OT If you SAH

Into+the+Kitty · September 2014

When do you, or do you even, you think you will go back to work?

I always kind of thought I would once the kids started school, but now I'm leaning more towards doing some WAHM stuff on the side, or maybe getting a part time job or doing work for J, but not going back to work in the conventional sense. Is this weird? J and I have talked about it and he'd be totally down with it for all the reasons we've discussed, but I feel kind of weird about it.

sarenu1 · September 2014

Into+the+Kitty said:

When do you, or do you even, you think you will go back to work?

I always kind of thought I would once the kids started school, but now I'm leaning more towards doing some WAHM stuff on the side, or maybe getting a part time job or doing work for J, but not going back to work in the conventional sense. Is this weird? J and I have talked about it and he'd be totally down with it for all the reasons we've discussed, but I feel kind of weird about it.

If I could do it, I'd work part-time (Instead of full). I know I'm not a SAH, but that would be an awesome schedule for me to work 5 hours a day. Then being able to do after school activities with the kids, make dinner or get things done around the house.

violajack · September 2014

I've already started teaching two students and just emailed my editor to see if I can get some writing work again. I'll start performing again in November. But we're planning on homeschooling, so I'll never go back to work in a traditional sense, but I'll always freelance some.

mrshudson618 · September 2014

Never?
We are going to homeschool, so there's that, but I don't think I would even if we weren't.
If all my kids were in school I might find a volunteer job somewhere for part time, but I doubt I would go back to work unless DH couldn't for some reason, or some other major catastrophe.

abby8279 · September 2014

I will probably never go back to work. The only thing I would consider is a laid back part-time just to get out of the house and live in "grown-up land" again.

stoneycakes · September 2014

I don't really see myself ever going back to a 9 to 5 job as long as our financial circumstances are secure. I've kept doing random little jobs on the side since I've been SAH and I see myself expanding that once the kid(s) are in school. I still want to be able to see them off to school and be there when they get home so that really limits the hours of working.

mc0113 · September 2014

FTM that is planning on staying home. The plan is that I'll work up until the end of the year, take my paid leave after delivery then not go back. But I would still work to finish my Masters degree part time through next summer and fall (taking the spring semester off since baby is due the end of December). I'll have 4 classes left after this semester. So ideally, I'd graduate next December. After that I would consider part time work or even volunteering a couple days per week to keep up with my skills but I already know that I wouldn't want to ever work full time as long as our financial situation stays the way it is.

countrycotton · September 2014

Unless our finances change, I'll not work. I haven't worked since we got married. DH really likes me being home, unexpected things always come up when you ranch. The only exception would be if I ever decided to start my own business. DH would LOVE that, he's all for being the boss, tryed to talk me into starting a taco cabana franchise for years.

usernewname · September 2014

I'm trying not to go to work for someone else. I'm trying to start up something on my own.

freezorburn · September 2014

I would like to be back at work eventually, I just don't know when or how or what it will look like. Too many variables right now.

redrockmama · September 2014

I'm most likely quitting my job in a couple of months, was it hard for any of you to decide to SAH?

I spent a lot of time and money going to school and had big career goals, but now all I want to do is be with my baby and be an artist. So, I wouldn't ever plan on going back into my field, but work from home/studio. Then, I feel guilty for wasting two years getting a Master's degree and that I should put it to use. I'd be happy to never go back to a traditional job though.

km_md · September 2014

I'm in Canada, so technically I'm just considered to be on maternity leave right now, but I'm not sure what is going to happen from here. I would love to be able to do some kind of work from home so that I am around for when E needs it, but I can also bring in an income. I like having an extra income, and we have some big things that we want to save up for that would just be much more reachable with 2 incomes. But I would love to spend as much time with E as I can. That would be ideal.

