Sahm Keep Working After Both Kids Are in School or Still Work?

I volunteer at least 3x a week at school - when the boys are in school - I clean house and do the errands - grocery shopping, etc.

So - I still stay home...I saw one post a few days (?) ago about "now that my SAHM duties are over, i'm going back to work." My reply was REALLY!?! I didn't realize that my duties were over when they went to school - I find I'm even busier now!!

Haha, that is completely the opposite of how I envision my life working out once all my kids are in school. I am a SAHM now (no biz run from home) and am planning on working at least PT when they are all in school. I would go crazy not working and being home, by myself, for the majority of the day.

(That is, after I do all these DIY projects that have been stacking up over the years).

I quit work when my oldest was 3 and went back to work when my youngest was 15. Do what feels right for you and your family.

My only child just started full day Kinder last week. I was lucky enough to find a part time job, for 4 hours a day, during her school hours, so I can still be involved & earn enough money to pay our housing costs. It's a win, win, for me. My DH has M-W off, so he can pick up the childcare slack when there is a break, and I am going to be asking friends/family to help out with the other days.

I think keeping the daycare open after your kids are all in school isn't beneficial to you, your kids, or your bank account, personally. You can have your home back, your free time back, get a part time job & still earn a decent paycheck. All without the stress & headache of being responsible for & tied down to other people's kids for almost your whole day. When you break it down, daycare providers don't get paid what they're worth, at all.

I, personally, couldn't stay home all day without a kid at home. It just seems like a waste & I'd feel too guilty because I know I could be earning money for the family.

Hi!
Well my daughter is still in Prek half days. She will start full days next year. I have had two jobs in my lifetime, a flight attendant and bartending. The job market is a little bleak for someone like me now. If i can find a part-time nights and weekends bartending gig ill take it. Ive been home for 6 years and cant imagine it being easy for someone in my position to find a job in this economy. I do plan to volunteer more with the PTA. I enjoy being home and feel very fortunate to be able to have the choice to stay home :)
You will make the right choice for your family. Good Luck!

Ive actually been asking myself this question as well. We moved to a new area over the summer for my husbands new job and I worked then but we decided I would take the summer off being it was my daughters last year before she started K. Now shes in school and Im wondering what Im doing just sitting home?! My issue is we're 12 weeks pregnant, and I have signed up for "Room Mom" and share this duty with another mom so we split the week. Its just not enough to keep me busy, yet, though it could change. I was thinking about finding a p/t job but my skills are in the medical field and there doesnt seem to be anything p/t out there right now. People say Im crazy looking b/c Id just be working for a few short weeks then taking time off again for a new baby. Only time will tell. I say do what makes you happy, everyone's situation is different.

You're going to have plenty of time while the kids are in school to work. More time, really, than you had when they were home. It's up to you what you do, there are pros and cons to either choice.

I went BACK to work when my boys went to school. If I stayed home in that empty house, I'd lose my mind!

Most of my friends who were stay at home moms went to work full time when the kids started school. They were the main contributors to the savings account for college and other stuff for the kids. Some went back to college and got Masters degrees, some nursing degrees, others are now teachers in the public school system, others got jobs in the careers they left behind when the kids started coming. But none stopped working/being a SAHM as you put it to be more active in the kids lives. They needed something to do to contribute to the family.

I'm not a SAHM so probably shouldn't answer but it seems like you have to look at the number of vacation days and holidays schools have, sick days for your kids etc. I have a friend who found what seemed to be a great PT job. But then she started thinking about these things. What would she do over the summer, Xmas vacation etc? And I know our school wants lots of volunteer hours.

Running an in home daycare is work. It allows you to be there before and after school for your kids and when they are sick so that is an added bonus. Weigh your options.

My son is going into 3rd grade this year. I work PT. It's a good fit for me & my family.

My youngest started Kindergarten this year. Now that my SAHM duties caring for a child at home during the day are finished, our next goal is to buy our dream house. In order to do that I have to go back to work. My next favorite thing to do besides be a SAHM is taking care of my home. I LOVE TO CLEAN! So I've decided to start cleaning houses to help with the finances and allow us to reach our goal for our new house. Most importantly, cleaning houses allows me to make my own hours so that I can be available for my children before and after school.

I'm involved with my kiddos at school for the most part. My oldest has an IEP for vision issues and is in middle school and my second born with ADD (not hyper) but it seems like I'm still corresponding with teachers at least once a week, and usually every other day after school for my ADDer. Call it needy kids, but they need me at home - even if they are at school.

I've thought about getting a part time job while they are all in school (kid #3 is started second grade this year) but then i ask myself what happens when they need mom for a change of clothes, a cracked head or gets sick, ect... I'd lose my job (hubby work 30 minutes away so isn't really in a position to "save" a kid) because i'd be out so often dealing with kids.

I do work parttime, but only on weekends and monday evenings to round out 20 hours. Its rough but it does help with bills and i am home when the kids need me.

Now that my kids are in school I am looking to go back to work.

For me, it made no financial sense. Adding in school DECREASED what my childcare expenses would be, but it only brought me out of the red by about $2 per hour.

I'm sorry. My time is worth more than $2 per hour unless it's a bonafide emergency and somehow $160 per month minus taxes and unavoidable working expenses (like the added gas - a buss pass would be $100, so no bus), so about $80-$100 per month would "solve" that emergency OR I was "climbing a ladder" in my field.

Granted, the checks would LOOK bigger than $100 per month, but after paying for childcare, taxes, and gas... $100 would be my "take home".