GTKY: SAHM or Working Mom?

misamima · February 2016

GTKY = Get To Know You (for those unfamiliar with the term)

Who's a SAHM or planning on being one after this LO? What made you decide on this? Did you have a job prior to being a SAHM?

Who's going back to work? When do you go back, if you haven't already? What's your occupation?

Would you rather be one over the other?

Mizuiro007 · February 2016

SAHM. It was a no brainer since I'm disabled and unable to work.

laurabwalker · February 2016

I will go back to work after maternity leave, which ends in December 2016 for me. I'm a nurse. I think I will want to go back, especially because my mom is doing daycare, so I know Ellie will be well taken care of.

dec15mum · February 2016

My maternity finishes in December, but I plan on quitting once it's finished. I've applied to colleges and they start in September so until then I'm a SAHM

oregonmommy-2 · February 2016

I'm a working mama. I go back March 7th. Currently I am a Pharmacy Technician and will be in RN program in September if all goes as planned! Baby will be with my husband or MIL while I'm at work. I only work 4 days a week and my work is very flexible so if I needed to leave early or anything I would have coverage to do so.

They know the transition to leave my baby boy is going to be hard on me and they are prepared to cover for me if I feel I need to leave early any day. I'm very thankful and lucky for the girls I work with for being so understanding! It really pays off to have a good relationship with your co workers.

JulieK79 · February 2016

I'm somewhere in between. I teach 1st grade but started job sharing last year. I teach Monday - Wednesday AM and my job share partner teaches the rest of the week. I can job share for four more years before having to go back full time. So thankful that my district has this option. It's the best of both worlds. I go back February 24th.

MomofEv+1 · February 2016

I work in HR. I go back February 25th. I will be working 4 days a week during March and April and then returning to full time. I wish I could work part time forever so I could get a little extra time with my kids, but I wouldn't be good at staying home full time. I got 9 weeks of practice with the 2 of them and would become a major shut in who turned into a hag and my kids would watch way too much age inappropriate tv. Lol! And also we would be ever so poor.

parkerhouse · February 2016

We had planned on transitioning me to a SAHM at the end of the year (due to insurance issues) but now that doesn't seem like a good idea. My husband works from home and we are having issues with respecting each other boundaries. For example, he'll come downstairs to get lunch and see that I'm still on the couch feeding our child and make some remark about "what have I done today" or joke asking "where his lunch is". He's having issues realizing I'm not his personal assistant. I get frustrated that he can find time to walk the dog for an hour (we go too) or watch tv while working, but can't watch Landon for ten minutes while I take a shower. So now that I've turned this into a rant....sorry!!...I return to work at the beginning of May. And even though I don't want to leave my baby, a huge part of me is really looking forward to it.

ammnam14 · February 2016

I'm a SAHM, hopefully I'll be working part time by the end of the year!

LaceyH13 · February 2016

I went back to work Feb 1. I am an executive assistant. Fortunately my baby comes to work with me until his 6 month birthday, then he will spend the summer home with my DH, then start daycare in August right before he turns 8 months.

taysun · February 2016

I'm a SAHM, but will be working some weekends if I can find the right hours to add some extra income.

12815AEEA · February 2016

Sacrificing a lot to stay at home until august. I was only going to get until March 21. I'm a teacher so I'll go back with the new school year.

katy4128 · February 2016

SAHM! I have been at home since ds #1 was born almost two years ago. I love it! It is worth the small sacrifices. I do coach club volleyball to make some extra money.

scientificunicorns · February 2016

I am so friggin jealous of all the moms that get a year of paid maternity leave. It almost makes me angry. I want that!

laurabwalker · February 2016

Yes you should have it @scientificunicorns I'd be angry too

scientificunicorns · February 2016

laurabwalker said:

Yes you should have it @scientificunicorns I'd be angry too

Yes! Having a baby is expensive enough without losing 11 weeks of salary.

Alyssaerin996 · February 2016

Working mom here! I work in marketing/biz dev for a tech startup in Boston. I have 12 weeks paid leave, and I'll go back full time, with one day working from home, in early April. DD will do one day with DH (he works 4 10 hr shifts), one day with my mother and 3 days at a local daycare.

The maternity (and paternity) laws in the US are criminal. (That's all I'll say before I go on a rant.) I definitely wish I had longer with the baby. However, I can say after 5 weeks home with DD that Im pretty sure I was not cut out to be a SAHM in the long term.

thatgirlree24 · February 2016

Supposed to go back to work 2/29 but I don't want to! I work in the health insurance industry.

oregonmommy-2 · February 2016

I agree @Alyssaerin996 as much as I love my little boy and spending so much time with him.. And I will be so sad to go back to work, I am actually looking forward to it and getting out of the house. I have to much time on my hands and I'm taking a class online, and taking care of the house of course. But I am going completely stir crazy here!! I'm a busy body so I do better keeping busy. In a dream world I would be able to take my baby to work with me! Lol

kdoak2015 · February 2016

scientificunicorns said:

I am so friggin jealous of all the moms that get a year of paid maternity leave. It almost makes me angry. I want that!

