Anyone else not sure about quitting job?

[ermm23a]

So, DH and I have always planned that I would be a stay at home mom, but now that I am actually preg, the thought of quitting my job terrifies me...

I mean, I would love to stay home, but I am starting to get worried about depending on just his income, and what if something happens with his job, etc? Now that it seems like it might really happen, it's got me starting to stress about it.

Anyone else unsure about going back to work after baby is born? I wish I could find something part-time, or something I could do from home.... that way if I ever need to go back to work full time it would be easier to transition back into.

I mean, it's not like I can just walk away from my career while my kids are young and then just come back after a few years. I could come back, but I have seen it with other women- you're never considered for promotions, they always assume you'll end up going to the house again, etc.

I just don't know.

 

[libbymarks198]

i would get way to bored being at home with a kid for the rest of my life, i will cut down my days and hours but there is no way i am quitting my job if OH does not want bubs in day care he can stay at home and look after bubs...

i will have 4 months off at the start though

 

[babykdc]

i have the same fear. i dont want to be completely dependent on one income, i want to be able to contribute financially to the household too especially in times of needs. i am also torn about giving up my career knowing it will be near impossible to make up for the gap after a 2-3 year break.

i also wish i can find something part time or something i can do from home so i am not completely out of the loop and can get back to things more easily, but it's almost more difficult to find a full time job than a special arrangement type of situation.

i wish there's an easy solution to this. i am stressing out over this career choice. my husband is more old schooled and believes in a stay at home wife... i grew up with both parents working so i cant imagine not working...

 

[ermm23a]

4 months off would be great!!!! If I decide to continue working, I will get 6 weeks maternity leave.

It also terrifies me to leave a 6 week old at daycare......

It's just so much to think about. I am going to try not to make a decision until later. Hopefully I will know what to do when the time comes.

 

[libbymarks198]

they say that when the baby comes you will not want to go back to work, you will want to be with the baby all the time, i just dont see what i would do all day there is only so much cleaning that can be done, and the baby sleeps a lot

 

[JeepGirl]

We have been talking about me staying home. I think I want to, but hubby thinks I will go crazy at home all the time. I'm lucky that I get 50 weeks of Mat leave, so that gives me lots of time to decide if staying home is right for our family.

 

[Lauraaraa]

i was thinking this - but i am going to either drop my hours or just keep working full time hours as is more money - and i have flexi time where i can leave early if needs be

i will be so scared atl eaving my baby though - will be left with a nursery as none of my family live near me - live 6hours away!!

i thought about takng a year out - i wont get paid for the last 3 months of the year but i want to be with my baby as long as i can to be honest.

if i could be a stay at home mam i would be - BUT then when the baby got older and was going to infant school or what not i would have to look for another job again which wouldnt be any fun - esp if i hadnt been owrking for a long time.

x

 

[gertrude]

6 weeks only maternity? you must be in the states yes?

I'm planning on a year off on maternity

 

[ShanandBoc]

Im staying at home. We are learning to cope on less money. I quit work at 24 weeks. I was planning on staying until 34 weeks.

I cant imagine putting my baby into full time care.....i havent fouind i have gotten bored either, and thats without a baby to look after.

After bubs there will be plenty to fill up your time. Yes looking after bubs (who will sleep less and less as they get older) cleaning , cooking (im planning on making all babies food too) Playing with and teaching baby, enjoying some relaxation and extra sleep whilke baby is sleeping, hobbies, visiting friends and organising play dates with their babies....taking bubs for walks, to baby classes etc. The list in endless.

After working full time for 10 years...i cannot wait!!

 

[peanut56]

I would love to stay home, but financially, it's impossible for us. I get a full year of maternity leave which is great, but after that I have to go back to work. The housing costs where I live are fairly high, so my husband and I have a pretty big mortgage...my husband makes decent money, but not enough to pay all the bills on his own, and my salary is pretty good.
I have to put my child into daycare, which I hate...not because I think there's anything wrong with daycare (it's very common here, and the daycare I'll be putting her in has been used by several of my friends and family for years), but because I never had to go to daycare, so I just never envisioned that for my children, know what I mean?
I'm hoping to win the lottery while on maternity leave!

 

[ShanandBoc]

yes the lottery would be nice! Sucks when you dont have the choice.

Thats life i guess tho isnt it x

 

[Lamsbump]

I will returning to full time work, with poss reduced hour to start with to easy me back after having 4/5month of the year off that i am entitled too. I am the bread winner in our house which has also help us make the decision. i am worried about putting baby into day care but i think it will be good for baby to be a bit more independent and sociable and make the issue of going to nursery / school easier in the future. Also my mum has said that she will look after baby a few days a week to help out with costs which we didnt expect.

Im the mean time hubby is asking his boss for a pay rise to help out while i am off on mate leave too.

 

[ermm23a]

Yeah, I'm in the states. Over here the absolute most you can take off is 12 weeks but they don't have to pay you during that time. I will be able to get 60% of my salary for 6 weeks where I work only bc I have short term disability insurance.
We don't have real good maternity leave policies over here. And if you take the full 12 weeks and come back and your baby gets sick or something later on and you have to take off they can fire you. The law says you can take up to 12 weeks and they can't fire you. But if you go over those 12 weeks they can let you go.

 

[ShanandBoc]

I dont get any maternity leave here in Australia either. They are bringing it in as compolsury as of next year.

I dont get a cent and i was with the same employer for 6 years, who treated me like crap when i was pregnant too.

 

[R J 1980]

I've stayed home since my 3 year old was born... definitely a great decision if it's financially possible. It does stink that we live on one income, but we got used to it and the rewards have been great. (I plan to work part time when the kids are in school though.) I've never gotten too 'bored'.... taking all day care of an infant is very exhausting and time consuming! Especially since my son had BAD colic. But it's great now, we spend time learning and going out to parks and playdates, and my son is very independent and smart. It's so nice being there for ALL of it.

The way I look at it... they are only young once and there is always time to go back to work later!