I have an 8 month old baby and am not currently working so I can care for him. I did go back to work part time when he was 3 months old but struggled so badly with childcare (I have no family nearby to care for him and couldn’t afford the childcare, plus hated leaving him with someone else) that I gave up 3 months later.
I love being at home with him but I know I won’t be able to do it forever, my partner is a low wage earner and we are struggling on just his salary. It would be great to work from home but I don’t have any skill that would make that feasible and my house is not suitable for me to be a childminder.
I feel guilty at staying home and not working as it means we struggle for money and can’t give him all I’d like to. But then I’d feel guilty if I went to work and left him with someone else all day!!!
Whats your view – is it best for a mother to stay home (even if it means the family purse strings being tight) or work and bring in extra cash?
Missbeans –
I’m in the UK.
I have got a degree but it has never helped me get a job (like many Brits )and I’ve had to work in callcentres alongside loads of other graduates. I’m thinking of going back to college to re-skill as my degree is not helping me but don’t know what course to do.
Obviously we know minimum wage is not going to be liveable for the rest of our lives and my partner wants to retrain but is finding it very hard to find funding because there isn’t much in the UK for adult re-training.
Bringmesunshine – sorry you don’t like my views on immigration (which I have a right to hold in a free country) however that has nothing to do with this question so I’d ask you to keep your childish playground jobs to yourself.
It is tough now, because not many people earn enough to be able to live on one salary alone – certainly not in Greater London where I live!
I’m still not sure what I will be doing once my baby is born & my maternity leave ends… I know that I wont want to leave him with a stranger, but I’m not sure that we will cope on just my boyfriends salary. I think I will most likely try to work part time, but hours that will work around my boyfriends so that I can leave the baby with him.
There are jobs that you can do this with, they wont be the most glamorous or challenging of work – but it will bring in some extra money! Things like cleaning, working in a supermarket, even if its only a few hours in the evening every little helps. Jobs with shift work can also be useful to look at too. I’ve yet to see a work from home opportunity that hasn’t been a scam, so be wary of anything like that. As your baby gets older you can maybe look at working 2-3 days in a week, he can go to a nursery & spend time around other kids his age & you will be able to bring some more money in. Places like doctors surgeries & schools are good to look at as they tend to employ people part time, councils are also good as they consider job sharing & some even have a creche so your son wouldn’t be too far away from you.
Try not to worry too much about it, if you look hard enough you will find something that suits you. As long as you are able to pay your mortgage or rent, bills & can afford to buy food you will be ok. Don’t worry about the so-called luxuries of holidays etc, your baby is too little to be concerned about these things yet!
Good luck.
Stay at home the child comes first
References :
I think children with full time working parents tend to grow up more distant from them
References :
I would say it is your choice whatever you decide in the end will be the easiest and the least guilt inducing.
References :
I think I’m impartial to both really. But after all – one of the most difficult of jobs is keeping the house and bringing up a mentally happy and socially adjusted child.
I think if you could ask the kiddie what he would want, money wouldn’t be so much of an issue. Some of the best days I can remember from my childhood were an extremely cheap day at a pebbly beach with BOTH my mum and dad. Kids remember your presence more than the presents
References :
With suitible child care, you working will not be an issue. You don’t have to be a stay-at-home mom to be a good mom. Is it possible to work a 3-4 day work week so that day care is less problematic? Are their any friends that you could baby sit for one day a week and she’d babysit for you once a week? Can you husband work a 3-4 day week (different days than you) to cover the gap?
Good luck — I wish you the best
References :
I know it’s hard on the family for one parent to stay home, but raising a child is a full time job! Find ways to work from home, create a business!
The alternative is someone else will instill their values on your child!
References :