mat leave, and it ended up working out well for us.

jdebaie · January 2013

I want to go back to work but we have to do the daycare to my salary ratio and see if it's worth it. Daycare in my area is ridiculously expensive even in the suburbs so I'm not sure what will happen. I also can't drive my car into work because I work in the city and my husband works late. So many things to consider, ugh.

kje120 · January 2013

It's not in the cards financially for me to be a SAHM at this time so I will be returning to work.

BillysGrl27 · January 2013

Staying home is not an option for us now, nor is it something I want to do. But as a teacher I get the best of both world's with my summers off!

DomesticAtty · January 2013

Same situation as most of the above PP. Not really an option for us. DH makes enough for us to survive, but I have private law school loans that are more than our mortgage

. I feel like it would be irresponsible to quit when I'm only 3 yrs out of school, although tempting.

mayandjune · January 2013

DomesticAtty:
Same situation as most of the above PP. Not really an option for us. DH makes enough for us to survive, but I have private law school loans that are more than our mortgage . I feel like it would be irresponsible to quit when I'm only 3 yrs out of school, although tempting.

I did. I'm a sahm now. I do struggle under the weight of my law loans but it was def the right thing for me and my family. MH doesn't make tons we just about scrape by but it works for me and the guilt I thought I felt is non existent.

I'm not saying do it. Just haring my experience. What do you practice?

Ps I was an ada. My salary after taxes wouldn't have covered daycare. So I also had that to consider.

sugarkissed · January 2013

I think to be as financially comfortable as we'd prefer, I will have to return to work. That said, I'm definitely going to need to find a new career as my current one involves being gone for up to 6 days at a time on a regular basis.

Mrsbtobe2012 · January 2013

I'll go back for sure. I love what I do too much to not. However, I'll only do part time which is 2 12 hour shifts per week. I haven't decided nights or days yet though. It's difficult to find child are since we both do 12 hour shifts in healthcare. It's nice having many days off together as a family though!

Tally879 · January 2013

I'm going back for sure, my company pays for all of my health insurance. I also just started a few months ago and so far it has been very stress free, my last job working 7AM to midnight was not uncommon. H works from home and I make much more money than him, so we're gonna see how it works with him at home with the baby and working. If it's too much we'll be able to afford day care.

DomesticAtty · January 2013

I'm also am a starving government attorney- I work with the state legislature. I really enjoy what I do, but staying home has definatly been an ongoing discussion in our house. I'm shooting for Public Service Loan Forgiveness- 3 yrs down and 7 to go! Maybe after then (and hopefully more kids) it will be a more realistic option.

amief · January 2013

More law loans here... I'll definitely be returning to work. I am good with that though. I took a small paycut to take a different job this summer in preparation for TTC. It is a little less $ but my hours and stress are much more reasonable. I think this will make it reasonable for me to return.

Mags04 · January 2013

mayandjune:
DomesticAtty:
Same situation as most of the above PP. Not really an option for us. DH makes enough for us to survive, but I have private law school loans that are more than our mortgage . I feel like it would be irresponsible to quit when I'm only 3 yrs out of school, although tempting.

I did. I'm a sahm now. I do struggle under the weight of my law loans but it was def the right thing for me and my family. MH doesn't make tons we just about scrape by but it works for me and the guilt I thought I felt is non existent.

I'm not saying do it. Just haring my experience. What do you practice?

Ps I was a da. My salary after taxes wouldn't have covered daycare. So I also had that to consider.

I'm in the financial accounting industry. I was surprised that there seems to be no part time opportunities, or I'm just really looking in the wrong places. Having my income would definitely take the pressure of my DH. Ugh, this is one of the hardest decisions I've had to make so far since there are so many factors, daycare, saving for education, etc.

jjkaye · January 2013

I'm going back. I'm hoping I can work a 4 day week instead of 5- or at least work one day from home for awhile. My job is flexible and I love it, and though we could live on H's salary, I want to work and two salaries is nice for savings, vacations, extras, etc. I have never envisioned staying home and that hasn't changed. Maybe it will be different once LO arrives, but I've always taken great pride in my work and what I've accomplished in my career, and I want to continue with where I'm headed.

I am concerned about travel a bit, but we have a very supportive family and I think that I'll be able to cut back somewhat on how long I'm gone for most work trips.

mamabear6252011 · January 2013

I SAH now with our 18 month old DD. The only way we can make it work is that I do part-time work from home for my dad's company. Admittedly he pays me more than I truly work because he likes the idea of me being home to raise our family. It's still tight. DH is in his first year of grad school and works 50%. He gets small stipend for being a TA as well and is on full scholarship so we don't have to pay tuition or anything (phd program). So far we have zero student loans from undergrad or grad school and we are renting a townhouse at the moment so we have zero debt (no debt on credit card, car, etc). That really helps make it manageable. We find a way to save a little every month and hopefully we can look at buying a home again in summer 2014. We sold our house and moved this last summer before he started school. Anyway, yes, I will continue to stay home. I will go back to work at some point, but we haven't even discussed it yet. Hoping we can become financially independent of me doing work my dad in the next couple years because it makes me feel like a mooch.

