Are you pregnant? Are you wondering if you should keep working after the baby is born? Are you considering becoming a stay at home mom? Are you indecisive as to which decision is the best choice? Do you want to become a stay at home mom but aren’t sure if you can afford it?
If you’ve been pondering whether to become a stay at home mom, you’re not alone. In fact, some of the top searches on Yahoo and Google are “should i be a stay at home mom”, “can i afford to be a stay at home mom”, and “stay at home mom vs. working mom.”
The decision is up to you and your husband. There is not necessarily a wrong choice, but one choice might be better for your family. I, personally, believe it is in the best interest (of children under 5 years old) to have a mom at home as least part of the time. However, not all families can afford to do so. And, some mothers are actually better parents when they have a career as part of their lives. In some situations, such as a disabled parent, it might be better for a child to be in daycare. But, that being said, I feel that the best choice for my children was to become a stay at home mom.
Many moms want to stay at home, but feel they need the additional income. However, the majority of these moms could stay home if they made some budget changes and perhaps gave their lifestyle a mini-makeover. Please read “How to Afford to Be a Stay at Home Mom” for tips and advice. In addition, there are some legitimate part-time work at home jobs that moms can consider. Please take a look at “Legitimate and Scam-Free Work at Home Jobs” and “Work at Home Customer Service Jobs.” You might also read “Are Work at Home Jobs a Scam?”
Some moms choose to not work because they feel that children in daycare are more aggressive. Some experts, although, believe that is a myth. However, a 2001 study did find that children in daycare are more likely to become “aggressive, disobedient, and defiant.” You can read the article here.
Of course, not all work-at-home moms leave their child in daycare. Some are blessed to have a grandmother or other family member to care for the child. Also, some my stagger their work schedules with their husbands so that they are never left in daycare. In addition, some families hire nannies to provide quality child care. In some situations, the child care provider can help the child learn a new language or skill that they would not learn at home.
It has also been proven that children who attend daycare are more likely to get sick. If you read this article here, you will learn that children in daycare are four times as likely to catch childhood illnesses. This can mean additional costs for the family, as you will have to pay for doctor’s appointments, medicine and will miss time at work.
Some women worry that they will become lonely and bored as a stay at home mom. However, there are numerous activities that stay at home moms can do to stay busy. Read “How to Cope With Loneliness as a Stay at Home Mom” for more insight on this issue.
Other moms are concerned they won’t be able to return to the workplace after being a stay at home mom. While that is understandable, hundreds of moms successfully return to work after taking 5, 10, 15, even 20 years off to raise their children at home. While it might be a little challenging if it has been awhile, some employers see experience as a stay-at-home mom as a plus.
The choice to become a stay at home mom is a big one. For thousands of American families, it works great for their situation. For others, working may be the best choice. Think about it carefully, research the facts, and even consult a professional before making the decision. Happy Parenting!
