Should i go back to work or stay home?

Question

My husband told me that it's up to me if i got back to work right after having the baby. We sat down and figured that it's going to cost us $800 a month for someone to care for our infant and i only bring home a little more than that a month. So its makes sense for me to just stay home with our daughter. I feel strange thinking someone eles is going to raise my babygirl and see all the things she's gona do before me! But it's going to be tight for awhile! Should i go back to work or stay home?

Answer 1

Stay home! You could never get these early months with your child back and you would miss so much. You can always get a job again later when she is older if you like working. This is you ONLY chance to spend her childhood with her!

PLUS...when you looked at the childcare cost and the take home pay.....did you consider gas to get to work and the daycare, clothes for work, the lunches you'd most likely eat out, etc.?

Answer 2

I stayed home with 2 little baby girls and about went nuts by the time they could go to preschool. I loved my time home with them. I loved going back to work, too, and finally speaking adulteeze for a few hours in the day! All I can advise is this..you will know when the time is right to go back outside the home..you will have this strong draw to be out there..you will have a sense you will need to accomplish more and those feelings do not make you a bad mother! You will appreciate your family more when you meet later in the day. Your baby will have so much to tell you and so many kisses to share because you were missed. And like everything in life..if what you are doing does not leave you with a smile on your face and a restful at the end of the day..change it!

Answer 3

I think if you can afford it, stay at home and raise your child. There are no better people to raise a child than the parents. I think that is what has happened to society today. More women are forced to work to make ends meat and the children are set aside to do as they will. Which usually leads to trouble because the children are not supervised as they should be. When my parents were young the mother's work was to take care of their families. Crime was generally lower back then and teenage pregnancy was almost unheard of, which I truly believe was because the mother was at home overseeing and raising her children. There are women who choose to work and I think that is great as well. I don't believe women should be home barefoot and pregnant if they do not wish to be. I just think children are better off with a parent at home.
Even though you two may have to cut back on a few luxuries for a while, it will be well worth it in the end. I hope when I have my baby I'll get to stay home too. Good luck and best wishes!

Answer 4

If you are only going to bring home a little more money than the child care expenses, I would stay at home. You can adjust to the drop in income or you could keep an additional child in your home. Or you could find some type of part time job you could do in the evenings after your husband comes home. That way, he could watch your daughter and you would still have no child care expenses.
There are many options out there for you but if you really want to stay home then do it.

Answer 5

Tough question. One thing you dont look at is that some time in day care is actually good for kids, as they are around other kids, and it helps socialize them, which helps them to learn things like sharing, speach and language develops faster, etc. So daycare isnt all bad. We are going to put our little one into daycare soon, and its going to run us about $850 a month. If that's your takehome in a month, especially if you dont really like your job, I could see just staying home, especially if you dont need the benefits. Remember though, time out of work can also have long term impacts- like you definately wont be getting any promotions or raises while you are at home with the baby.

Answer 6

stay at home. You are not taking in the extra expense of clothing, shoes, gas and eating out when you are working, that can add up fast.

See if there are some Mommy and Me groups you can join. Do they have a Playgroup in your area? Reading time at the library? Go to the park with the new baby. That is a great place to meet other moms.

Answer 7

My wife stays at home with our kids while I work. It dose make things tight on money but my wife gets to see our kids grow up and be there for them. But the choice is up to you. You need to decide if you and you husband are willing to go with out some of the nice things in life for a few years. Like you said The money would be gone one way or another.

Answer 8

There are lots of jobs you can do at home if you don't have enough income. But if your husband has it covered then go for it, but when you do become a stay at home mom, keep your husband surprised and happy because if he's not finding happiness with you then he will find it with someone else. He may say he wants you to stay at home but that may give him the opportunity to creep out.And don't ever listen to what a man says because they will lie to you in a heartbeat.He's telling you he wants you to stay home, he may change his mind when he sees another woman and she has it like you used to have it before you had the baby so keep your eyes open and trust your intuition.

Answer 9

unfortunately, there are sooo many opinions on here that the only one who can really answer that is YOU!

so, just see how you feel being home with the baby and in a few months you may be dying for something else to do and want to go back to work. or, you may decide that you can't fathom a sitter everyday and you stay home....it's up to you.

financially, it sounds like it's a wash, so now you just have to decide what you want!

take care.

Answer 10

If wouldn't really make since for you to go back to work for nothing when most of the money will be going for childcare. Plus, you would feel better knowing that your child was in good hands being with you. If you have the choice... stay at home and enjoy the baby while he/she is small. They grow up fast!!