Polling ALL moms with kids at home

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by Barb D
I just realized (shame on me) that I didn't give any options for single moms!

 

[snoopy]

I worked part time when my kids were babies, which was ideal. Sadly, there aren't many growth opportunities for part timers.

Now that my kids are in school I work full time. DH is very supportive of everything I do, including my work. Always has been, its one of the things I love most about him. We definately need two incomes living here in D.C. where the cost of living is high, but even if we didn't, I'd still work. I can't imagine staying home all day while my kids are in school, I'm afraid that I would spend all his earnings and then some on shopping excursions.

 

[zurgswife]

I need the money.....all my friends stay home cause their rich most of there DH's don't work either (a regular job)....I'd love to be able to stay at home and play with them during the day...

 

[bballmom56]

I work part time, but only hours while DS is in school. Even though he's a freshman in HS, I think he likes having me home when he gets home - whether he's had a good or bad day. And I like being there for him.

The job I have is very physical, so it's like getting paid to stay in shape! No need to go to the gym.

 

[CEDmom]

After we adopted DD I knew I didn't want to go back to work full-time but I also didn't want to give up working completely. I was also concerned about DH being the sole wage earner since we weren't in our 20's and even early 30's when we became parents.

My employer allowed me to go to a 3 day a week schedule which works out really well for us. It allows me to continue getting satisfaction from working and to spend a lot of time with DD.

Luckily most of our bills can be paid with DH's salary so mine goes towards DD's college fund, life insurance, savings and vacations.

I really have to say I think I have the best of both worlds.

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by CEDmom
After we adopted DD I knew I didn't want to go back to work full-time but I also didn't want to give up working completely. I was also concerned about DH being the sole wage earner since we weren't in our 20's and even early 30's when we became parents.

My employer allowed me to go to a 3 day a week schedule which works out really well for us. It allows me to continue getting satisfaction from working and to spend a lot of time with DD.

Luckily most of our bills can be paid with DH's salary so mine goes towards DD's college fund, life insurance, savings and vacations.

I really have to say I think I have the best of both worlds.

edited to add:

DH fully supported and continues to support my decision not to work full time.

 

[Betsyt82]

I have been fortunate to be able to work semi part time out of the house and be able to stay at home with the kids. When they get into school I am going to get a job out of the house....more for the social than anything else.

 

[AMClvsMKY]

I was a stay at home mom until my youngest was in school full time ( the boys are 4 years apart so that was many years), which we both agreed on. Now I work part-time and I usually get home around the time that DS10 gets home. My Dh would probally like me to work a little more full-time but is supportive of part-time because the boys are use to me being home when they are.

 

[powellrj]

My kids are 21, 13 and 8 so there have been a lot of years in there. When the oldest was small, I worked part-time, when the middle guy was small, I was a SAHM, nine years ago, we saw the bottom was falling out of my DH's industry, so I went back full time so we could have health insurance while he looked for a new job. He found a new job and quit the old one, and I found out I was preg. again. I was so glad to have the health insurance because DHs hadn't kicked in yet. Fast forward and DD is now 8 and I am still full-time, but I now work to let the kids have the "extras" like lessons and camp we couldn't afford with out my income. I also like that I have a 401K. a car allowance and can work my days around when the kids get on and off the bus. The only headaches are when there is no school, but they usually go to childcare which they love so it all works out. I am the only working mom in the neighborhood, and all the neighborhood kids want to go to summer care too because the kids love it that much!!

 

[liznboys]

Hi Barb. I stay at home because both dh and I think it's important for me to take care of our kids. And after quitting my job and becoming a SAHM, I quickly realized that it was what I was meant to do anyway, I love it! We are far from "rich" but dh makes enough to support our lifestyle, and we are grateful for that!!

 

[geffric]

I work because we need the money. I stayed home when the kids were preschool and it was very rough.. DH is very concerned about $$ and would yell at me if i spend 5 cents more on something than he thought it should cost, or bought something that was not an absolute necessity etc. ... So we are much better now that we have 2 incomes..

 

[momm2four]

I stay home, but am constantly on the lookout for ways to earn money. Right now I am garage saling and then selling it on Ebay for income. That money is what will fund our vacations this year and next. I also do surveys for a little money for that as well.


Lori P.

 

[phorsenuf]

Mine is kinda two-fold. I chose the option of staying home because that's what we both wanted, but as time went by I became disabled so now I stay home because I can't work. Of course now that the kids are older and I actually could have a job, I can't. Oh well....that's how things go sometimes.

 

[jx3smom]

I would have liked to be a stay at home mom, however we all love to take vacations and the boys have always liked nice clothes, having pets, video systems, etc. I also like driving a nice car so I work full time. Also, I am the one with the medical insurance coverage including prescriptions, eye and dental care at no cost to us so I need this job. My salary is not great but the benefits are good.

 

[DoeWDW]

I work fulltime at a very stable job. I'm the one with the pension and the benefits. DH & I know that I need to keep working for the retirement benefits. The extra money helps too!

 

[Desnik]

DH and I both feel that while our kids are under school age, I would stay home with them. It is something really important to the both of us. My mom was a SAHM and I have so many wonderful memories with being home with her. Anyway, thankfully I don't need to work. DH owns a business and he has a job.(Verizon, excellent pay and benefits)

I only have 2 kids, one is 6yo and in school full day and the other is just 14mo. When my youngest is off to a full day of school, I will definately do something while they are at school. It will always be important for me to be able to put them on the bus and be there when they get home. I might get a job when they're older, or open my own business again(I had 2 in the past) I could also help DH with his business.

 

[pjlla]

I voted for "something else" just cause nothing else seemed to fit.

I am a SAHM... my kids are currently 6 1/2 and almost 9. I have stayed home with them since they were born. We have been able to do just fine on just DH's income. We planned appropriately when we built our house before children were born. We only got a mortgage for what we could afford on one salary. But, during that time, I have almost always had a small side job I was able to do at home. When it was just child #1 I did medical transcription a few hours a week... the pay was awesome. But the driving back and forth to pick up/drop off the work became an issue so I gave it up.

Then, about that time, my DSIL needed some help with a business she works for at home... very easy work, only driving is to the post office once a month. As the work has increased and decreased I have earned anywhere from $100 to $500 month, for about one hour a day for 5 to15 days a month, max..... good money. I wil continue to do that as long as there is work available. And most of the $$ has always gone for "extras" such as vacations.

That said, since youngest child is starting full-time school in the fall (1st grade) DH has been pressuring me to get a job. He was fine with me staying home while I was needed, but sees no reason for me to be home anymore. But I need to find a job that is VERY FLEXIBLE, as I still need to be available for field trips, sick days, snow days, soccer practice, school vacations, and the like. Plus we usually pull the kids out of school for about one week during the school year for WDW or something like that. I DO NOT want to be tied into a regular job schedule that won't allow for all of that stuff..... so I am applying to be a substitute teacher at the Elementary school!! I have a good college education and I certainly would be able to get a "real job" but it just wouldn't fit into the current family schedule. This seems like the perfect solution!

Sorry to be so lengthy.... just 'splaining my situation!.......P

 

[aprincessmom]

Single mom..I work because I have to.

If I didn't have to I would still work.