Ok bloggy buddies, I need a bit of advice from you guys today..Please help me! :)
As you may know, my son starts Kindergarten in August (which makes me sad, my babys growing up) which also means less money being spent on daycare but also more chances for me to be more involved at school, PTO, etc.Right now I work Full Time, any day of the week, but I'm mostly off on weekends. My work week ranges from 40-60 hours per week and hours anywhere from 8:15am to 7:30pm - so I dont get a whole lot of time in the mornings or evenings to spend time with Jay. In the fall he will be starting class at 7:45am and get out at 11:30pm - right now I'll be taking him to school every morning and he will be riding the bus to daycare after. I will save around $4-500 per month right there on Daycare costs alone!
So my dilema is this: Should I stay Full Time or go down to Part Time
Pros for Full Time:
Spending less in childcare means I can put more into Savings.
More money means new car, boob job, wedding in the future, down payment on house, buy nice things, etc.
Having almost every weekend off
Cheaper Health Insurance for Jay & I
Higher 401k
More back in income tax return in Feb/Mar
Extra Spending money for eating out, movies, name brand clothes, toys, etc.
Cons for Full Time:
Long hours & long weeks - I'm exhausted when I get home.
Due to being tired, I dont cook meals or do much in regards to activities with Jay.
Not being able to attend Jay's class parties, getting him involved in Karate/Sports/Etc.
Stress - and lots of it - due to working in Retail Sales
Pros for Part Time:
More Time with Jay
Opportunity to go back to school Part Time
Can be the room mom/soccer mom I've always wanted to be
Less Stress from work
Chance to learn to cook homemade meals for my Family
Pay even less in child care - put him after school care 3 days instead of 5
Less Money spent on Gas
Healthier for me ie. Less Fast food or "quick" meals, less stress, more time to exercise
Chance to go back to school
Cons for Part Time:
Less money. Period.
Pay more in health benefits
Lose some Vacation Time
Added stress of Money Management
Fear of boredom
Spending more money on Extracirriculars for Jay & Myself
Working almost EVERY weekend
Working almost EVERY weekend
So this is where I currently stand - it can both ways. What is your honest opinion and advice on my issue? Should I go part time or stay full time? My heart is telling me to go PT but my mind is telling me to stay FT for the money.
HELP!
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6 Manic Comments:
You know what's right in your heart. It's a decision you have to make for yourself.
If you go part time, are you going to miss the adult interaction? Are you going to have a hard time changing your lifestyle?
Or do you have a huge tugging to spend more time with your child? Are you riddled with guilt that you can never shake?
For me, I was the second. I made the decision to be a SAHM of my then 3 children and it ended up being the right decision for my family. My kids behaviors did a 180. I was happier. Retail was cruddy on a family and my husband and I were both in it.
Some people can't walk away from work. They need the adult interaction they get from it. I do think when my youngest is in all day school, I will consider a part- time job, but doubt I will ever be full-time as long as I have children at home.
I wish I could offer more help but I can just tell you what I did.
I stayed home for 3 years with my first and worked on the weekends. I loved being at home with her but I needed some adult interaction from time to time. She finally went into daycare when she was 3 and that was full time and I was able to go back to school and pull in more money because that was paid by the state (thank GOD). I still was able to come in once or twice a week to help out at school and still be in her life. That worked out GREAT.
With my son I've been home for the last 2 years because I was let go from my job. I would have prefered to do the same thing I did with my daughter but it's been tough finding a job and unemployment has finally run out so I have no choice but to find a full time job to pay off some of the debt that has been adding up.
I certainly don't feel like I missed out on anything by not being with her EVERY single day. Besides being a school / soccer mom can be equally demanding as a job and there will be days that you don't want to be bothered.
Only your heart will tell you what feels right... but if you need money, you need money. It means nothing to be a soccer mom if you don't have the money to keep a roof over your head (not that you don't, but you never know what may happy these days always better to have that extra money). Good luck!!!
Girl, if you think y'all can make it with you working P/T, then I say go for it. These are his formative years and the ones that he'll remember fondly when he's older.
do what you love and love what you do.
My question is if you could have afforded to go part-time... why wouldn't you have done that before he went into kindergarten?
Have those reasons changed?
If you can afford it and you want to be at home even part-time... then why not do it? Will you regret not taking these opportunities later on?
Follow your heart.
I agree with what many already said... it's really a choice you have to make since you are the only one that knows what you can handle.
I am the opposite of many... I missed the adult interaction and love having my weekends to spend with other family and friends. There are not many in my area who are SAHMs... so I could see being very lonely.
Good luck... and whatever you choose just know a woman always has the right to change her mind! ;)
I have worked 3 days a week since my daughter was born almost 9 years ago. I have 2 other kids since then - 6 and almost 3. I have LOVED my schedule. It means I am home more than I am at work and although I usually don't cook on the 3 nights a week that I work, I do cook the other days and volunteer in the class, coach soccer, etc.
I am going back to work full time in October and am looking forward to the money and opportunity for advancement, but would never have traded the past 9 years.
In the end, your time and memories are your most valuable commodity... your kids BLAZE into adulthood. My advice is to enoy as much of the moments you have with them as possible. You can work more later....
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