Stay at home mom, how did you decide?

Question

How did you decide to leave your job and actually stay at home? Were you ever concerned of missing your income?

Answer 1

Staying home was something I'd always wanted to do. When it came to figuring out the money we really studied it. First, we made it work on paper, then we put it into practice while I was pregnant. We lived only on my husband's salary and put mine into savings. We proved that we could do it, and my last day of "work" was 10 days before my first was born.

Answer 2

Yes, I raised three boys on my part time income. I got into real estate and became an agent part-time. I was able to make a few sales and live on that. I did not have to work that much and was able to stay home with my kids who needed a lot of supervision. I am glad I put my children first because they turned out to be really good human beings! I never defined myself by what I did for a living. I was a mother first, and my children took priority. Everything else took a back seat to my role as a mother. I still consider it my mission in life to see that my children are happy and sucessful human beings who love the Lord! What really influenced my decision was when my husband left and they would have had no parent in the home to supervise them if I would not have been there. I could have made more money, but I would not sacrifice the well being of my children for money! The Lord provided! We never starved! Didn't Jackie Onassis say something like, "If you fail at raising your children, nothing else you do in life matters much"? Sometimes it was hard to not have a full time income, but it was so worth it! We just found things to do that we could afford. Instead of shopping at the mall, we went to second hand thrift stores. You know what? They still do. They have learned that they don't need a lot of material things to be happy.

Moms! Your children can do without the latest expensive toy on the market. They cannot do without you! I do not have any regrets!

Answer 3

My husband is in the military and had orders to report to a new base a week after I had our son so I already had left my job, but I was planning on working in our new town. My husband still had to report so I stayed with my mom for two weeks and while there I really enjoyed being home with the baby. We didn't need my income so we both agreed that it would be better for our son if he had me home for his first year. He's going to be three in May and I'm due with our second child in May as well, and am only doing temp work here and there when I feel like it. Temp work has been great. There is still that extra income when we start getting to something important like a birthday or vacation, but I am not obligated to work when I don't want to.

Answer 4

We had talked about me being a stay-at-home mom even before we got married and had kids. I think that's extremely important--to discuss it ahead of time. My husband works two jobs now to make sure we have all our bills paid and are able to save money, but he never complains. He'd rather work 10 jobs than have his daughter at a daycare all day. I can't imagine not being here for all her "firsts" and even just for all the little cute everyday things that she does. She warms my heart, enriches my life, and gives me more pride and confidence than any career ever could. I am very thankful to be able to stay home with her, and our son due in May.

Answer 5

I stayed home full time after baby 3. My income was missed at first but me made adjustments and I think it was the best thing I ever did for our family.

ohh by the way my mom watched my kids while I worked so I didn't have the high daycare cost. I would have probablly quit work sooner if not for her.

Answer 6

Considering my husband and I were paying over $500 a month for daycare, it made more sense for me to stay home with my kids. I was paying someone more than my house payment to watch my kids!!!! And I wasn't 100% comfortable with my kids being in daycare, and family was of no use to us. They never wanted to help without complaining. I am planning on going back to school once my boys are in school full time themselves and then going back to work afterwards. No, never really been concerned over the loss of income since I was already putting out SO much of it for daycare anyway. It just made sense for us.

Answer 7

Sure you miss the income! But it is amazing how less you spend when it isn't there!
For us, it was a decision based on the fact that financially there would never be a 'good time'. Otherwise you would put it off forever and maybe miss your chance of having kids all togethor. As it is, I wish we had of started trying 2 years earlier. Whilst we fell pregnant easily the first time, we have been trying for about a year now and I am afraid time isn't on our side now.

Answer 8

I had toyed with the idea for a long time but just couldn't justify the loss of income. The final straw broke when I realized I was going to have to start working even more than the 40+ hours I was already putting in. I decided enough was enough; my kids were more important and we would make it somehow. And--we have. I don't regret it for even one second.

Answer 9

It was a very simple decision for me, why bother having a kid if I was going to ship it off to strangers all day? Also, I was not making enough to even consider working...gas, lunch money, wardrobe, daycare costs would have all been at least as much or more than I was earning, so financially it wasn't a sound decision. Of course, I had a husband who was not in favor of day care, and was happy to support the household. Not everyone has that option, but if you have it within your means, I think it's one of the greatest gifts you can give your child(ren).

Answer 10

I go to college a couple days a week but I am lucky to have family around that watches my son for free when I need them to. My fiance has been very supportive as well. It's important to him that I'm able to be there for our son. I really appreciate that he makes it work. But I understand that that's not always the case for some women. I know that we wouldn't have been able to afford it about 5 years ago. He wasn't making very much money then. I feel very fortunate to have the option to stay home with our son.