Looking for advice from working mothers - do you regret not being home?

Question

I am home full time with my children, 3 1/2 and 14 months. I am considering going back to work full time since the $$ would be helpful and intellectually I know I would enjoy it. I am struggling with the idea of not being with my children, however. Any thoughts or advice?

Answer 1

Going back to work can be hard, but if you need to do it for the money, then it's something that needs to be done. I'm a single mother of 5 working 3 jobs. I would love to be able to stay home or at least have more time with my children. The most important thing to remember is that you make time to still do things together and let them know that even if you aren't around as much you are still there. My kids are 8,5,3,almost 2, and 9 months.

Answer 2

Me personally I would love to be a stay @ home mom and have a part time job. My daughter is 6 and in 1st grade and I think I would help her accomplish so much more if I was able to give her my full attention instead of being so tired when I get home. I have almost an hour drive to and from work. I am a single parent. So i do everything and its rough. But I have want to make sure my child also has the best so that is why i go out and bust my butt and work. You on the other hand are more than likely married and have help. (Just cause you are married doesn't mean he's helpful ) I say do what is best for you and the kids. I think the kids benefit getting out and playing with other kids. They become social where as other kids that stay with parents all day aren't apt to share or want to interact with other kids.

Answer 3

I just started working again 2 weeks ago after a 3 yrs stop. It is hard to reorganize my life - working is just an extra workload on top of all my mother tasks and I feel I am much more stressed than before. But I also have the chance to work parttime so I feel it's great for my son to be away 2 days a week and it's great for me to have 2 days for me, plus a little bit of $. And the change is gradual and not too brutal for anyone. I do not miss my son during the day but when I pick him up at 6pm, I can't believe how much of his day I've missed. It's difficult but I think it's worth it if this is what you want. Good luck.

Answer 4

I am a full time working mother and ther are many days that I wish I could have stayed home with them. Especially now that my son is a teenager and refuses to go by the rules. I am constantly worrying about them while I am at work. But financially , unfortunately, I have to work to help pay the bills. Now a days, most families need 2 incomes to make ends meat. You with what your heart tells you. You and your hubby should be the ones to decide what is financially better for you. GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 5

A large majority of young mom's that go back to work, pay for daycare and have a husband that works would actually be financially better off IF they stayed home. The exception is mom's that go back to work primarily for health insurance coverage that their husband's jobs don't provide.

Therefore if you aren't one of those exception cases, you should first see if financially it makes sense for you to go to work. Consider all costs, including: 2nd dependable car, lunches, clothes, dry cleaning, commutting costs, more take out and dinners out at night, daycare, etc. Once you factor all that in vs the additional income often you are only a few dollars ahead a week by working. And most mom's could stay at home and take in someone elses child and make more money.
Or could make more money by clipping coupons, and working at other cost savings that they can better do by being home.

Answer 6

I'm a single mother that works full time and even though I enjoy having that break from being a mom and making my own money sometimes I wish I only worked part time so I could be more involved with school functions and things with my daughter.

Answer 7

I have been thinking about this too. My youngest is almost 4. I think being at home with mom is the best choice. My olders son got sick so much being in a daycare. I use to work nights and a few weekend and my husband watched the kids. Good Luck!

Answer 8

I work full time, my girls are 10, 12 & 13. I would love to be a stay home mum and be there when they come home from school and during school holidays, their dad is home as he works nights and we fix our annual hols to cover the school hols. If I didn't work the girls wouldn't have the things that they have now, computers, nice clothes, mum or dads taxi service when they want to go out and of course money to go out with. You could get a job with flexible working hours so that you could finish and get home for the kids after school, or even a job in a school then you would get the school holidays off with your kids when they go.

Answer 9

Stay home!! I was home with my daughter until she was 5 and it was the best experience for BOTH of us.

My question for you is this: when you are at work, who's going to love your children like you do? Some stranger in a day care center? Even if a relative was taking care of the kids, they can't provide that same kind of love that you can.

Wait until they are older before you go back to work. The extra money would be nice, but you can't buy back the years of your kids growing that you'll be missing.

Answer 10

honey put those babies in day care or have your mom if you can watch those babies and get back into the working world, as long as you don't work over time or you start acting like a workaholic. and come home to the kids i see nothing wrong. spend time with them at night and make sure your mornings are loving and a great time before you take them to the daycare. and when you pick them up make the most of the night hours. and make bedtime a wonderful experience.