Do you plan to go back to work at some point? Say, once your children go to school a full day?
I know some stay at home parents have degrees and had careers. I'm curious if you plan to return to the work force when your kids get older.
I'm starting to wonder what I will do once all of mine are in school. Granted, I've got about 5 years to think about it!

Do you plan to go back to work at some point? Say, once your children go to school a full day?
Full time? I sure hope not. I do some work from home right now, and I'd like to do more when the kids are in school more, but I know I don't want to go back to an office 9-5 again. Whatever I do, whether it is more of what I am doing now or something else, I want to be my own boss and set my own hours.

For me I guess I am a WAHM. I am a Nanny but in my own home. I plan to continue what I am doing when Alyssa goes to school full time next year. Basically because I hope to have another child then myself (well shortly after that) I think that maybe once I am done having children and they are in school full time (passed the elementary stage) I might finish my degree and get a more perminant job (I just have to student teach to be a music teacher...however when the time comes I will have to take a few more classes I am sure)

I enjoy children. I could just plan to be a Nanny forever. I don't know yet. At 30...well not much more to do :lol:

That's a good question. DH wants me to go back to work full-time once our youngest child is in school a full day (assuming Sarah isn't it). I, on the other hand, don't want to. I wouldn't mind doing something part-time. Like Sheila, I really don't want to go back to an office 9-5 job. I'd prefer to be my own boss and set my own hours, or at least work somewhere where I can set my own hours.

I would like to go back to work. I can't imagine staying home all day when both my kids aren't here. However, I do want to do something parttime/mother's hours, b/c I would like to be here after school for them. I'm planning on going back to school to get my master's in education, so hopefully being a teacher will be the solution.

I have a masters degree and I had a "career." But I wouldn't be able to go right back and pick up where I stopped. I'd have to take a big step back. Part of that is just the job, part is my own fault at not keeping up my skills and contacts.

I guess I have no plan. I do know that there is a lot I can do (related to the kids) when they are in school. I know that it would be a lot of craziness for us both to work full time. I know that I would be the one taking off most of the time if the kids were sick, on vacation, whatever. So for a lot of reasons, it just doesn't seem like a fun thing to go back to a full time job.

It's hard to say now. I can't imagine my kids being 10, 8, and 7. Or 15, 13, and 12.

All my friends say they'll do "something" because they can't imagine not working. They think they'll go crazy with nothing to do. I think I'm selfish and lazy because I think I'd love it. :lol: If we stay in England, all my kids will be in school full time in fall 2009 (in the US, fall 2010). That's the thought that gets me through some days now. :)

I'll continue to go out to work at DH's family business. Right now, I do mornings when Austin is at school. I plan to still do mornings in the fall and then shop in the afternoon with SIL LOL!

Do you plan to go back to work at some point? Say, once your children go to school a full day?
Full time? I sure hope not. We're able to live just fine w/o me working. However, Chris seems to think I should work, at least p/t.
Once the kids are in school f/t, I think I'll see what interests me. I would never go back just to go back, KWIM? I know I don't want to work f/t in an office again. Like Cami, I have a MBA and I had a career, but for me, it wasn't something I was passionate about. I think I'll do some volunteer work and then go from there. It would be nice to work a bit - doing something that means something to me- while the kids are in school. but I still want time for being involved w/ the kids school. I want to volunteer in school and be really involved. And be there in the am/afternoons.

Yep...Karri, that is how I feel...That is why I said I would wait till my youngest was through elementary before doing anything. Tylor is in 5th grade and at this point there isn't a whole lot I do in the classroom for him. They jsut don't need parents that way. But through 3rd grade I was very very involved and I want to do that for all my children

I'm curious if you plan to return to the work force when your kids get older.
I'm starting to wonder what I will do once all of mine are in school.
See, this is why I want to keep having kids. Then I won't have to worry about it! :lol:

Okay, so since that isn't realistic... I have a few options, but I wouldn't want to work full time. Like some others have said, I'd still like to be around as much as possible for after school and be available to help in the class, go on class trips, etc.

