I have a baby due in May and a son that just turned 5. My husband wants me to stay home with them and resign my job position. My son has asthma and gets very sick very easily. He is wanting me to consider homeschooling him also at least till he gets a little older and builds his immune system. I want to stay home also for the most part, we can make it on my husbands income if we cut back a little and watch our money closely. I have just always had a job and feel guilty for not bringing home a paycheck. Has anyone else been through a situation like this and had these feelings?
2006-12-20 02:29:11 · 11 answers · asked by SHOP GIRL 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
AS for staying home, many couples find that by the time you add it all up, what you pay for gas, work clothes, lunches, daycare, ect Your not losing that much (IF ANY!!) income by staying home.
AS for home schooling DO NOT let people tell you that homeschooling is bad cause they will be weird and shy due to lack of social interaction. NOT TRUE IF YOU HOMESCHOOL CORRECTLY. There are many oppertunities for socialization. MAny homeschool families find the problem is not that the kids aren't getting enough socialzation but that they are getting too much and the family is overscheduled!
Find a good home school group near you and often they have co-op classes, playdates, field trips, etc. on a weekly basis. Your children can play sports, dance, or whatever they're interested in. Many museums have programs for homeschooled children, too.
Many homeschooled children are actually better socialized than most public and private schooled children. In my experience homeschool children are more comfortable and at ease with people of all ages and in many diverse situations. Where as public and private school children seem to be more uncofortable with people outside their age range.
DO NOT homeschool your child to keep him away from other children. That is NOT a reason to homeschool and is NOT good for your child.
But homeschooling may offer you better options for your child health in other respects. If he is sick a lot, homeschooling may be best due to that fact that he can still learn and do his leasson while in bed. He won't have to constantly play catch up everytime he's sick.
There are many ways to save money, for ideas visit http://www.stretcher.com/menu/first.cfm
Just because you stay home doesn't mean you can't make money. Many SAHM bring in money (I do) there are many tings you can do to bring in a little extra money.
*Babysit another child, espically great if the child is around the age of your children! (I've made $300/month this way)
*Cook for families where mom does work--people will pay good money for a homecooked meal! And it won't be extra time--just double what you cook for your own family and divide it-half for your crew and half for extra income. A great website with easy recipes is http://groups-beta.google.com/group/EverydayCook (I charge based on the meal but for a family with 2 kids I chagre like $15 for main dish only like spaghetti $25 with sides and $30-35 with dessert)
*Clean one or two houses a week. It's a couple of hours per house a couple of days a week. And can give you a break from the kids. Have them stay with grandma or go on a playdate. (I've done some smaller houses and made $50/house)
*Assist older person. Many are willing to pay someone just to take them to the doctor or grocery store or go to the store for them. They may also be intered in you cooking meals or cleaning for them. And most would LOVE it if you brought your kids along! Be good for your kids too, we can learn so much from the older generation. (this can vary greatly. depending on the need. I've made $350/week doing this full time and made $10-20 bucks just to get someone some groceries-which I buy when I buy mine!)
HTH! Good luck and congrats on the new baby!
2006-12-20 03:12:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have been there. At first I combatted the feelings by working an evening job, so husband could work days and I work nights. I was lucky enough that we had an insurance company (my field of work) that had night hours (4 pm to 3 am). I was able to homeschool my boys, because homeschooling takes less time than actual school time for them. Planning of course takes a lot longer. When I did end up being home with the boys, we actually saved money, the extra gas in the car, the cost of day cares, and we had a private school before, the extra money for lunches, and you actually have more time to do things at home that cost less instead of paying for convenience---meals out, frozen dinners, etc. Good luck with this...and if you want to ask more, feel free to email. :-)
2006-12-20 02:38:15 · answer #2 · answered by donnabellekc 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you can live off your husbands income than I say go for it. Maybe not forever but just until your son builds his immune and your new baby is ready for day care. There will be days that you will feel like your not providing for the family yes, but just know that you are doing the right thing by being there. That's the most important thing. Consider your self lucky if you can stay home and be with your kids most moms have to work for a living!
2006-12-20 03:04:29 · answer #3 · answered by BOOTS! 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually i think taking him out of school may be a bad decision. Lots of children have asthma and i think it builds up their immune system being around other children. As long as the teachers are aware of his condition i wouldn't worry about him being in school. Another thing, I'm a stay at home mom with another on the way and even though my husband makes good money we still find ourselves struggling sometimes with bills and it can really stress us out!! If you feel uncomfortable giving up your job than don't it's totally up to you. Good luck I'm sure you'll make the right decision.
2006-12-20 02:39:21 · answer #4 · answered by Curious J. 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Stay at home, you will be doing the world a favor by raising your own children, as opposed to paying someone else 5.50/ hour to raise them. After all, you get what you pay for!
As for the 5year old, he should not be missing out on anything, as there are many places to go, and things to do with home schooled kids.
Check out your local library for reading hours;
Look on the internet and in your community for other moms who home school, as they often have get togethers for sports, and extra curricular activities.
If you are really concerned about your son not having enough playmates, then you could try becoming a den mother for the cub scouts, I am sure he would find many new friends and still enjoy homeschooling!
2006-12-20 02:45:28 · answer #5 · answered by beagle1 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Home schooling will not help your son build his immune system - his getting exposed to the germs of the other kids is what's going to do that.
Why not give a trial run while you're on maternity leave with the newborn. You can see how it'll be financially with less money and experience being a stay at home mom for a several months.
2006-12-20 02:47:26 · answer #6 · answered by chicchick 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am also due in May and contemplating that topic with my husband.
What you could do is maybe consider part time work when your husband can be home at night or on weekends. A few hours a week (10-15) to give you that extra cash and time away from the kids, but also give you enough time to still be with your husband.
Discuss working from home with your current employer as well
2006-12-20 02:39:28 · answer #7 · answered by Bébé 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Take it from this latchkey kid who really missed her Mom a LOT; stay home with your kids if you can afford it; the reward of being there for them and not missing one precious moment in their very short childhood years is in itself is worth more than any income you will ever earn. The guilt feelings will surely pass. And if at anytime you feel you could return to work, even part-time, you will always be able to. It's a win-win situation for everyone.
2006-12-20 02:57:11 · answer #8 · answered by rla26368 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i don't think that u should homeschool ur 5 year old because this is whne he is learning to be social and gaining his own personality. If u home school him and then send him off to school one day he might like be quiet and shy off from everyone.
I would love to stay home with my 8 month old though. but work does give me a break and a time to breath.
2006-12-20 02:41:31 · answer #9 · answered by shashana2003 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My wife stays home with our 14 month old. She and I both love it. I think it's better for the child. Your 5 year old might miss out in social interaction he gets from school if you home school him though. It's a personal decision.
2006-12-20 02:32:42 · answer #10 · answered by Max B 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