https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:06:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-529328 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 18:45:10 +0000 regberadaisy 529328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would def go back and give it a try first. We are all heartbroken at the thought of it and cry the jest few times at drop off. But it does get easier!</p> <p>Now that I said that! Even though I've never wanted to be a SAHM I do now but we can't afford it. :(</p> <p>My cousin in law went back to work and ultimately quit after a few months. But they had a different life plan. Her husband was in the army and after he got out they started a farm and she does marketing freelance as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-529296 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 17:53:10 +0000 DillonLion 529296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: thanks for sharing this. I definitely relate </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-529282 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 17:26:44 +0000 sandy 529282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another attorney turned SAHM. I left it open but honestly told my office I was 90% sure I would not be coming back after 3 months of maternity leave.</p> <p>I love being a SAHM. Sure we would love the extra money (that's why we have a house in the suburbs close to my family and not a house in the city) and sometimes I feel insecure that I don't have a career now but I didn't love being an attorney. It's a difficult decision that so many moms face and for some it's so clear and for others it's not such a clear cut decision for so many reasons. </p> <p>@highwire: I wanted to point you to this blog by a girl who went through the same thing you are going through...and she very honestly explains why she ultimately decided to return to work despite wanting to be a SAHM very badly. It's a muti-part post but worth the read:</p> <p><a href="http://www.allthingsgd.com/2010/08/returning-to-work-part-1.html?m=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.allthingsgd.com/2010/08/returning-to-work-part-1.html?m=1</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.allthingsgd.com/2010/09/returning-to-work-part-2.html?m=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.allthingsgd.com/2010/09/returning-to-work-part-2.html?m=1</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-529091 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:55:57 +0000 photojane 529091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister-in-law did this. She was actually a teacher, and even though her day was only 7-3, she didn't like leaving her son with a nanny all day. She worked for one school year after he was born, but it was too difficult for her to go back the second year. They cut back on expenses, and she took a course on medical transcription. Now she does medical transcription from home after my nephew goes to sleep to make a little extra money. She has never been happier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-529074 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:43:19 +0000 Charm54 529074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote for getting your teaching degree! It's the perfect balancing career, IMO. Summers off, spring &amp; christmas breaks, holidays, home earlyish in the afternoon --- of course, that's not why I became a teacher (my list for why I love my job is much longer!) but the lifestyle is definitely an added bonus that I realized once I started thinking of a family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528946 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 11:26:02 +0000 littlek 528946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I, like other people mentioned, dreaded going back to work. I don't need to work, we can live off DHs salary no issue. However, it will be a set back in my career and to be honest I enjoy the lifestyle we live and it would be rough adjusting. I'm currently trying to find a more flexible work arranagement and hope to move eventually to part time. Our son goes to daycare and besides the being sick and not napping great, it's been great for him. He loves the interaction with little kids and he does lots of fun art projects and is learning sign language. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528855 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 09:50:44 +0000 mrskc 528855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@highwire: yeah I think it's smart to go back for awhile and then make your decision. Who knows, you may enjoy it. I think I would love to be a teacher. DH is one so it would be pretty awesome to be off together with our kids in the summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528775 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 08:19:53 +0000 winniebee 528775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like @MungBean, I spent the majority of my leave dreading going back to work. Also an attorney and have a stressful job. I took 5.5 months of leave and basically had panic attacks for 2 weeks before I went back. I spent very little time away from my son during leave (an hour here or there). But, I wanted to at least give work a shot. We could have made me staying home work, but probably would have racked up some debt (which is sort of a non-issue b/c my husband's salary will increase by x10 in a year and a half). </p> <p>The first week back to work was really hard. I cried a lot. 3 months back now it's still really hard sometimes. I work 4 days a week, but am out of the house 11 hours on those days. My son goes to daycare 3 of those days (my mom watches him the other day). It's not all sunshine and roses but he really likes daycare and I think as a first child, the daycare experience can be very beneficial (since he gets all of the attention in the world at home). He is sick a lot, but that's par for the course. There are also days that I really enjoy being at work and like having a life outside of poopie diapers, nap lengths, milestones, and milk intake. I obsess a lot less about little issues and really enjoy my time with my son. And, I can even run out and do an errand or two at lunch or grab a coffee on my own terms while at work.</p> <p>I'm not sure what the long term future holds, but for now, we're making it work.