So we only get 55% of our income which for some isn't enough to get by but it is nice to have. We also pay into this on every paycheque so it's not money coming out of th Sky. But yes it is nice to have 12 months off. I will be going back in October for 1 day a week until mid November which is when I go back FT and then I'll only go back 4 days a week until January.

christiel14 · February 2016

I'm a RN and go back to work in 2 days :-( I was approved the 12 weeks of leave but totally unpaid and so for financial reasons I have to go back after 9. I would love to stay at home as I was a nanny for 8 years and loved the time I had with those kiddos and hate that I won't get that with my own son. Thankfully my husband and I are able to work our schedules so Harrison gets to be with one of us almost the whole week. The only overlap is Sundays from 2-4 and mom is able to watch him so we can avoid the cost of daycare. It will be hard to leave him come Sunday morning!

esscapelle · February 2016

Working mom. I go back to work March 7th. I run an Assisted Living building and I love my work! It'll be different to get used to this new normal but I'm looking forward to having a routine again!

Gingermom15 · February 2016

Working mom

I'm a patient care tech at a hospital and I love my job. Also returning to school in a few weeks.
Big kudos to all SAHM's, I've been off almost 12 weeks and counting down the hours to going back. I will miss my baby terribly and I don't want to leave him, but I just don't have it in me to be a SAHM.

steffnstuff · February 2016

I get 8 weeks of short term disability because I had a c-section but I have to use some of my sick time to cover the remainder of what's not covered by disability. It's a 45/55 split. I pay for supplemental insurance for this reason. We can take bonding time through FMLA. I'm doing that but I only have enough vacation time on the books to be off until April. To go any longer it'd be without pay, which I sadly can't afford.

LO will be going to daycare until June when hubby is off work for the summer (he works for the school district so has the same schedule as the kids). LO will go back to daycare after the summer. It's a home daycare run like a preschool. My 3 year old has been going there since he was 4 months old. So I at least know and trust the caretaker but I hate to have to leave my baby. I wish I could stay home longer.

I work in child protective services. On top of the mom guilt I already have, it really sucks to work all day at protecting someone else's child while worrying about and longing to be with your own. I know the work I do is meaningful, but it's still hard to be away from my kids.

Taylovesbrad · February 2016

I am a sahm now. Left my job at a pharmacy company. Will look for something part time tho eventually. I feel terrible that people have to go back to work so fast. My babe is 10 weeks and he is finally getting over his stomach issues and it's so much better.

navyblueladybug · February 2016

I went back to work on Monday but instead of full time I went down to part time. I'm an RN and work two 12 hour shift a week. The days I'm there DH works from home so we don't have to do daycare at all. Our plan is eventually I'll be a SAHM... Probably when LO #2 comes along (in a few years), our debts are paid off and DH gets a few more raises. I can't wait! It's what I've always wanted... My mom stayed at home and I loved her being around for everything. I want that for my kids.

ksrkim · February 2016

I'm a library media specialist in an elementary school. I will return to work in April.

There are some days I wish I was a SAHM because I just love my kids but I actually think I'd be terrible at it. When my kids are around I get absolutely nothing else done. For example, my goal was to do a load of laundry today. I did not achieve my goal. Pathetic. I have planned and executed exactly 2 meals since DS was born. He is 8 weeks.

In a perfect world, I would work part time.

ramfam2507 · February 2016

Working mom here. I went back to work on Monday. Nico stays with my mom and I get to interact with humans who can interact back. I miss him tons but I consider it a win win for me. I work in the finance division of a large national medical supply company.

Holdmomma · February 2016

Hubby and I are both teachers. I'll be going back to work March 1st full time. We were financially able to squeeze by with me working half time for two years after my first was born, but with two kids in child care I need to work full time to make enough money to pay for the additional child care expenses. SAHM isn't an option b/c I make more than DH. So messed up!

sharonholck28 · February 2016

I wanna hopefully be something in the middle. I worked in a photo lab before I moved home. I will probably start freelancing some photography jobs soon to get some extra money. I'd love it if freelance can be all I do but I might work part time in a studio if I have to.

threatlevelmidnight · February 2016

SAHM- I've wanted to be one since I can remember. I've always just wanted to be a mom! I was a nanny before LO, and I'm so excited to be living my dream as a sahm.

pupsicle23 · February 2016

I'll be going back to work as a middle school ELA teacher in March. I work with mostly high-needs kiddos, so it would be really unfair to them and my team to not finish out the school year. That being said, I won't be teaching full time next year. DH is getting a promotion, so we will see what his salary looks like. If they can work it out logistically, my school will offer me a part time teaching job that allows me to only work mornings. If that doesn't happen and DH's new job allows me more flexibility, I'll still take a summer break and then try to do part time work. In the meantime, DD will need full time daycare for about a month.

