Same here MarineWAG! I know my adult contact would be limited and a miserable lonely mummy would not be good for baby!

Being at home has nothing to do with how your child develops, in the UK we get 9 months maternity, i went back when she was 9 and a half months but she had only just started crawling then.

I actually found Elliot learned more at day care, nursery nurses know about child development and what to encourage, I am useless, I guess I could look into it and I do what I can at home but I know the nursery encourage him to the best of his ability. They got him to feed himself with cutlery by the time he was 14 months, I wouldn't have even thought about starting that for ages yet (obviously this helps them lol, but it was great for us too...in the long run..!)

In a sort of side note I have just found a perfect job for me in London and it is 24.5 hours but I'd actually earn more than what I bring back now full time lol...not to mention savings in childcare, wish me luck, I'd love to work part time but still in my field

While I would love to be a SAHM one day, I just don't think it is in my genes. It's funny I saw this post today because just last night my FI and I were talking about that. I was off of work yesterday so I cooked dinner for us, he came home after a day at work, we sat down and ate, he did the dishes and then we watched a few TV shows and went to bed. He made a comment asking me if I liked this because this is what it would be like in a few months when we get married and have kids. Funny enough we both came to the conclusion that I need to work at least part time to keep my sanity. I can't sit at the house for longer than a day or I will go absolutely nuts!

You know my situation/views but I'll add to it.

I love being a SAHM but it isn't all swings and roundabouts. You could do your maths now and think you'll be financially ok but when it comes to it you may struggle as we have done its only now we are startin to have a lot more extra money.
The cost of living is increasing,would you still be able to afford 2 cars? You may find that you can't attend any mum and toddler groups as perhaps by then you'll be sharing a car with your oh or you can't afford the petrol.
I don't think there are many toddler groups near us within walking distance apart from playking

But then you don't need tO go out to have fun with your baby/toddler. Perhaps think of just working part time? If I had enjoyed working in asda I wouldnt have left but I hated it and they treated me like crap. On paper our money looked really good and looked like we wouldn't struggle at all. But the past few months we have struggled as things have gone wrong with the car.Making going to toddler groups impossible.

Sorry if it seems rambled I have Tyler shoving his ds in my face at the same time lol

say, or you may be like me and actually find it much harder work than you imagine in which case you'll be glad to still have your options open with work. I have been a SAHM for a bit and a working mum, I personally prefer being a working

Thanks mumandco. Its just a distant dream really, I dont think I could give up working all together and would prob have to keep it part time. I realise its the cars etc that we need to keep going, we would need the 2.

Its just a dream I guess, financially the way things are at the moment it'll never happen!!! Xx