I'm trying to find the upside in doing it..Just a couple off the top of my head.
I'm still pumping, so my day is broken up into manageable chunks. I spend the time trying to decompress or just totally checking out and reading trashy books on my kindle.
No one ever questions the fact that I don't stay. Or the fact that I come in early and leave by 3:30.
Re: Benefits of being a WM..
(Obviously there are more serious and practical perks but this is one I would hate to give up).
"No one will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside." -Unknown
We're in the middle of a kitchen renovation that we couldn't do if I wasn't working, but for some reason, I don't find that one to be as much fun.
The big one for me is financial stability. After my DH lost his job TWICE in one year, through NO fault of his own, I can't imagine not working. He was unemployed for only three weeks, but those weeks were pretty scary!
2010: Infertility
October 2015: missed miscarriage #2 at 11 weeks (trisomy 22)
-I'm hardly ever bored (after the first two years of SAH, I got incredibly bored)
-private school for DS
-Great reliable crossover SUV
-able to help contribute to our anniversary vacations
-able to stay current in a career that I enjoy, children won't be young forever, many women eventually try to get back in their field after being out for a very long stretch of time
-eating out (silly perk, yet still enjoyable ;-)
-able to help contribute to health insurance
-RETIREMENT, that's a big one
-able to contribute to home renovations!
-helping others (I work in a helping profession)
-I get a mommy break!
-Able to afford preschool. When I was a SAHM, that was not in the budget.
Contributing to the family income, contributing to our retirement/savings, being able to afford to go on nice vacations, being able to get pampered every once in a while- massage, facial and pedicure, having adults to talk to daily, lunch dates with my friends, and like a PP mentioned peeing alone :-)
Saving for retirement, having disposable income, being able to take vacations, not needing coupons (although I still clip them, who doesn't like to save money?), being able to afford the best daycare and now being able to pay a nanny if we can ever find one. I could go on and on but they're all related to money.
I love the time I spend with my baby and honestly, if I could not work and still get paid, I'd be fine with being a SAHM. I don't care so much about getting out of the house and interacting with my co-workers. Most of them are aholes anyway #:-S
Adding - I'm also a role model for my girls as far as women in the workforce and providing for themselves.
All of this, plus I just feel healthier, happier and better about myself. I feel very put together, in great shape and just feel like I'm a better mom and wife because of it. Plus, I get serious satisfaction from having a successful career.
I'm proud of what I've accomplished and DH is really proud of me as well. DD is also a really social, happy kid and I enjoy her more when we have quality time as opposed to quantity.
Getting accolades for a job well done (that does not happen with my son, LOL he is so young)
Business trip every once in a while so I get to sleep, relax, have someone else cook and clean for me and pee in peace.
I agree with so many of the things that PPs said, but for me, the main ones are - health insurance, retirement, being able to get out of the house, being able to live while DH is laid off every winter, providing DS with the things he needs and realizing that my time with DS is precious and enjoying every second of it.
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Trying for #1 since May 2010 l DX ~ Unexplained Infertility June 2011
IUI #1&2 = BFN; IUI #3 = BFP, m/c @ 6 weeks
November '11 ~ IVF#1 ~ ER 11/18 (29R, 17F) ~ 5dt of one beautiful blast on 11/23 = BFP!!
Beta #1 9dp5dt = 116, P4 = 28 ~ Beta #2 13dp5dt = 700 ~ Beta #3 20dp5dt = 9500, P4 = 26
1st u/s 12/27 - hb of 156!! EDD 8.10.12 **TEAM GREEN!**
Sweet baby boy born 8.18.12
Trying for #2
FET #1 - October '13 - c/p l FET #2 - December '13 - cancelled l FET #2.2 - 1.30.14 - BFN
~ More testing - hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy & more b/w - all normal / negative~
Surprise BFP while waiting on FET #3 ~ beta #1 500; beta #2 1600; first u/s 4/3 - measuring 5w5d, no hb yet!; 2nd u/s 4/10 - hb 132, measuring 6w6d - EDD 11.29.14 **TEAM GREEN!**
Beautiful baby girl born 11.24.14
Having financial security
Exciting, stimulating, challenging, rewarding career that makes me happy most of the time
For me: Getting time to have lunch with friends, being able to miss my kids and savor time with them, and on my work-from-home days, clean (and by clean, I mean I pick-up before the cleaning people come, lol ; ), do laundry, workout and be lazy on my couch with bad tv in the background.
For all of us as a family: resources to travel, buy what we need, splurge on fun things without added financial stress or fear; allow dh to be an equal parent and be present with the kids as much as me by having a more laid back and flexible job rather than needing one that earns twice as much to support our lifestyle; handle emergencies as they arise without financial worries; expose kids to great early schools and resources that we couldn't otherwise afford (and they'd need preschool eventually anyway).