I used to be on the supply list for the YMCA day care centres, so I would consider seeing if I could get back on that, or do some other part time work with the Y.

I've also considered doing something on my own. Maybe photography, or making photo cards, scrapbooks, etc. :dunno:

As someone who's new to this SAHM thing, I'm not sure what I'll end up doing. I was an editor, so if I went back, it certainly wouldn't be for the money. :lol: We're able to live with just Phil's salary (obviously), and on most days I enjoy being home. I'd most likely do some p/t work once the kids are in school full-time, but again, I'd want to be home for them when they were home. So I'd wonder what I'd do during the summers or days off from school. There might be a possibility for working in the evenings somewhere (like a newspaper), but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I did really enjoy what I did, but I didn't care for the commute or the politics. I could probably do some editing from home, but I don't have any contacts with which I could network. :dunno:

Since I will be my children's teacher when they go to school, I will have even less free time. So the possibility of working is 100% out. Even if they were in public or private school I dwould not work still.

I'm going back to work in the Fall of 2008 unless something Reed is promoted and is required to stay an additional few years in the Army. I have a BA in Fine Arts and a BS in Education (Music Education degree) and 4 years of teaching experience. By the time I go back to teaching I'll have a master's degree (and possibly working on a doctorate). I can't wait to go back to teaching. Especially since it is a great schedule when you do have children. Yes it is full time but my schedule with be similar to my child's.

Once the kids are in school full time, I do plan to go back to work, but like the others said, I'm sure it will only be part time. I did enjoy my job at the bank, so I might go back to do something like that. :dunno: I can't imagine not ever working for a paycheck again in my life, so I'm sure I'll do something.

Lots of good ideas. Hmmm, no one wants to be a "lady who lunches"? :lol: It would be nice to be able to reconnect with my friends again once all our kids are in school. We get together now but who can hear over the roar of 6 kids? :lol:

I would like to be a lady who lunches :lol:

I can't ever imagine going back to work full-time. My plan is to do part-time work when all the kids are in school. At this stage, that will be Feb 2009. If I can get a job outside the home between 10am-2pm, maybe 4 days a week, that will be ideal. Those type of jobs are rare though, so it seems more likely that I might look into some kind of WAH opportunity. I still want to be available to volunteer at school and I need to be able to take them to school and pick them up. I wouldn't work if it meant having to pay for any kind of childcare b/c that would defeat the purpose of working!

I would love to be a lady who lunches. :)

Clare is going to be starting her own party planning business in February of 2009. Clare's Parties Extraordinaire! or something along those lines. :party3:

I was a temporary SAHM. I'm going for re-training on Jan 21st for 13 weeks and will be back at work full time, but shift work. I think the hours will be pretty decent and the time off is pretty good as I retain my seniority.

I will be able to be home after school if I'm on day or midnight shift and Patrick will be there if I'm on afternoons. I can't quit the gov't unfortunately because I have too many years in and I'd screw myself pension wise if I did.

They do have P-T positions where I'm going, as well as job-sharing so I'll have to look into that. If I have to work full time, I need a job that does not require much mental effort and that will stay at the job when I leave so I won't be thinking about it at home. I hope this job, along with the shift work aspect will be better for that. I will be able to arrange days off for field trips and such and even if I won't be at all the games, I can certainly do lots of other stuff.

Shoot. Don't get me wrong. I will be al ady who lunches. And a lady who runs. Its goiing to take me awhile to figure out what kind of PT job I wan to do.

I have no idea when I'll go back to work or if I'll ever go back. DD2 is 5 months old and won't be in school full day until she's 6, so I have another six years for sure of being a full time SAHM. Hopefully by the time the baby is in school all day we won't be living in this neighborhood. I'll have to see what employment opportunities are out there when/if the time comes.

