tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652830576405805890.post3906895139854155366..comments2023-11-03T11:30:26.458-04:00Comments on Accelerated Baby: Staying at home...Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16875495354399863580noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652830576405805890.post-71547931709416621652011-02-25T14:28:32.737-05:002011-02-25T14:28:32.737-05:00Ahh MLDs are always fun when hormonal right?
The...Ahh MLDs are always fun when hormonal right? <br /><br />There's no perfect answer---there are pros & cons no matter what you do. How flexible is work? I was fortunate that Ava came with me when I taught and was right down the hall & we only worked 4 days a week which was great. Can you have a flexible schedule? or work from home days? <br /><br />I don't think staying home necessarily makes you a good mother the same as working doesn't make you a bad mother. Everyone just does what is best for their family. I adored staying home with Cole & Ava for Cole's first 8 months but we weren't putting a ton in savings and we wanted to do family trips, house upgrades etc so it's a trade-off. {plus no trips to Coach :( }<br /><br />If it helps, I honestly have never felt like I've missed out on things. I attend events for Ava's school, I'm involved with the parent committee, I take her to dance & gymnastics, birthday parties, play dates, the park etc. We are very family oriented so when we're home we're giving quality time to the kids and each other, we have breakfast and dinner as a family and we make weekends family time. I know you & A are family oriented too and you'll make your time quality time. <br /><br />You also have to consider cost of nanny/child care and is it worth it? When I had Cole he would have added an addition $1400/month on top of Ava's tuition so it didn't make sense for me to work and not bring much home. Child care and early childhood programs can be truly wonderful experiences though so don't be too scared of them :) I was very proud of where I taught and where Ava goes to school so there are great quality options if you do go that route. <br /><br />I wish I had an easy answer for you but just know you're not alone. I really want to head back into the Infant development field but that would mean giving up my public school job and vacations and summers off--boo. There is no easy answer {besides moving to Canada where you get a YEAR off!} As long as it's the right choice for your family then you made the right decision :) Good luck!florest familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07603326159227576410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652830576405805890.post-80899190342107358752011-02-24T20:09:56.278-05:002011-02-24T20:09:56.278-05:00I think you should take the longest maternity leav...I think you should take the longest maternity leave possible and then decide. It's easy to say you want to stay at home or you want to work full time before the baby comes, but you need to see how you feel. I wanted to stay home full time no question while I was pregnant with Izzy, but now by the end of summer break I am ready to go back. I love my family, but I also like my job and I like having a balance of an adult life and a mommy life. Luckily for me my mom watches my kids so I don't have to feel so bad about leaving them. It's such a personal choice so just keep your options open and do what feels best. Maybe part time or volunteer work would be a happy medium for you if you decide you don't want to stay home all the time!Whitneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652830576405805890.post-16532723555712363182011-02-24T12:29:54.000-05:002011-02-24T12:29:54.000-05:00it is so tricky. I love working a job I am passion...it is so tricky. I love working a job I am passionate about, but it is so freaking hard to leave your baby. I really struggled when I went back to work (Henry was 9 months).I loved being at work and doing my job, but every time I had to step out of the car I dreaded it. absolutely dreaded it.And that was with Mike watching him! Imagine how I would have felt if it were a stranger. I never thought I would be that way. I always thought I would go right to work. <br /><br />my sister, on the other hand, feels just fine going to work and sending luca to day care. Different strokes!<br /><br />You have to consider what going back to work would mean for your sleep, your breastfeeding, and your stress. I have a friend that doesn't get off work until 4. She picks up her son at 4:30. Her husband doesn't get home until 6 then the kiddo goes to bed by 8. He would go to bed earlier, but they keep him up so they can see him more. That just makes me sad. Parents do what they have to do, but I would be so sad if I only saw my kiddos for 2-3 hours a day.Megan My Dearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14966835413245521358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652830576405805890.post-76165008614305878142011-02-23T19:05:44.596-05:002011-02-23T19:05:44.596-05:00I think we are in similar situations. If I didn&#...I think we are in similar situations. If I didn't work, we would still be able to pay our mortgage etc, but we wouldn't really have any extra money for anything. Which would be kinda sad quality of life. <br /><br />I'm not sure of the specifics of your job but is it possible to keep your job but cut back on hours? That way you are still getting some adult time and staying relevant in your field. Maybe your choice doesn't have to be all or nothing?<br /><br />That is what we are doing. We are lucky that my husbands job has totally flexible hours (as long as he gets his 40 hours in a week he's good, no matter how he goes about it). I think we are going to have him work two long days a week, and three half days. On those three days we will swap places midday and I will go work three half days. If we can fit it in that way, then we will still have Saturdays and Sundays as a family without anyone going into work. While the two long days would stink for both of us, I really like the idea that we would both get alone time with the baby as well as time all together on nights and weekends. Also we wouldn't have to rely on any day care or babysitters so we would be parenting completely. Food for thought! You will figure it out and make the best decision possible, I know it. : )andria from illinoishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02534218694133220364noreply@blogger.com