Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

yes & i technically have since DS was born. I only work PT to help my boss out plus I get to be out of the house 1 day a week

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

I did! When it came down to doing the math, it made no sense for me to go back!

When DS was a few months old I worked PT jobs for a short amount of time.
Then, I babysat for my cousins baby for about a year and a half. I still kept busy.

Now that I have 2, I love being home. They definitley keep me busy!

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

I stopped working FT and went to 12 hours a week with no regrets. I picked this career knowing it was flexible when I had kids.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

I did and I am the happiest I have ever been

I worked FT from when DS was 4 months until 14 months. Then I quit my job and have stayed home ever since (he is now 2 and DS#2 is due to arrive 5/4).

It is a huge adjustment/lifestyle change. I worked my entire life until I was almost 37 years old, this is all new to me and at times it is really hard. But I am surprised at how well I am adapting and how much I do NOT miss working. I think my job was just a "job" to me and not a career. That was a big difference in my case. I feel like I make a bigger impact now being at home the I ever did at work. I was likely in the wrong career.

I am able to stay at home now because DH's company was bought, we relocated OOS and with the new cost of living, we are comfortable on one income. I do plan on working again once my kids are in school, maybe PT. This is for me, and also to help pay for college.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

I will be once DC#2 is born.

With that said, I always said after DD was born I wanted to go back to work. Then as my maternity leave was ending I was miserable about going back. After the 1st week back and asked to go PT and DH and I both agreed if they denied my request I was going to quit. They accepted my PT request, and I'm STILL miserable.

The plan was actually to see if I made the next "cut list" and if I didn't I was going to quit. It looks like I didn't make that list, but I'm going to now hold out until after my maternity leave to quit.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

No. I love being a mom.. but I also love having a career. I don't feel that the 2 need to be mutually exclusive.

Plus.. I have worked REALLY HARD for my education.

And - as others have said - there's a big "WHAT IF". My husband had a great job with fantastic benefits. I didn't PLAN for him to get laid off. I didn't PLAN for the economy to suck so bad that he'd be out of work for the better part of the last year and a half. But that's where we are. And if I had taken the opportunity to stay home when I had it, I wouldn't have the career I have now that allows us to still have great medical coverage and pay our mortgage and put food on the table and still have just enough for Christmas and birthdays.

I WOULD - however - consider cutting back on my hours a bit until they are older.

I also would have taken a longer maternity with each child.

I some people - like me - are not cut out to be SAHM's. I think other people are WONDERFUL at managing their households and being SAHM's. It's a totally personal thing.

Message edited 2/14/2010 9:58:09 AM.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

i actually love being at work. i may sound horrible, but it gives me a break from DS. I LOVE MY SON!!!!!!!!! but just at 4 months he makes me exhausted. i love my time with him on the weekends and im very happy he's in daycare and gets to spend time with other people besides his family.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

Yes. I would, but I would also start a business out of the home.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

No. Technically, right now, I could quit and become a SAHM - we could afford it. But, I absolutely adore my job, and I can't imagine living without my income. While not as high as DHs combined income from his two jobs, it's certainly nothing to sneeze at, and I like having the independence of my own career and my own money.

But what it really boils down to is happiness - I'm most happy when I work - I'm a better mommy, wife and person when I come home from my job everyday, and there's no money in the world that would compensate for that.

I did already make sacrifices in my career, however, to achieve the balance, by leaving private practice to work for the federal government, which means better hours and flexibility. I feel like I have the best of all worlds, and there's no way I would give it up!

Message edited 2/14/2010 10:06:34 AM.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

YES!!! and i did years ago I would have said no, I have a good degree, a good job, what if something goes wrong betwenn DH and I. he got a new position making much more money, replacing my salary by double. Now I SAH, we are both very happy DS is so happy and we have another baby on the way I have the next 35+ years to work and have no worries about that, so I would say Yes stay home with your little one if you can

ETS I did go back to work FT when DS was 16 weeks, I wound up quitting when he was 10 months so I have done both. its so nice to never answer to a manager on top of all the home stress. PT is not an option at my job, guess it's for the best bc I would be dreading the days I had to go to work anyway

Message edited 2/14/2010 10:13:41 AM.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

At this point I have the best of both worlds. I work from home and go into the office 1 or 2 days a week, when my mom babysits for free.

I always say that I wish I had a job that I could leave at the office and not worry about beyond that. My job has alot of deadlines and due dates and if the projects are not done by then I am out of luck- and in trouble. I do enjoy going to work now and getting a little bit of a break. I also have to work because DH and I make equal salaries and we need my income to survive.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

No. I work p/t and I'm not a great SAHM. I enjoy being home with DS the 2 days per week and weekend but I can't imagine being home by myself 5 days per week. I took a 6 month ML and was SO ready to go back to work! For me, going to work is easier than being home. I don't have a stressful job.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

I don't think so. I love my daughter a ton and I truly enjoy spending time with her....but I also love teaching.

And it's not really a consideration because we need my insurance, and my money to pay for everything. If we didn't need my salary and insurance....maybe. But I really can't say for sure.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

I would love to have the option to take a few years off, but I worked very hard to get my education and my job. I have a great job, and lots of time off so, no, I wouldn't.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

I'd go part-time.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

Yes. I can't, so it's not an option, but regardless of how hard I worked for my doctorate, and how generous they are with letting me work from home a couple days a week, I would give it up in a second to be home with DS all day. He is my favorite boss. There are so many days when it is so hard to leave him.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

No...I wouldn't for two reason. The first is I love my job and I worked hard to get it. Im lucky that I am a teacher so I am off from work a lot and home by 3:30.
The 2nd reason is that my father passed away from cancer when I was 1 and my sister was 3. My my was SAHM and she really struggled. She has always instilled in us the importance of having your own career and being able to support your family if it's needed.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

No, as much as I love DD, I know that I need to be out of the house or it would make me crazy.

I'm actually going from p/t to f/t (hopefully) after this DC is born.

It's purely financial for us at this point.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

100% yes! for me, being a SAHM is 1000 times easier than working. being on maternity leave is so easy for me--i have a clean house, food is bought, dinner cooked every day and i spend so much time with my kids. when i work, nothing gets done.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

I did, but I didn't make much to begin with. I love being a SAHM for the past 2 years but I do miss getting out and working. Also, things tend to get tight here and there with only one income and 4 kids to support but I don't make enough to cover daycare so we would be losing a lot more with me working.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

Not sure. I went PT last summer and I work 25 hours a week. I go into the office 2 days a week and work from home another 10 hours. For me it's the best of both worlds. I still get out, have me time, and get to spend quality time with DD.

My paycheck is my "fun" money and I pay for all the day to day expenses (groceries, dry cleaning, anything and everything for DD). This may sound selfish, but I have always been a shopper - whether it's Bloomies or Target, it doesn't matter. It's just part of who I am and I don't think I'd be happy without it. If push came to shove I'd give it up but for right now it works for me.


ETA - whether you are a SAHM or FTWM, no one is ever 100%. The debates and arguments on this board prove it.

Message edited 2/14/2010 12:21:52 PM.

Re: Would you quit your job and become SAHM?...

If finances were not an issue, I'd give my notice and walk. Id consider SEIT work once my children would be in elementary school as long as I could make my own hours.