I was looking at the local job ads today and found two jobs that are the kind of thing that I think would like to do. Pay is crap but the jobs sound like fun.

"Visitors Coordinator" at a local museum. Full time or job share. "coordinate school visits... no one day is the same... attend to special needs of each group... coordinate workshops for visitors"

"Wedding Coordinator" at a local wedding venue/resort. 1 day per week, some weekends. "process inquiries, ensure couple's wedding preferences are handled"

Both would fit around my luncheon schedule. :lol:

I'd like to be a lady who lunches, with a few other amusing things to do between lunches. I don't know what they are yet, though - I do not have a college degree, so it's not like I have a "career" to return to, but I would like something to occupy my days, while still allowing me time for exercise and craft stuff and the like.

I'd ultimately like to be a lady who lunches as well, but I just don't see that happening with the COL where we live. Even if money was no object I think I would have to at least volunteer somewhere, b/c I could see myself getting very lazy.

I do not have a college degree, so it's not like I have a "career" to return to.
I have a university degree and while I may have had a "career" at one point, since I've been married/had kids it is now a "job." BIG difference, I think. I neither need, nor want a career at this point. :)

Those jobs sound great Cami! :aok:

I Will Probably Finish My Degree And Start Teaching By The Time Creed (18 Mos) Is In The 1st Grade. I Am In No Hurry Though.... I Always Tease My Dh About What He Will Eat Once I Go Back To Work. Has Gotten Into Having Home Cooking Every Night. When I Worked Full Time Before The 2 Youngest I Was The Hamburger Helper Queen! Now It Is All From Scratch (gotta Save Money Where We Can)

I would like to take some "me time off" but I do know that I do want to go back to work.
I was going to go to school this past Fall to become a massage therapist but I became pregnant and Ben was born in Oct. so I'll be putting that off for a little while. I want to be able to work when the boys are in school and be home for them after school or work a few hours at night when DH is home. I also want the flexability to work around my DH schedule. We'll see.

My aim is to have our business built up to the point that by the time the kids are in school that is looking after us so I won't have to go back to a regular job.

If my dream doesn't come into fruition I will just go back to working permanat/partime with my dad's business and work the hours inbetween school so I can drop them off and pick them up.

I would much rather win the lottery and not do any of it! :lol: Tony has declared if we win the lottery then he will run up George St naked (that's the main road running through the Sydney CBD) I plan on making that come true!

I think once all my children are in school full days I plan to go back to college...I think I want to be a certified nurse midwife...but all my kids being in school all day is a long way off.

I enjoy children. I could just plan to be a Nanny forever. I don't know yet. At 30...well not much more to do :lol:


My mom ran a daycare out of her home for 24 or so years, then she moved to pennsylvania this summer and thought she wanted a change of pace...but after a few weeks she found 4 kids to watch in her home, she just couldn't stand not having a baby/toddler around.

Neither my husband or I plan on me ever going back to work. I've had kids both in school and believe me, I still stayed *plenty* busy! :) I would drop them off back then and head to the gym in the morning, get the house in order and laundry done, errands taken care of, basically anything that needed to be done so that when I picked them up, I was ready to be "present" for them. It was wonderful. My friends and I would get together one daya week and I had a Bible study one morning a week. I volunteered for a couple of different programs that I felt passionately about. I was always the room mom and part of the pta. Trust me, you're BUSY! :lol: And we like the lifestyle. I'm never stressed when hubby or kids get home, things get taken care of, it's great. At some point in it, I felt the desire to adopt and we did and now I have a 4yr. old that keeps me equally busy, but even if we didn't and even when he's older and in school, I will not be re-entering the work force. I like to be the barometer of the home and I want a peaceful home. For my personality that's best attained by having the downtime to think about where the kids are at in their lives and how best to encourage them and steer them and to think of ways to keep our very happy marriage happy after almost 19yrs and to do the things in life that I find important and keep me happy. :)

*edited to add* this is works for US. I'm not taking away from anyone who may make a different decision. It's great to hear how everyone makes it work to best suit their family. :love:

So the funny thing is, I was coming to post this question today - and found this thread. :giggle: It's funny to read since it was posted so very long ago.

