Stay at Home Moms

Any great work-at-home ideas?

I'm 14 weeks with my first child.  I always thought I would stay home, at least for the first year.  However, our current financial situation is precarious, and I really need to be generating some type of income.  The thought of my baby languishing in day care during the first months of life kills me.  I have visions of him/her lying in a crib in a dirty diaper, miserable, staring at the ceiling for 8 hours, missing developmental milestones.  To make matters worse, the expense of infant care would mean that the majority of my paycheck would go to pay for daycare instead of our debt.  Aarg!  

 

I'm guessing a lot of you ladies did this math before you decided it was better to stay home with your babies.  Have any of you found opportunities to work from home?  Any brilliant ideas to contribute to the family income and still avoid putting your child in day care?

Re: Any great work-at-home ideas?

  • Sounds like maybe I should focus less on finding a new job, and more on getting over my guilt...and finding a quality daycare.  
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  • I am really hoping that this is MUD to get our goat. We have enough of our own drama without anyone bringing it!!

     

    If it is not, I guess I had a stellar daycare since DD1 was in FT daycare and rolled over early, pulled up early and was walking at 8 months.

  • You know, I was afraid of daycare, but after staying home and having to choose between cleaning, cooking, working on my parttime job, and taking care of things for her like getting her supplies, my DD would probably have more stimulation and education in daycare.  I think of it as a big treat for her when we get a baby-sitter because she has someone who will focus on her for several hours straight.  That doesn't mean its easy or fun to leave your LO, and there are consequences, like a lot of germs coming home.  But I am pretty sure it's as difficult or more difficult to work at home parttime than to just work fulltime away from home because even when you have a superflexible job, you're squeezing things in during naps, in the middle of the night, and during the times you and your DH would normally have together.  My suggestion is to study your options and do the math.  Do you think you would like another LO present?  How much are your daycare choices?  Etc.
  • LOL. The situation you described sounds like a Siberian orphanage or something. Do some research and find a child care provider you trust. Even WAH moms need child care, so start getting some recommendations from other moms in your area. There is still plenty of time for you to make your plans, so gather more information and give it some more thought.
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  • We put together an FAQ with one of the questions being WAH opportunities/advice. Check it out! It's at the top of the posts page, in the green header bar.

    It's hard being a first-time mom, there's SO much to worry about. You are NOT the first to have that mindset about day cares and you won't be the last. I bet if you did a search, read some reviews, and maybe even connected with some moms in your neighborhood, you would find a great one.  :)

    Good luck!

    eclaire 9.10.06  diggy 6.2.11

  • You know, I'm sure you aren't the only mother ever to freak out and think the worst of putting her child in daycare. But, you really need to know that daycare is NOt like that. Are there bad daycares? Yes. But you'll do your research, you'll talk to friends and family, go visit centers , interview nannies and find a childcare provider that you like and trust. 

    Your other options are to try and cut your budget so that you can live on only one income (can DH be a SAHD?) or find a PT job around DH's hours so he can be with LO while you're working. 


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  • imagebedfordczarina:
    Sounds like maybe I should focus less on finding a new job, and more on getting over my guilt...and finding a quality daycare.  

    Yeah. 

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