If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I've made a lot of friends who are SAHMs. I currently work 25-30 hours a week and have a supposedly flexible schedule but I can't always pick which morning or afternoon I want off.

In my industry, if I leave and have a gap, I'm afraid I won't be able to get back in. I'm 34 so I'm at the cusp of transitioning to the executive level. If I decide to step down, it may be difficult for me to even get lower level jobs because they'd prefer the fresh young talent over me.

If you stay home, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

Do you think you can continue on your career path or will you plan to start all over?

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

Message edited 8/8/2012 2:54:55 PM.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I SAH for 5 years while I had DC #1 and #2. I eased back into my field part-time and continued part-time until I had DC#3. Now I am home again with all 3, and not sure for how long though. I do plan on going back eventually. We really cut back while I am home and having that extra money is nice, especially since I can work while they are in school and be home when they are home.

Message edited 8/8/2012 1:13:07 PM.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I'm not sure... As long as I can continue to stay home financially, then I will. I love being home with my DS and I really wouldn't have it any other way. My DS will be 2 in December and we are curently TTC #2, so I don't see myself going back any time soon.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

My plan was to work PT, but I lost my job when DD was only 3 months old and haven't been able to find anything in my field. She's almost 1, and I hope to go back to work PT in the next 6 months, but if not, I love being home with her.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

i'm a SAHM (not by choice) and ma currently getting a new master's degree so that I can change careers. I have a lot against me (no experience, age, no internships, minimum salary requirements) but I am willing to tough it out for a few years so that I can provide a better future for my DS.

I have been home for almost 2 years now and it is definitely NOT for me! it's driving me nuts! I need more. DH knows that and is a great supporter. Ideally he'd like to be a SAHD (so he says) and let me have the career.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

Message edited 8/8/2012 1:51:01 PM.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I went back part-time (20hrs/week, 2 days in the office) and don't plan on going back to full-time until DD (and any future children) is in high school

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I plan on going back to work. Just had second child three weeks ago at the age of 41. Considering I did build up some experience prior to having children and earned a master's in my field I feel foolish not to return in a few years. I know I will have to take a step back in pay and brusing up by taking some refresher courses - but do not see myself staying home for the rest of my life, plus the additional $$$ will be needed.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I hope not.

It just seems like a huge headache. Homework, sports, sick days, days off from school.
Really, my kid has 26 in his kindergarten class and an aid 1/2 day
school needs volunteers...i am going to do that. someone has to. thank God my dh doesn't have an issue with it.

if i worked, i know all cooking and cleaning would be on me as well.
financially we are okay, not great...but we have made peace with it.

as far as what if's and gaps...i put my worries elsewhere. i worked at merrill lynch before it all fell apart. so many still out of a job from 2009. women who worked there for 3 decades.
the only thing i can count on is that where i am now-i am happy and making a difference. that is enough for me.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I work as a bartender at a steakhouse on Sundays, and sometimes I pick up Saturdays as well. (My husband is off on weekends, so this works out for us.)
I have a BA in psychology, & I plan to go back to school for a masters in school counseling, or nursing school (I haven't decided yet, I know I want a job that helps people). I am turning 28 next month, I have 1 DC, & plan to have more.
My plans are to go back to school part time when my DC, and any other future children we have (God willing!), are older, in either elementary or middle school.
Hopefully, I will get a job from there, & work when my child (hopefully children ) are in high school or college.
It's a plan that I have, but you never know what the future will bring! My husband is moving up every year at his job, so maybe I will end up volunteering/doing charity work instead!
I am enjoying being a SAHM/housewife & bartending one day (sometimes twice) a week. I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom & housewife, & I feel very blessed that I can stay home with my son!

Message edited 8/8/2012 2:27:22 PM.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

Honestly, Probably not. I would if I had to, but as long as we can continue to have me SAH than we will. In the end I may go back and finish my Ph.D. I was in my 3rd year of a 5 yr program when I had my first. I do get worried every so often about what might happen, but in the end I try to live my life the best way I can right now and for us me being home with our DD is best.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I went to school for teaching and was never able to find a teaching job. I actually put my last 3 grad classes on hold because of the enormous amount of student loan debt I have and the lack of jobs. It just didn't make sense to me to keep going and getting deeper in the hole. I needed a break to reassess my future.
I was a sub for 2 years, a nanny for 2 years and a tutor for 1.5 years after my undergrad. I did the tutoring part time until I had #2.

I THINK when both of them are in school full time I will substitute teach. That way, I am off when they are off or could choose not to go in when they call in the morning if they are sick, or there is too much to do. I would also be home the same time that they are. It's very flexible.

If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

As long as we can swing it financially I'll SAH. We want to have another child in the near future, so I will probably be a SAHM for a few years-- if I can that is. I think in the future I will wind up going back to work though.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I would like too plain and simple for the extra money but other than money i wouldnt care about going back.......bottom line though is i would need my mom to retire so that she could drop off and pick up my kids from school everyday if i really wanted to go back full time......so I'm thinking i will most likely ease into it when my last child is in school full time......i'll volunteer at first in their school for a while and then try to get a part time position/subbing there/or other neighborhood schools if there are availabilities.....overall i think i would want to be there for my kids when they get home for most if not all of their elementary school years....high school is different i could definitely have a full time job by then but whats making me think more and more about just doing part time/subbing is knowing that i would really want to be there during those elementary years and if we can swing it financially then i think we'll do it..... the extra money does look sooooooo tempting though but i think if we've been struggling like this for 4 years now then i guess we can do it for a couple more.....we'll see what the future holds, you never know if i wouldn't have a choice and i would have to for money reasons.

If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I hope to stay home until all of our kids are at least in preschool. I wouldn't mind a little bit longer, but it probably won't happen. We'd like to upgrade to a bigger house and I'll also need to build more of a retirement stash.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

Before being a sahm I worked for my husbands company. Once my kids are in school I will help out/work PT there as needed. But I would very much like to be involved in school activities, PTA ,etc. As another poster said I would also like to be home when my kids get home from school to help with hw, bring them to sports, etc.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I hope not. I currently have a completely flexible work from home job, so I hope that when DS starts school I'll be able to put more hours into that so we can have some spending money. But I hope to never have a traditional 9-5 office job ever again. It's just not me.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I just realized from related posts below, you posted this question exactly 2 years ago I also looked at my answer and goodness my tune has certainly changed!
Seems I was much more motivated to return to work 2 years ago

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I plan to stay home as long as I possibly can. Like the pp said, I can't imagine how I could work and take care of all the school and activities. I get stressed just thinking about it. If I do work again, I am going to try my hardest to find something local and flexible. I worked f/t in Manhattan in an industry I didn't love. Not looking to fight my way back into that. We have cut back on things and I am fine with that- I have enough shoes and pocketbooks to last me a lifetime As long as my kids have all they need, I am good. Like the saying goes- they are only young once.

If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

Maybe. I am 39, DS is 10 1/2 mos. We want to have at least 1 more child. Depends on what happens once he/they are both in school. But I don't see myself ever working full time again. Best case scenario, I would only work while they are in school.

Re: If you are a SAHM, do you eventually plan to go back to work?

I want to and I have to. But with all the days off the kids have and them getting sick. I just hope that I can figure it out when the times comes. Right now we have no sitter or family that would help with watching them after school.