Stay at home mom or working mom?

Question

I chose to stay at home but I babysit some other children. What is your preference?

Thanks for everyone who has answered - I especially thank the men for sharing their opinions - I really appreciate it!

Answer 1

I don't know if you are looking for a man's perspective on this, but my wife is a stay at home mom and we are very convinced we are doing the right thing for us. It comes down to your priorities and goals, how many children you have and your financial circumstances.

We are blessed enough to be able to live on my income comfortably. Sure, we could live in a nicer house, drive fancier cars and have newer clothes, but for us the trade off is worth it. Our children are the most important things in our lives and we don't want to leave their upbringing up to someone else.

Now having said that, there are those that don't have the choice, and do the best they can with what they have been dealt. And I absolutely respect them for the tough choices they have to make. But knowing that we have the choice, and being able to look my 4 children in the eyes and tell them we did everything in our power to provide them with the best upbringing we could is worth any trade off for us.

Answer 2

I am a man so maybe you don't want to hear from me. But i think if you can stay home maybe the first year or two. Then go to work. I don't see what is the point of being a stay at home mom with a 13 yr old in school at least get part time job and stop putting the entire financial burden on the husband. My wife is at home now but will be going to work when our little one is older

Answer 3

Im a stay at home Mommy.
My oldest kids are 11 and 13 and I stayed home til they were both in school full time. Then went back to work while they were at school.....but was home in time to get them from school.
I recently had a daughter and I am once again a stay at home mom.
I never regretted a day of it.......I was there to see all the *first moments* that a baby-sitter or daycare would have got to see/hear. I also did home-daycare while I was caring for my own kids as some side income!

Answer 4

If you can afford it and make it work, definatly a stay at home mom! at least until they are in preschool or kindergarten and you can get a part time job during their school hours....

my reasoning..........why have someone else raise your kids??? Plus when you put them in Daycare its not even worth haveing a job because 1/2 to 3/4 of your check goes to paying the daycare.Is that really worth missing the first laugh step, or a new word????
But if its required and you cant afford other wise i think its ok

Answer 5

This is really a case by case basis. However, socially your kids will need interraction on a daily basis with other children outside the home. This helps them learn social issues and teaches them how they need to respect other people. My children are enrolled in Day Care/ Preschool and I think it is a good way to help them. Also, since I work I appreciate my time with them alot more. In the mornings, evenings and weekends we do so much together. And they each get one day off a week to stay at home with Mom, I am self employed and can usually wriggle a day or two at home on my laptop.

All in all if you can balance it where they get social skills and also get their time in with Mom and Dad great!

Amy

Answer 6

I also stay at home. I believe it is a personal choice for each person. And, of course, if it is financially a possibility. We also homeschool. We didn't start out that way. Our child has been in both public and private schools, but it just didn't work. That is also a personal choice. Just wanted to lend my support and say that it is a full time job being a stay at home mom!

Answer 7

I'm a stay at home mom and love it. I have a 11,9 and 2 year old the first two i stayed at home till they both started school then worked while they were in school. But now with the two year old i am back at home till he goes to school. I'm just lucky i have a husband that makes good enough money to let me stay home with the kids. I love to be able to spend the time with them.

Answer 8

it depends what you can afford.

i think its important to be their for the first year or two, babys need their mothers in the early years, its how they learn compassion, because their mother shows it to them.

but if you cant afford it, then dont, i dont think having a stay at home mum or a working mum makes much diffrence AS LONG as you spend some time with your kids each day, even if its just an hour a day or if its just putting them to bed, giving them a bath, or reading a story, its how you spend your time with your kids, not how much that matters and effects their groth.

my wife stayed at home till they where 3 - then they went to nursery for 2 years before they started school and she went to work - i think thats a perfectly normal and healthy thing to do and will do no harm. and if you can afford to you should.

Answer 9

I wish I could have stayed at home, but I'm the money maker in the family so I went back to work when my daughter was 2 months old. Thankfully my mom & mother-in-law were able to watch her so I wouldn't go insane thinking of her in daycare.

Answer 10

i stay at home with my kids ages 4,3 and 16 months. my 3 and 4 year old are in head start 4 hours a day Monday - Thursday. my husband is is construction and I'm thinking about taking on a part time job in the evenings, i don't know yet but we'll see.