Do you think that it is better for mom's to stay home with the kids or go to work.?

Question

ok i have been a stay at home mom for three years, and now i need to go to work to make money so that my husband and i and the kids can have some other extra cash. right now we don't never have the money to do nothing. so i guess that i am ask do you think that i should go back to work or stay at home with the kids. i have no problem with going to work my husband was making pretty good money until his factory shut down and he got layed off and now he has got a lower paying job and we can barley make the bills.

i have a 5 year old and a 2 year old . there grandmother is willing to both of them but one is in school till 3:00pm and i would be home in time to pick him up from school and like i said i dont have a problem with going to work but i want whats best for my kids.

Answer 1

thats a loaded question,and the answer is whatever is better for you.some women prefer to be at home with their children,if it works for them fine.other women prefer to work,and thats equally fine.we all have differing situations,some women have to work they dont have a choice.if you are fortunate enough to be able to stay at home all well and good.
in your case do whats best for you and your family,and you are the best judge of that,but whatever you choose to do,be happy with your decision and dont feel guilty.

Answer 2

It depends on how strongly you feel about being a stay at home mother. Who will take care of the children and if it is daycare or a sitter? You may want to see if this is even an option of whether you are any further ahead or not. I am sorry your husband got laid off, but is there some job he could get now? (at least until a better one comes along)? Ask yourself these questions before you decide. Many couples face financial difficulty and it is a choice of whether you can get through or just want to have more. Maybe you can do something at home, like on the computer. Think and do what's best for your children and husband and if that means working outside the home with being able to keep your paycheck or most of it.............then it's fine. I hope some good job will come up for your husband soon. Can he get workman's comp?

Answer 3

Sounds like you've stayed home with them long enough to give them a good start. If you have to work, you have to work -- gotta have the basics -- your children will learn that we as humans don't always get to do what want to do -- sometimes we do what we have to do to provide and care for those we love. And whether or not a woman should stay home with her children depends a lot on the woman and what kind of interaction she has with her children whether it's all day or after work. Children can sense stress, and tight finances create stress -- so the parents are distracted and focused on money, bills, etc., instead of on each other, the children, and the family as a whole. So, it's really not how much time you spend together, but how you all are when you are together (happy, healthy, positivie, focused on the things that matter).

Hope your situation improves, but don't let anyone else dictate what you should or should not do -- there are no set rules here -- you do what works for everyone.

Answer 4

absolutely go to work! I have a 5 and 2 year old and have returned to work 2-3 days a week at a supermarket after a nearly 3 year break! I was also finding that there just isn't any money left over for any niceties or even to pay all the bills on time every month.

My eldest is at prep at school and the younger one goes to daycare 2 days a week (i work monday, friday and every second sunday). I work school hours usually so it fits in with the older one and the little one loves his daycare so it doesn't affect him terribly. The extra money usually pays for the groceries and a bit of petrol which really helps.

Just think, its better for the kids to have mummy work a couple days a week and therefore have a roof over their heads and food in their bellies, than to suffer.
You are doing the right thing for your family, just stay organised, keep plenty of one on one time scheduled and enjoy it!

Best of luck with your new job hunting.

Answer 5

I find this a very interesting question, because when the country was more rural women worked on the farms and ranches and contribute to the family income by doing this.
In our current society, a woman that does not work, can often find herself in the position you are currently in. Also, considering the fact that at anytime your husband could become disabled or God For Bid die, when you have been out of the job market, you will be working at lower wages than someone that has been longer in the work force.
I see a woman that is in the workforce as someone that desires to have some influence on the security of the family and herself.

Answer 6

I"m so sorry your husband's job crashed! Please consider all your options carefully; you are the only mother your children have, and of course no one else will love them and care about them as much as you do; but then, keeping the bills paid is also important, life at a shelter just isn't family life.

Have you considered working from home? If you provided daycare for a few other children, you would possibly make just as much money as if you worked for minimum wage, without leaving your own children or needing transportation and work clothes and lunch money. Your children would doubtless enjoy the playmates too. Maybe grandma could come over and give you a few hours respite occasionally, too.

Answer 7

I too am a stay-at-home mother. the only thing I say to your question is that-Who will watch the kids while your at work? How much would daycare cost?

If the cost of daycare is too expensive-I would say dont do it.
I have been in the same boat-where I wanted extra cash in my home-Daycare would have been $800 a month-which would have been all of my earnings-NOT WORTH IT.

I now work part-time with a home-based business. I can get a babysitter(free-or $25) and make $100 each day I work. It has been great!

Answer 8

It depends on how you want to live. If you are happy with just managing, then keep going this way. If you want more, why not work? You may be able to find a part-time job that allows you to leave after the kids have gone to school and be back by the time they get home. You may also be able to find something you can actually do from home. Look into it.

Answer 9

If you must, you must. Most moms work now adays and have since ancient times, even if carrying the baby on her back to work the fields, fetch water from the town well or whatever. Staying home is nice, some jobs you can work from home, but if you can't make enough to pay the sitter and the rest of the bills, sit the kids yourself and cut expenses.

Answer 10

It absolutely depends on both the mum and the kids.

I have friends who loved every moment of staying at home with their kids. Personally I was bored silly - I could practically feel my brain atrophying! I was lucky to find a happy medium - I worked two days a week and stayed at home the other three. I was much happier for having some brain exercise, and the kids loved their two days at nursery. And then on the other three days I could do all the things that a stay-at-home mum does.

Answer 11

It's such a hard call this question. I have always been for staying home. I have 4 children and one more left at home. I am taking courses at the moment to prepare myself for the year after next so as i can get a couple of days. We are broke to but always seem to make ends meet. Is there any thing in your life that you could get rid of like pay TV, beauty products,alcohol, cigarettes, DVD hire, take away? I recon we live WAY beyond our needs and it ain't so bad without it! Good Luck too you!