In reading your response, are you at the same place now? Back to work? SAH? WAH?

This all came up because my dh is going back to school this fall and we're considering if I should go back too. We don't want to spend the money if I don't ever plan on returning to the work force, but if I am, it would be beneficial for me to have my degree.

I just read through my answer and I am actually at that place now. I have 2 more classes to take to finish my Master's degree and I'm working as a teacher. I'm working M-F 8-12 so I'm home after school for the kids, and on holidays and school vacation. My job is also very flexible so I can still volunteer in Jackson's class as needed. So far so good! (today was actually only my first day back at work, so we'll see how I feel in a couple of months!).

Still at the same place, still planning to stay at the same place. We're doing okay without my working, and it certainly makes home life easier, so that's how it's going to be. We've said it might change when Caroline is heading towards high school or something and tuition is more expensive, but for now I am a lady who lunches! (although we're about to move so my lunches consist of turkey sandwiches :giggle: )

Still SAH here. The kids are in school FT. I took on the presidency of the PTA this year and holy crap....so far, its been a 30 hr/wk job! :eek: And I volunteer 1x/wk in Aidan's classroom and plan on it in the twins (no schedule yet).
I plan on continuing to SAH. There's no way that my kids could be in the activities they are in if I worked, because Chris is not really able to pitch in due to travel or long hours. So unless he loses a job or until the kids are older and I find my calling....I am here.

2 1/2 years ago, I said I had no plan. :lol: Typical.

All my kids are in school full time now, although Brady wouldn't be FT yet if I wasn't working. Which I am, part time. The perfect (for me) job found me last year and I love it.

What I have found, as I expected, is that there is a million things that a parent can get involved with at school. I know I used to hear parents say that it is more important to stay home when kids are in school than when they are little. I don't disagree. I work enough to keep me busy and enjoy it but I also have time to do things at school. I'm a room mom, girl scout leader, teacher helper, and random filler-inner for annual events and field trips. And I love being involved with school, knowing what is going on there, and knowing who the teachers are.

I don't regret that I went to school-- my masters didn't cost anything because it was all assistantships and tuition waivers-- and I like that I have that work history-- but I'm not in any way using that degree. But since I had no plan, it's all good, I guess. :)

And Karri, the thought of PTA pres makes me freak! Ours does so much work, I can't imagine. Go you!

I still SAH but was lucky enough to garner some contacts in the editing field and I WAH in the evenings when the kids are in bed. It's nice to have the extra income while keeping my foot in the door. The money is more like "fun" money as we don't necessarily need my income. I think I'll keep up with this way of life for awhile, as long as there are more editing/writing jobs available. I don't see myself entering the office environment for several years, if at all.

I'm still SAH, some WAH, but not too much. And I hope that continues. There are times when I'd like to work a little more, but I'm not going to jump into anything.

I'm doing more volunteering at school, and I like being there. I'm not in the classrooms much, and I like that I can get to know their teachers a bit and what is going on in the school without being up in the kids' business. And I'm working with the grants at school. Which reminds me. I need to do some work there.

But mostly, right now is all about getting ready for the 3Day. And I'm so fortunate to have these long stretches of time where I can rearrange things so I can get some training done.

It's funny to read that. I hoped to have another child (Check) I hoped to get my degree (check) and I also said while I could go back to work once my kids are all full time in school/past elementary stage (not there yet) that I could also be a nanny for the rest of my life....

I am at max with children. I have two 4 year olds, a 19 mo old, my own 21 mo old and a 6 week old! I had to turn away 5 kids in the last two months because I am full. This is the way I see my life going. I love kids, I love being involved in kids and honestly it is really great pay for me! So maybe I might sub teach at some point but I just don't think so..I think I want to watch kids!