I would love to be a SAHM and am already dreading my return to work. However, I do miss adult interaction and think that working part time would be perfect. My MIL is wonderful and planning to move here, so she would watch the baby.

angelicac06 · February 2016

Working mom as a sales manager at a fortune 500 very desperately hoping to remain that way. I used to envy SAHM however after being on maternity leave, I realized I could never do it and be happy. I love my son with all my heart and there's a huge part that wants to be there for every moment however I know it's not for me. I may not have much of a choice as many of you know. I may have to give up my career and start all over one day again. There's no part time at my company. I'm scheduled to go back Feb. 24th after 3 paid months but since Mary Poppins hasn't knocked on my door yet I am going to ask for more time, paid or unpaid it doesn't matter otherwise I will have to resign.

Court11152325 · February 2016

Working mom. I am a university professor. I didn't actually get leave. DD was born 12/21 while we were between semesters. The semester started 1/16 and I had to teach that first week, then I had 4 weeks where my classes were online. I go back to on campus teaching next week. I'm lucky that I only teach 2 days a week this semester and my parents are here so my mom watches DD. I do have grading and research responsibilities that I have to balance so I will be on campus more often than 2 days.

Respect to the SAHM. I love DD, but it's nice to get away for a couple hours sometimes.

ssn109 · February 2016

Working mom, went back on 2/1. I was part time before, though I worked nearly full time hours. I had to make it more structured when I went back, so I only work certain days to accommodate my husband's grandmother who was nice enough to watch him while I work. I wanted her to have some days off to continue living her life, too. It was hard going back, but my firm (I'm a lawyer) is very flexible with what I do, when and where I do it. So I can work from home if I want, leave early if I want (which I did my first day back, I didn't even make it 3 hours before I raced to pick up my DS). The plan is to eventually be full time there, but I know they will still be flexible if I needed to leave early for some reason every once in a while.

dmendo01 · February 2016

I will be returning to work February 22nd. I work in a clinic as an internal medicine nurse practitioner 8:30-5 m-th with a half day on Friday so I don't think it'll be too bad. Should have no problem pumping or anything. Although I couldn't be a SAHM i do wish I had 12 weeks instead of 8 but when I got pregnant I changed from working for a hospitalist group to the clinic for better hours so no built up sick or vacation time

so I've taken 8 weeks no pay.

blended10 · February 2016

Sahm for 5+ years now- some days better than others!
I didn't have a "career" ever so I don't miss a particular job but do miss having a reason to leave & pee when I want. I do realize how lucky I am.

preggoandglowing · February 2016

Working mom, I go back at the end of May. Houses are so damn expensive in LA so I can't afford to be a SAHM. DH offered to pick up more hours at work (he already works 50+ per wk) and then I could stay home but what's the fun in raising kids without him around? Luckily both my mom and MIL are available to watch DD and I get to work from home 1 day per week.

merbear32 · February 2016

SAHM. DH and I agreed I'd stay home until DD is 18 mo.

soccsm13 · February 2016

I'm a SAHM. Before my son was born I worked at an insurance company automating reporting. It was a good job but nothing I could see myself doing forever. After my 14w maternity leave I went back and suddenly hated everything about it. I lasted 2 months before DH and I decided we would give me staying home a shot. Thankfully he got a promotion so the timing worked out well. Now that we have 2 my job is much harder lol but I wouldn't change a thing. I love watching my kids grow.

mrsduncan32 · February 2016

I'm a ftm and a sahm. I quit my job 5 months pregnant due to stress and knowing when baby arrived I wasn't going to handle working 12 hour days and being away from him that long. My husband also works 12-14 hr days and my mom would have watched our little guy for us. I was all ready to start reapplying for new jobs once I was releases by Dr but my husband sat me down one day and said he wanted me to stay home with our little one. It was a combination of him knowing is rather stay home because I'd feel quitly leaving him and my husband loves having me home. We own our own business so now I am more open to assist him with paper work and errands if he needs it. While I do miss adult interaction here and there it's totally worth it being home with my son. I also have a great support system and friends who have older kids so if I need adult time, we make sure it is baby friendly.

Want a personalized experience?

GTKY: SAHM or Working Mom?

Re: GTKY: SAHM or Working Mom?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards