what age??

[cobysmummy]

at what age do you want your children to be before you return to work? my son will be 10months when i plan to start work at the beginning of next year but my bf thinks this is too soon any advice

[nemosmum]

Hi,

I returned to work 2 days a week when DS was 8 months old. It was the right decision for our family at the time. We had more $ always a good thing lol and I got to return to something I love (my teaching!).I was lucky that DS could attend the same centre I work at Yah!

He is now almost 16 months and loves day care, next year I will be increasing my work days to three days a week.

To be perfectly honest I would enjoy staying at home full time and having another bub but at the moment $ wont allow it. So we will wait another year and then try for bub number 2 :)

You need to talk openly with you bf and decide whats best for your family.If your bf is strongly against you returning to work so soon maybe you should try and compromise and return a bit later on.

I hope you find a solution that is best for your whole family.

cheers
Sarah

[drewid]

I don't plan on returning to work until the children are AT LEAST at school, and then only part-time. And even then, I'd rather not!

My mum was a stay at home mum, and I grew up wanting to be just the same. I want to be there when they leave for school, and when they get home and I want to help out at school in the tuckshop, p&c etc etc.

We are managing just fine on one income, and I really can't bear the idea of someone else having my kids during the day until they are school-age.

Having said that, its always up for negotiation if circumstances change...

[wattle]

We're broke but I'd much rather be broke and at home with ds than have more $$ and less time with him. Every minute is special, I couldn't possibly go back to work for a long long long time.

Saying that, I play the odd gig in a band for a bit of extra spending money and it's a good social outlet too. Hubby looks after ds, and I get to play!

[Maxs_MumMy]

I went back when Max was 6 weeks old for 2 days a week and then when he turned 4mths i went back 5 days per week with one 7 day week roster a month.

I didn't do it for $$$, i did it for my career and sanity.

But when desicions need to be made about "when", I believe its what ever YOU feel comfortable with!

[dee dee]

Hi Helen,
My dd was also born in March, and I will be returning to work part time in January next year, so like your little one she will be 10 months old.

It is a bit of a toughie, but basically you have to do what feels right, and what works for you and your family. This is an area where there is no right or wrong. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about the decision that you make.

Goodluck

[sopolicha]

We're broke but I'd much rather be broke and at home with ds than have more $$ and less time with him. Every minute is special, I couldn't possibly go back to work for a long long long time.

Saying that, I play the odd gig in a band for a bit of extra spending money and it's a good social outlet too. Hubby looks after ds, and I get to play!

Me too, I am going to bit a sad when my eldest dd starts pre-school next year. Reckon I will be blubbering mess when my youngest goes to school.

[Rainbowbrite]

I'm with Nicole79, Sopoli & wattle on this one. I want to be there for everything & before & after school. I havent left MJ for 10 minutes yet, don't know if i'll ever be able too :(

I understand that people have/want to go back to work & i respect that but I just can't do it.

RB

[Refresh]

Yup same here...never going back if I can help it lol:D

I think it is important to be home fot them now but I actually think it is even more so when they are teenagers.:)

[mygirls]

I too am staying at home until our last baby (whether thats 3 or 4 :rolleyes: ) goes into year 1. Then it will only be part time (2 days) & at my aunty's paper shop (this way i'll be able to have a bit more flexability) - my DH is really eager for me to stay home as his mum wasn't able to be home all the time when he was younger & most importantly i LOVE being home :D . Make the decision best for you but if your bf is happy for you to stay at home a bit longer maybe you should :)

[Ky]

Ideally, I will be staying home until my youngest goes to school ... that said, we may be taking over running the Nowra branch of the business my dh works for next year which will mean moving into his boss' house and me running the office while dh and the others are out working. I have done this before for my mil and fil when Bella was little and I was pg with Daniel and then for a couple of months after Daniel was born, but seeing as this crowd are not proposing to pay me, I might just put my foot down and tell them to employ someone for the office! On top of that, they expect me to look after one of the worker's baby while she is out on jobs .... I think not!

Bella will be at school next year and Daniel will be starting pre-school ... he will be going one day a week, but as he is a very social little guy, I have organised this around the days that he has playgroup and goes into a creche while I go to a church meeting. I don't want him to miss out on seeing his little friends! If I have to run the office, I can see myself having to stop going to these things and I just won't do it!

My time with my kids is too precious to waste on putting them aside so that I can concentrate on building someone elses's fortune!

[elle101]

This is a hard one, it really depends on what you instinctivly feel is right for your kids and YOU. I stress the word YOU because your needs are just as important. My situation is that I am finishing university part time and will be finished when my daughter is ready to go to school (4 1/2- 5). I am doing a teaching degree so i will get weekends, holidays, after and before school with my daughter as well as earning a good salary, which means DP and I can pay off a mortgage. But teaching is not everyones cup of tea. ;)

I feel that even now, with my daughter being so young (4 months) and me always being here I need some extra mental stimulation so I don't know what I'd do when she's at school. Thats my reason for finishing the degree and choosing to work when I finish, as well as to boost our finances. With that said, being a sahm might suit you more, however there are some jobs with flexible hours or "child friendly" hours which may also suit. Thats just my situation. For now i love being a sahm. :)
xo elle :)
Greg DP
tara 26/07/05

[maybe1more]

[QUOTE=Maxs_MumMy]I went back when Max was 6 weeks old for 2 days a week and then when he turned 4mths i went back 5 days per week with one 7 day week roster a month.

