Questions for stay at home parents

[Clare]

Originally Posted by kalm

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

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I'm 10 years out of the workforce, which is really frightening! 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.

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by Karly

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

[Bev]

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.

[AmyP]

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.

[Karri]

Originally Posted by Karly

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.

[Eva]

I didn't answer last time . Not sure why. 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.

[Karly]

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!

[Dennis]

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?