After the Youngest Starts School

[MsOKing]

Hello all,

I would like to discuss how many SAHMs went back to work either part-time or full time once their youngest started school on a full time basis.
Did you return to work right away, or did you enjoy your time alone for a while?
Did your husband hint that he would like you to work, since the kids were at school?
What were the perks of working again? Was it an easy transition? Did you end up returning to the same type of job?
What did you do with your children during the summer months or the vacation days during the school year?

Even if you decided to continue to stay home, please comment. Did you feel guilty if you decided not to return to work?

My youngest of 4 is starting K4, and while it is only a half a day, I am looking forward to having no children for the 3 hours she will be in school. I have so many plans to get a lot of “stuff done”

My oldest is 10, and it seems that the older the children get the busier life gets. With 4 it seems we are constantly running them to a practice or a game.

I just wonder what works for your families…

 

[RWMorris]

Hello all,

I would like to discuss how many SAHMs went back to work either part-time or full time once their youngest started school on a full time basis.
Did you return to work right away, or did you enjoy your time alone for a while?
Did your husband hint that he would like you to work, since the kids were at school?
What were the perks of working again? Was it an easy transition? Did you end up returning to the same type of job?
What did you do with your children during the summer months or the vacation days during the school year?

Even if you decided to continue to stay home, please comment. Did you feel guilty if you decided not to return to work?

My youngest of 4 is starting K4, and while it is only a half a day, I am looking forward to having no children for the 3 hours she will be in school. I have so many plans to get a lot of “stuff done”

My oldest is 10, and it seems that the older the children get the busier life gets. With 4 it seems we are constantly running them to a practice or a game.

I just wonder what works for your families…

We had four children. I returned to full-time work when my youngest started second grade. I really enjoyed going back to work and helping out the family budget. But there is a big difference for me than there is for many other moms - I am a musician (pianist) and actually had started my career at age 14 as a performer. So for me my work is a passion and a calling, and for other moms, that may not be the case. I am all for women having choices when it comes to working, as long as family comes first.
You have to decide if for you, staying home and getting tons of stuff done is most important. Even where I am now, twenty years after going back to work, I still reserve a LOT of home time so I can take care of things at home and try to cook, clean, etc. To me it is a very important part of being a wife and mother. To others, it is not that big of a deal and helping out financially is more important.
If staying home makes you feel fulfilled, do it! You won’t regret it, especially with all the children to ferry around to various practices and lessons. That in itself is a huge job (I should know, I did it too).
Do what is right for you and your family.