But, the job market here is horrendous. I think we have the highest unemployment rate in the country, so I don't know what will happen. I was working retail before I had E and thinking about going back makes me want to cry. If I do go back there, it will be part time. I just finished my degree though, so I'm trying to find a job that will utilize that and will probably end up working full time at some point.

unaveragejane · September 2014

I always wanted to SAH at least until my kids were in kindergarten, but I think now I'm going to have to go back to work in 2 years when L is 2. DH does not like being on a budget, and I think deep down he's a little bit jealous of me not having a "real job." If he only knew... But I'm not really upset about the idea of returning to work. I just don't want to be in the same school system doing the same job that I left. I refuse to work 60+ hours a week which was what it took to be effective in my old job.

sasq09 · September 2014

I work part time right now but really hope to SAH eventually. We are planning to home school. DH would like to start his own business eventually and I would help with that. I also wouldn't mind babysitting or doing something at home, but I really want to be home full time.

TugboatSheila · September 2014

I work 16 hours a week and SAH the rest of the time so I consider myself a SAHM, I'll probably go back to work after any kids we have are back in school.

But, like, I'd have to go back to school or something to reenter the work force.

abby8279 · September 2014

I was just offered a job at a very popular CD store. I reluctantly had to turn it down.

Mandmeesh · September 2014

Chickypoo2468 said:
Whaaaat?? Don't they let you take your kid with??

Ummm and free stuff?!?! Or at least a Big discount

Mandmeesh · September 2014

Chickypoo2468 said:
I would so do it if I could bring my kids. Omg.

J could be the model/spokesbaby

abby8279 · September 2014

You are able to bring babies up to age 6 mo. So I would have been SOL with DD#2 and DD#3 now that she is older. The discount would have been sweet! And I would have been doing the Cloth 101 twice a month. Ugh, I wish I could make it work!

flummadiddle85 · September 2014

I WAH teaching lessons, which is anywhere between 5-10hr/wk depending on my current student load. I was teaching in the schools, but not currently. I'm not sure if I will go back, or if I go back to work ifit will still be teaching in the schools. Any more kids I feel like I will need to go back to work. Also, if I were even working a bit more, DH might be able to work a bit less extra stuff (lessons, coaching, marching band tech).

PipSqueak0313 · September 2014

I have a bs in accounting and I already know I will never have another job in accounting....I hated it that much. I am much happier working 15-20 hours per week at a fast food restaurant than I was at the job I had before ds2 was born.....and after subtracting the cost of daycare and other work related expenses, my net income is pretty much the same. I work evenings and weekends when dh is able to watch ds.

RachelCA29 · September 2014

I'm off on a year maternity leave (yay Canada) but I really hope I can just go back part time in May. My boss/job was flexible in that I might be able to work something out to do that. My husband runs his own business but it's just getting off the ground now, so his goal for the business is to make enough that I can stay home by May.
I think I will want to go back part time so I feel somewhat financially independent, but we'll see if that is even possible to make those arrangements with my job.
Even on the hardest days with C I still hate the thought of going back to work and leaving him with someone else.

unaveragejane · September 2014

ovenrack said:

Am I the only one who made less money then childcare costs?

Anyway, I SAH, and I like it. I plan on doing it until H is in school, at which point I hope to find a couple of gardening clients (on my own) who I can take care of with flexible hours.

My old salary would probably just cover childcare for two with a tad left over. It's the retirement benefits and insurance that will really be the driving force to me going back to work, especially if DH starts his own business again like he wants to. He switches jobs so often that he'll never earn a retirement check from anywhere. (Seriously, he's considering a new job offer this week. If he takes it, this will be the seventh job he's had in the 13 years I've known him...and that doesn't even count the year he spent working for himself. Is that normal???)

sarenu1 · September 2014

If we stayed with our old child care provider, it would be close to break even for us. But we shopped around for care and found one we liked for a less money. Plus the facility has less of a turn around for care providers.

I provide most of the money that goes into my retirement plan (my company matches a small percentage based but I put in more than they match). I don't need to stay with them to become vested.

They have also paid out short-term disability twice, plus I get 4 weeks of vacation, 5 sick days, and 1-2 personal holidays. Their health benefits are nice, but expensive.

flummadiddle85 · September 2014

unaveragejane said:

ovenrack said:

Am I the only one who made less money then childcare costs?