</p> <p>Chin up, and good luck with whatever you decide to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528769 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 08:12:05 +0000 doodlepoodle 528769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@highwire: I have a co-worker who is pg now and considering her options. For me it wasn't an option, DH is a student and my income is how we eat. If I had the opportunity I would stay home no questions asked. I cherish every moment with J but certainly wish I could be with him all day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528739 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 07:31:49 +0000 DillonLion 528739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MRS. LEMON-LIME: probably a combination of all of those, baaed on our discussions on the topic </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528737 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 07:29:25 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 528737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Several years ago a coworker did this and she seemed confident and super happy about her decision?</p> <p>What exactly does your DH say about your current arrangement?<br /> Is he stressed your household solely relies on his income? Does he miss his the old days before you had to make lifestyle adjustments? Does he believe simply adults work and so should you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528622 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:44:38 +0000 shopaholic 528622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@highwire: Not there yet and currently don't have an issue as I will be a SAHM for as long as we can (or I hope to transition to be a WAHM). But in my industry (fashion), I saw PLENTY of women leave for maternity leave and say they were going to come back. Most didn't. They would call and say they decided they didn't want to come back. OR, quite a few came back for a short while, and then quit. I think it's more prevalent in my industry because the pay sucks and childcare in this area is really expensive. At least in my experience, the income potential of us going back to work was slightly better than just being a little more frugal and staying home yourself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528606 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:24:44 +0000 pinkcupcake 528606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Me.</p> <p>I spent most of my maternity leave dreading the end. The thought of going back to work and leaving my LO would seriously leave me in tears. I ended up extending my leave from three months to four months. As much as I wanted to just quit, I knew I had to give it a try so that there would be no regrets. I went back part-time (three days a week) for two months and I was completely miserable. Luckily, we were able to arrange our schedules so that DH stayed home with her the three days I worked, but once I went back to full-time, we would have no choice but to put her in daycare. </p> <p>A month into my return, I ended up quitting, and it was the best (and hardest) decision I ever made. I guess for me it wasn't that I changed my mind about working... it was more that my mind didn't change from "I don't want to work." I was hoping that I'd get back into my groove at work and enjoy the adult interaction, but it just never happened. I was so miserable. It just wasn't worth it to me. </p> <p>Sure, we'd definitely have it a lot easier (financially) if I was working right now. Sometimes I feel a little stressed when I think about my career (I was an attorney, but I didn't love it, and I was thinking about a career change anyways). But I don't regret my decision one bit, especially when every morning, I'm greeted by my LO's sunny face :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528603 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:22:28 +0000 MaisyMay 528603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm actually looking forward to going back to work in 2 weeks. I know LO will be well taken care of, and I have missed the adult interaction. Plus, I have some fun projects to work on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528599 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:17:10 +0000 DillonLion 528599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: I go back February 18. I'm thinking I will give it a try for three months and not make any decisions until then. Who knows, I may like working and having the adult interaction.</p> <p>I'd love to get my teaching certificate also! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528596 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:12:55 +0000 mrskc 528596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm interested in this. I too am heartbroken at the thought of going back to work. I've spent many days crying about it over the last couple of weeks. We can make do with out my income (I do make more than DH tho), but it would be a major adjustment for us spending wise. I think I can get used to spending less tho. I start back at work in Feb and I'll be part time for a little while, but then will have to be full time and there's no option to work part time. I will be gone 7 am - 6 pm b/c of my long commute. It sucks! </p> <p>I'm definitely going back to work, but considering quitting possibly this summer. I really don't like my job and the thought of going back to a job I dislike and missing out on all that time with my son breaks my heart. I'm thinking about going back to school to become a teacher. I would just need to take all the tests and credential classes and be a SAHM in the mean time. I'm so conflicted. If I quit my job now, I'll be pretty much throwing away my engineering career or at least it would be difficult to get back into if I quit for a few years. I don't have my professional license yet, so that's another thing. </p> <p>Anyways, sorry about my ramblings. Can you tell I'm having a hard time with this? I just wanted you to know that you're not alone in wanting to go back to work and then quit. When do you have to go back? How long do you think you would work before quitting? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-return-to-work-after-lo-was-born-and-then-ultimately-quit-and-stay-home#post-528585 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 22:47:59 +0000 DillonLion 528585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've wanted to be a SAHM for years, but for financial reasons we decided that I would return to work after my maternity leave ends. We could afford for me to stay home, but we would have a different lifestyle to adjust to. Now that LO is here and we got adjusted, I am totally heartbroken at the thought of leaving her at daycare while I work full time. Alternative care arrangements are not an option, nor is reduced hours at my job or any comparable position.</p> <p>I'm willing to give going back to work a try( since that is DH's preference), but I'm curious anyone returned to work only to ultimately quit and stay home after a short while.</p> <p>What was your experience with your employer and why did you change your mind about working? </p>