I would like to be a lady who lunches :lol:

I can't ever imagine going back to work full-time. My plan is to do part-time work when all the kids are in school. At this stage, that will be Feb 2009. If I can get a job outside the home between 10am-2pm, maybe 4 days a week, that will be ideal. Those type of jobs are rare though, so it seems more likely that I might look into some kind of WAH opportunity. I still want to be available to volunteer at school and I need to be able to take them to school and pick them up. I wouldn't work if it meant having to pay for any kind of childcare b/c that would defeat the purpose of working!

Feb 2009 has come and gone and I haven't even given a fleeting thought to getting any kind of job :lol:.

Still SAH here. The kids are in school FT. I took on the presidency of the PTA this year and holy crap....so far, its been a 30 hr/wk job! :eek: And I volunteer 1x/wk in Aidan's classroom and plan on it in the twins (no schedule yet).
I plan on continuing to SAH. There's no way that my kids could be in the activities they are in if I worked, because Chris is not really able to pitch in due to travel or long hours. So unless he loses a job or until the kids are older and I find my calling....I am here.

And this is why. I am so busy as a SAHM! I'm the Vice President of the P&F Committee at school and I'm also on the fundraising committee for dancing. Last week I worked at the school 3 days - Wednesday was sorting and distributing the cookie dough fundraiser, Thursday was cooking and serving at the Fathers Day breakfast and manning the Fathers Day stall as well as madly running around all of the local shops looking for meals for the canteen as they didn't get their delivery, Friday was the sports carnival. This week I went on an excursion with Harry's class on Wednesday, was the Parent Helper in Sam's classroom yesterday morning and then worked in the canteen in the afternoon. We have another fundraiser delivery today, but I told the principal it will have to wait to be sorted and sent home till next week as I'm having a day off today!

So my answer now would be that I don't plan on getting any kind of paid job any time in the future.

I have been so fortunate to be home for the past year but dh is finally fed up with being the only bread winner so I'm going back into the work force :( ... but ultimately I think that the change will be good.

Dh works from home so this past year has allowed him to see that he doesn't need to work 24/7 - he needs to have a life! - so we're going to keep Hanna out of before/after school care to save that expense and allow dh to spend a little more time with her.

I'm not looking forward to going back to work at all but having my own money again will be nice. Hanna's response to me going back to work was "does that mean you can start buying me clothes & shoes again" :giggle:

The kids and Scott all vote for me to go back to work when Brendan is in kindergarten next year. Connor and Lilly want to go to after-care at school. Scott wants supplemental income. Brendan's nervous about it.... I don't know what I'll do -- it'd be nice if I could get a nice freelance gig. I'm doing projects that drop in my lap nowadays, but I haven't sought out any work in four years. I'm rusty!

I'm kind of feeling like Brendan....on one hand, I'd like the professional connections again, and a salary would be nice. But, figuring out childcare, losing the chance to be at the kids' school as much as I am, the chance to do extra activities, plus all of the household responsibilies. It'd be hard. I did inform Scott that his free ride in terms of laundry, cooking and cleaning would be coming to a crashing halt if I eventually go back to work. Time will tell.

but I haven't sought out any work in four years. I'm rusty!

.

I'm 10 years out of the workforce, which is really frightening! :eek: Right now I'm trying to plan our big trip for next year and I find that I'm clueless about some things, which is really wierd/sad/scary. I was a travel agent for most of my professional life but am so rusty. Also, I haven't worked since 9/11 and the world of travel is very different these days.

This all came up because my dh is going back to school this fall and we're considering if I should go back too. We don't want to spend the money if I don't ever plan on returning to the work force, but if I am, it would be beneficial for me to have my degree.

Karly, if you have the time and you can afford it, then you should probably do it. Even if you have no plans now to go back to work, things change. DH could lose his job or something else might happen that could cause you to need or want to go back to work. If it's going to cause financial hardship or have a big impact on your home life, then it doesn't make sense. But if you can do it fairly "easily", then it's probably worth getting.

