Did you/will you go back to work once you had children (for children under 2 years)?

**bubhub** · 23-05-2010 11:53

Did you go back (or are you planning to go back) to work after you had children?

(Lets say whilst your child is under 2 years old)

Did you want to - for your own sanity or career aspirations? Had to (for financial reasons)?
Were happy to stay at home and care for your child(ren)?
Couldn't go back to work because you couldn't find or couldn't afford the childcare?

Let us know!

**Nomsie** · 23-05-2010 12:00

Erm... other..

I have stayed at home thus far because it's what we (DP and I) wanted to do. I wanted to be with my children- that is why I had them.

But- financially we are slowly falling into a black hole, and so I am planning on going back to work asap. Meaning, I am looking for a job now- but in my chosen profession (teaching) finding a good job in a good school takes a while, and then the application process can be pretty drawn out too, if there are a lot of candidates.

So- I say other because I stayed home firstly because I was happy, but am now heading back to work because we can't afford to continue to be on one wage. (and trying to decide where that fit in on the poll hurt my head!

)

**peanutbutter&jelly** · 23-05-2010 12:06

Depends on when you're talking about

I haven't yet, my DS is 2, DD is 5 months... I'm intending on going back when DD is in preschool... mostly for sanity reasons by then, though I don't think my insanity will be questionable

**bubhub** · 23-05-2010 12:10

OK, I'll try and change the question to be during whilst your child was under 2 years. And see if I can add an 'other' option too.

**bubhub** · 23-05-2010 12:12

Hmm, don't know how to edit the poll to add in 'other' but I've edited the question, so Nomsie, maybe you can fit into one of the answers now it's for kids under 2?

**Seacretsquirrel** · 23-05-2010 12:14

Originally Posted by peanutbutter&jelly

Depends on when you're talking about

I haven't yet, my DS is 2, DD is 5 months... I'm intending on going back when DD is in preschool... mostly for sanity reasons by then, though I don't think my insanity will be questionable

me too!!!
DD is 3 and DS is 15 months and at the moment with DH being at sea (in the navy) he is away too much for it to be beneficial for me to go back to work (as most of it would be eaten up in CC costs so for us it wasn't a sensible option plus I love being at home - though I am beginning to worry about my sanity too

However no DH is coming ashore we ar looking at whether I can do some evening/night work so DH can have the kids and I can earn a bit of extra $$$ without the kids having to be in long CC. - Will see how we go with this though!

**peanutbutter&jelly** · 23-05-2010 12:20

Oh thats easy. I stay home

I adore being a SAHM, and I'm really incredibly lucky that we live in a relatively cheap duplex for the area we're in, and my DF's salary is more than enough to covet the day to day costs

Our family is very lucky, especially at the moment

**bumMum** · 23-05-2010 12:21

I went back to work when my son was 6 months old. with my next baby, it will be earlier.
the reason? it's complicated, but basically, we started young so obviously we are a bit behind other people.. we decided we wanted to buy a house and there is just no way we could have done it without me working.. we were sick of renting.. there is no stability in renting.. you can't do what you want with the house.. you can be evicted if the land lord wants to take over.. anything can happen.. we moved house 3 times in a year and I didn't want to go through it anymore..

so we bought.. so this time I will have to go back earlier, because buying a house means there are a lot of extra costs.. land and water rates.. interest rate rises.. we also have other lingering debt from before we had baby.. DP's old personal loan and a credit card for me... these things add up and the stress of living off DP's minimal wage would have killed us

I don't really love my job, (I like the actual job, but like most places, the office politics is just way over the top) but I intentionally picked a job which would help me get ahead and would reflect my studies.. which has worked out really well.. and I am starting to get ahead..

I had a mum who worked full time always so I know what it's like from a child's perspective and I knew it wouldn't hurt my family at all.. I think we are much better off this way..

**CookiesRYum** · 23-05-2010 12:26

no.. when i have kids, i don't want to work. i want to be with them as much as possible for at least 2 yr - preferably 5...

i would work from home limited hrs while my husband is home, but certainly have no intention of using childcare etc...

for em i don't see the point of having kids if you not going to be with them for the first few yrs..

after that i think it is ok to explore your own interests again - but i think your kids really need you when they are little..

**JustUs3** · 23-05-2010 12:27

I went back to work part time just before DD turned 1, I love my job and feel I have the best of both worlds, I'm with my DD 4 days out of 7 and i'm also earning money doing what I love.