I have two small children, a 6 year old girl and a 2 year old boy! And I can't see myself working with the two children, seeing their age they are both very young, and my husband is at work from 8am till 6pm, which leaves me to take care of them!

I think in a way it is good that I'm not working as i can take good care of them and be around them all the time. I can teach them many things and give them the attention which children need!

I think I would only start working again when both my kids are at play school!

But I have a friend who has to really rush around and get things together for her kids and husband, as during the day the takes care of the kids, and when her husband is back from work at 3pm, she gets ready for work. I know from talking to her that she does really get tired, but their family requires the money and therefore it leaves her no choice!

My family required the money too, but I decided to quit my job and open a home daycare. This way I was here for my children and I was paid to take in playmates for them. I started this 17 yrs ago and thought I would go back to work after my youngest started school. Well, she is now in 3rd grade and I still have a thriving daycare. I love being home, having dinner ready, not being rushed, and enjoying my family in the evenings.

Lucky you antkmom! I wish I could have your way too! I also love being with my kids while theyre small. After all, theyre the reason why I gave up work and career. However, as they are becoming older and growing fast at that, I need to take care of my own needs as well. This is alos in preparation of sending them to the best schools available. So , I have to get back to a career but this time I would prefer pursuing that career which I have long wanted to do and be. This is also the career which would most probably make me achieve so much as I grow old too!

Each family is different. It's a great thing if you don't have to work and can afford to stay at home with your children. I work outside the home and my daughter is 12. I think I would go crazy sitting home all day when she was in school. You could do that if you need to. Work once they go to school.

I plan to get back into work when my baby starts nursery school. The only thing I am now worried about is my apparent lack of experience over the last 12 years that I have been a stay at home parent. I don't think it will look very favorable to any future employers will it?

Bubble have you considered going back to school and getting a degree that will help you get a job? I have some friends who decided once their children were in school to go back to work. They had the same fear as you, so they went to the community college in town and got a degree. One is now an accoutant and the other a LPN.

I think it is such a blessing when women choose to stay home with thier children. I am doing so now, and it does make for a financial strain, but the rewards are worth it. It's forcing me to creatively find ways to earn money from home, like babysitting other's children and freelance writing.

I too am a stay-at-home mom. Three years ago, I gave up an 18-year career just to stay home with my boys, now ages 3 and 9 months. Just months after I did so, my husband was laid off from his job. It's now two years later and he still isn't working, although he consults a bit. Fortunately, we've had savings on which to rely. Even with all of the financial sacrifices, I am so blessed that I haven't missed watching these little boys grow up. Leaving the work force was a difficult choice for me but I am so glad I elected to stay home.

I was a stay at home mum when my kids were small. Once my son started school I took up studying again and after two years went to University. I am now a Special Needs co-ordinator at a secondary school - after several years of teaching and gradually moving up. I suppose my message is that we should all do what is best for us at the time but if we keep on aiming for what we want it'll work out.

Susannah, what you said is actually very inspiring. I am also going back to school this fall in pharmacy technology and I am really looking forward to it. It has been a while since I've studied last between the two kids and a full-time job, but I believe my time has come to go back to school and I also believe that everything will work out even though it will cause a lot of changes in the family.

What about working from home? For moms taking care of children, I think there are many opportunities on the internet to work online as freelancers. That is a good way to get extra income while you are still able to take care of your kids.

It is great if you can stay at home when your kids are small but unfortunately everybody can't do that. I stopped working when the older one was six months and stayed at home for about 4 years. It's not so easy. I got bored and started doing freelance work that fitted well in with their hours. Once the younger one insisted on going to pre-school, I started working again. He was about 2 when he insisted to go with his brother. The fact that I am a teacher made it easier because I was home relatively early in the afternoons and could be with them during holidays.

This is exactly why I'm not ready to have kids. That would be really, really stressful. I don't even have a job right now... so ya. Just looking for online work.

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-Brittany Brydahl

When one is in need of money, everything seems to be possible. It's good that you're a full time mother as of now. If you would be retuning to work again, you have to budget your time. At first it would be difficult but you would get use to it after wards. What did your husband say about it?