I didn't do it for $$$, i did it for my career and sanity.

I know this was totally Maxs mumMys decision, but personally 6 weeks is way too young, he practical just born, how can you be ready for motherhood when you put you go back to work at 6 weeks, your baby still needs you. I know thats just my opinion but my honest opinion.

I when back to work when my son was 11 months old, i worked two days a weeks for 8 weeks and gave it up because i missed my son way too much, i kept looking at the clock waiting to finish to i could pick him up and i was hoping my sister was sticking to the route i left for her, i was just too hard to leave him, and my dp agree.

I know motherhood is a life changing experience at first but the love for a child grow everyday untill we are totally smitten with our cherubs, i wont be working again untill my son ( or youngest as i want more) goes to school. :)

[elle101]

"but personally 6 weeks is way too young, he practical just born, how can you be ready for motherhood when you put you go back to work at 6 weeks, your baby still needs you. I know thats just my opinion but my honest opinion."


I don't think she asked for your judgement on that. U are entitled to your opinion but what u implied about maxs mummy was quite rude. Obviously she is ready for motherhood and loves her child dearly. Tell me how these comments (untrue as they are) are constructive to the op?

This is not a sahm vs working mum debate.

elle

[Giselle]

I think it is important for you to do what feels right for you and your family :)

I will never return to work, as I too would rather be broke than leave my kids, I never saw my mother when I was growing up but we had everything money could buy, I would have preferred my mother....

Plus I'm planning on having a few more....lol :p

[maybe1more]

I will never return to work, as I too would rather be broke than leave my kids, I never saw my mother when I was growing up but we had everything money could buy, I would have preferred my mother....

Plus I'm planning on having a few more....lol :p

Too True!


Elle- my opinion is like i said- my own, i wasnt making a debate i was just expressing my honest opinion. Whats wrong with that.

[SweetSerenity]

Well i went back to work when Peter was 4mths old, mainly because we needed the money, i only lasted 4mths being there and quit.
I now work at Esprit Part Time and love it. I started there almost a month ago now, so Peter was 11months when i began.
I think everyone's different! I also quit my last job due to PND and needed to get better, so i wasnt even ready to work really! Now i am, and i love it. Yes i miss my son, but we need the money and it also gives me my adult conversation for the day :)
When i say we "need" the money...we truly do need it. I am not going to struggle and not be able to provide my child with a roof over his head just so i can be at home! It's not fair on him to not have a stable home to feel safe and loved in!
Love Nat xxx

[Sarie]

I have just started in party plan, so my kids will be with my hubby when I have to go to work. I wouldn't start any kind of work during the day till my youngest was at school.
I wouldn't feel right leaving them with anyone else, we're pretty low on $$, but as someone else said. I'd rather it that way than give my boys to someone else to raise.

[SweetSerenity]

Im lucky that we live wiht my parents, because my mum looks after peter when im at work for 4 - 5hrs! So he gets quality grandma time :D

[whatwasithinking]

DD#1 was 10mths when I went back to work 3dayspw. DD#1 will be about 6mths when I go back fulltime (not enough money to pay for pt care with 2 children). I was never going to go back to work until last child was 5 but then again things change. I have no regrets nor guilt. I love being a SAHM at the moment but I still need adult interation.

There is really no age that is right or wrong. I know of people who have put child in care from 3wks. It depends on how parents feel and their own personal circumstances. Noone should critise (sp?).

[CJJHRA]

I've been a SAHM now for almost 14 years. We just get by on one income. Kids have way too much stuff! My mum helps out alot and loves to make the kids clothes so that saves a fair bit. She cant help but spoil the kids (although she herself is on the pension, as is my dad)

[onabreak]

I have been a SAHM for just of 13 months now and my hubby has said to me that he doesn't expect me to go back to work now or in the future. He said that he doesn't expect his wife (me) to work at all. I do help run his business from home which only involves 2 hours a day though. I don't want to seem as though I am bragging here but hubby earns a great income so he doesn't see the need for me to work.

[*Sal*]

Well, things certainly change don't they! I always planned to go back to work, as I saw it as a waste of an education if I didn't. Now I have been at home with my kids for over 5 years and don't know if I'll ever go back! Hubby and I are partners in our business so I would probably be worse off (both financially and emotionally) if I went back to work for a boss.

Each to their own though, as every family is different. If it feels right to you then it probably is! Good luck.

[Ana Gram]

To be honest, I don't really enjoy being a stay at home mum, but I also hate working in the jobs that I was working in. So I am now looking into starting my own online buisness which means i will be at home to look after DD and I don't have to put up with a job and workmates I can't stand.