Obviously you and DH need to decide if it makes sense or not. I've seen too many people go back to work who hadn't planned on it, so I think if you have a good opportunity to get your degree, you should take it. JMO.

Dennis

I love my job. I work full time, but it's shift work, generally days and afternoons. I can work OT if it suits me when they call, but I usually don't. My job stays at work and I don't even think about it when I'm not there.

I have plenty of time for doing stuff with the school ie. field trips, fun lunches, Parent Advisory Council and plenty of time for the sports activities. I might miss some games if I'm days on the weekends, but I'm there for most other things, so I'm not worried about missing a game or practice here or there.

Well, I have Sean now. And Sarah's still quite a bit of work. She's not in school full-time yet. That won't happen until next year. But I'll still have Sean anyway. Sarah's therapy schedule is demanding enough that I don't really think work would be feasible right now. As it is, I'm waiting to hear back about a 6-8 week full-time feeding therapy regimen for Sarah. We're waiting on our insurance company to approve it. If I were working, I'd probably have to take unpaid leave to go with her. And I can't just drop her off (not my rule). Somebody has to stay with her. Thankfully my parents are keeping Sean for free. I feel bad enough that they're doing it. I'd never ask them to keep the kids while I worked. Just because my mom has MS and lacks the energy to chase them, and my dad still works from home. If he's chasing my kids, he's not working!

I also really enjoy SAH. It's so much easier when only one adult has to get ready in the morning. I'm able to chaperone field trips. It's generally no problem to get to Sarah's school for IEP meetings. I can take the extra time when I'm home to work with Sarah on the stuff she's doing at school. Sean is also getting therapy through EI, and I can be home for that too. If I had to work that around a full-time job, I don't know how I'd do it.

Also, my field of work is changing super fast. I've been out of the work force for 4 1/2 years, and so much has changed in computers and technology since then. I'd have to take classes of some kind just to catch up. If I did go back to work, I'd probably be looking into another field. And I'd probably prefer to do it at a school. Either the one my kids attend, or one in the same area so we'd have the same days off. I'd probably do a good job being an assistant in a special ed classroom or an attendant on a special ed bus.

This all came up because my dh is going back to school this fall and we're considering if I should go back too. We don't want to spend the money if I don't ever plan on returning to the work force, but if I am, it would be beneficial for me to have my degree.

Are you working at all now, Karly? I can't remember.
I wouldn't go to school for the sake of going to school. But if there is something you're passionate about and would enjoy a career in, then I would pursue a degree in that field.

I didn't answer last time . Not sure why. :dunno: I have been a SAHM since Emma was born. Emma is in school full time now but Christine has 2 more years before she starts kindergarten. They are trying to implement full time kindergarten next year here so more than likely by the time she starts she will be in it full time. I am seriously starting to think about going back to work not after she starts Kindergarten but maybe after she starts Grade one or two. Since I have a non practice licence and haven't worked in over 5 years I would have to take a refresher course . It is self pace up to a year and besides the clinical done at home so I think the best time to start it when Christine goes to school full time. The campus is nearby which is great. Even when I am done, I will not go back full time just part time or on a casual basis. I still want to be there for class activities,etc. I also sincerely doubt that I will go back to hospital nursing. I just don't want the stress. I am thinking of probably going back into geriatrics which is ironically where I started or maybe working for the BC Nurse Line which several people I know and work there has suggested to me.

Karri, no, I'm not working out of my home. I was working p/t at the credit union this past year, but after paying daycare, there wasn't much I was bringing home. Plus, the stress it caused on my family wasn't worth the hassle.

Dennis, very valid points.

I still haven't decided what to do.... it's very interesting to read your thoughts everyone!

Karly, do you have any previous credits or would you be starting from scratch? And do you know what you would want to major in?