Anyway, I SAH, and I like it. I plan on doing it until H is in school, at which point I hope to find a couple of gardening clients (on my own) who I can take care of with flexible hours.

My old salary would probably just cover childcare for two with a tad left over. It's the retirement benefits and insurance that will really be the driving force to me going back to work, especially if DH starts his own business again like he wants to. He switches jobs so often that he'll never earn a retirement check from anywhere. (Seriously, he's considering a new job offer this week. If he takes it, this will be the seventh job he's had in the 13 years I've known him...and that doesn't even count the year he spent working for himself. Is that normal???)

If DH or I did that we'd be making no money since the more teaching years you have, the less you get credit for whenever you change jobs. DH lost about $10k off his salary when he took his current job because the district only gave him credit for about half of his teaching experience.

haileyq · September 2014

Hmm, good question. I'm currently an ER RN working 1 day a week

I basically SAH. By the time both kids are in full time school I will be working more, but probably won't be full time again for a long time. That is a huge perk about my career, the flexibility. Unfortunately I'm not convinced I want to stay in healthcare forever, so at some point I have to make that decision.

unaveragejane · September 2014

@flummadiddle85‌ He only switches when it is a better offer - more money or more in line with his long-term career goals. It's crazy how often he is "head-hunted." I couldn't imagine having so many opportunities. Teaching jobs here are hard to come by, so I am nervous about what kind of difficult spot I'll be in when I start looking for a job.

PipSqueak0313 · September 2014

ovenrack said:

Am I the only one who made less money then childcare costs?

Anyway, I SAH, and I like it. I plan on doing it until H is in school, at which point I hope to find a couple of gardening clients (on my own) who I can take care of with flexible hours.

Yeah, it's obnoxious when I think about the fact that my net pay working part time at a little over minimum wage without daycare is close to the same as it was working full time at a professional position requiring a Bachelor's degree minimum with daycare AND because somethings (like SSI) only consider your gross pay we are able to qualify for additional financial assistance that we wouldn't get if I was working full time. Flipping burgers is better than crunching numbers.....who knew?

kassidybl · September 2014

Before I left for leave in June, I didn't make nearly enough to even cover daycare, but still wanted to go back. DH was going to work from home on days I needed to work part time. But when I was close to going back, my boss laid me off and ended up lying to the Unemployment office as to why.

I'd love to stay at home with LO...but we need the money.

Robi1 · September 2014

I don't think I'll go back to working outside the home until all my kids are in school outside the home. I plan to homeschool, though I'm open to alternative schooling options as they get older depending on what they want to do. We'd like 4-6 kids, so I won't be done for quite a while. I do childcare at home now, so if I want to continue making money, I can keep doing that, but I think once all my kids are older than day care kids, that I'll stop, and I'll probably have to find something else to do at that point. I think I'll continue to do various work at home opportunities - I'm just starting teaching childbirth classes, and I'm sure I'll continue with that.

That said, I don't think it'd be too hard to get back into work if I wanted to - Montessori teachers are always needed, and the credentials don't change. But I don't really see that happening. Maybe substituting or something.

momtosam · September 2014

Possibly never. We are talking about home schooling as an option. So if we go that route, I will take control of schooling our littles. I may eventually work out the home part time just to do a little something for me, but I will most likely never return full time unless financially we had to make it happen.

amieeyoung · September 2014

I think what I would worry about SAH (I'd love to while the kids were young, but can't. However I was able to for about 1 yr. with my older son and loved it), is retirement and how I would support myself if God forbid something happened to him.

I didn't think much about these things before, but my mom SAH after my youngest brothers were born and she married my step dad. He passed away in his mid 40's, and she struggled finding work and being able to support herself and my youngest brothers after. She still has a hard time even though they are grown and out of the house. So my advice is to think about these things and find a way to prepare for the worst case scenario. Enjoy, though ladies!!!

YellowLily2013 · September 2014

@amieeyoung‌ that sounds unfortunate for your mother. But SAH =\= poor financial planning. Things like life insurance can help with sudden death and make a SAH parent feel more secure. Also generously saving when possible. And staying connected with revenue sources. Old work colleagues, etc.

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