wlux · January 2013

I will not be returning to work. With my husband's schedule and the cost of daycare in my area is very high.... It wasn't really much of a choice for us.

abell77 · January 2013

I became a SAHM mom after the birth of my first child, no regrets. This third child will most likely be our last and the plan is for my to remain a SAHM at least until the youngest starts kindergarten.

psychgirl33 · January 2013

I will be returning to work and will (likely) also be starting a PhD program as well. I'll do part time school next year (if they let me) and then I'll start full time the next fall. If not, I will have to make some decisions about what I'm going to do. If I go part time to school, I'll cut my hours at work to 3.5-4 days per week. If I have to start full time for school, I'll cut down to 2 days a week.

PrettyInPearls23 · January 2013

Yes, I'll be returning to work after the baby. I love my job, my boss and the company I work for. Expenses related to raising kids aside, being a SAHM isn't for me. By week 8 of my 10 week mat leave with DS, I was ready to come back and be in the adult world. I love my son more than my own life, but working outside the home makes me a better mother. (Disclaimer: This is my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I am in no way, shape, or form saying that working moms are better than SAHMs. I don't want to start that war -- both "jobs" have just as many benefits and downfalls as the other)

Amusjh · January 2013

I, too, will be returning to work. 1 salary isn't enough for us to stay afloat unfortunately.

Shanmarie1083 · January 2013

I will be staying at home after this LO arrives. I wanted to with DS but hubs was still in school finishing his masters program. We have put off having another baby until we were in a position for me to be able to stay at home. Daycare costs in our area are extremely high and I work for a non-profit... so I basically would be working to send 2 kids to daycare/preschool.

TristaD81 · January 2013

Yes. I work PT and I LOVE my job. No way would I give it up. Plus, I am not cut out to be a SAHM full time.

kat81again2 · January 2013

I am in a very stable job that is basically the ending point of my career (I could always take a similar job elsewhere, but this was my goal job for the very long haul).

Part of the reason I am in the Sept 2013 club is because my great maternity leave benefits for this job start in May/June 2013 and we started trying then (for that due date) until it happened. I will get 3 months off, paid. Though given some things that are cropping up this fall I already plan to be sort of working during a lot of that time. Anyway, I am DEFINITELY going to work after that time is up. I really do have the best job ever and I can't dream of leaving it. I suppose I did already plow through with #1 (and in a less awesome job that was a stepping stone to this one) so it makes sense.

ShoeFanatic614 · January 2013

I'm definitely coming back to work. We could live a very low key lifestyle off of DH's salary but honestly, I am not cut out to stay at home and my daughter has flourished in daycare. She would be so sad not to see her friends anymore. Plus I like being able to take vacations and such! A plus to this being my second is that I've built an amazing relationship with my daycare so I anticipate being much less anxious about leaving this baby when maternity leave is up than I was with Norah.

MrsBlindLove · January 2013

I'm a SAHW and once the baby is born I will be a SAHM. It wasn't a hard decision for us Smile

OpheliaChem · January 2013

Definitely going back to work! I'll probably take 12 weeks off but there is no way I'd want to stay home. I know, I'm in the minority. I love my DD more than words can describe but I need to work. I need a challenge for myself and, as a teacher, I get that challenge every day. I still get the summers off with her, and last summer we had a blast together. But I still need the schedule and demand of my job.

sarah7145 · January 2013

We'd lose our house if I didn't work. At this moment I make more than he does (it kind of flip flops, since he gets VA benefits which are ever changing). But I think even if he made enough for us to survive on just his salary alone, I'd still want to work. I work 3 12 hr night shifts a week, so will only miss when LO is sleeping. Well when he starts sleeping through the night. The other 4 days I'll have off and can be a semi SAHM. I can't wait!

RocksInTheWater · January 2013

Definitely back to work for me but I'm hoping to swing maternity leave until the beginning of January (EDD 8/30). I get 8 weeks paid so the rest would be unpaid. I, like others, work in a school so I get summer break, spring break, winter break, etc. which I love. I wouldn't mind working PT but that just isn't an option financially since I carry the benefits.

brookeelyse527 · January 2013

I will be staying home several weeks with the baby but returning to work. I am a full-time psych RN and I pay for most of the bills at home. Also, I love my job and would not want to have to find a new one.

Fiance is a Mental Health Tech and only works a .6 (24 hrs per week). He will be able to spend more time at home with the baby. I would like to become a .9 (72 hrs per week) after the baby is born.

Our work is very flexible with our schedules. I already have our schedules planned out so that we would only need a babysitter every other weekend and for 2 hrs on Fridays. And we already have our babysitters lined up. ( I had this all planned out before TTC lol).

You need to do what's right for you and your family. You will figure it out.

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