https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:19:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2010382 Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:53:28 +0000 BandDmommy 2010382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: that's exciting!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2010380 Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:52:21 +0000 FaithFertility 2010380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I too am a teacher, and we decided that I would extend my leave and take the rest of this school year off making me a SAHM for 8 months :)</p> <p>I will return to work in August for the following school year!<br /> I am excited about the time, but I agree with others that say look for activities, I plan on taking her to music classes, gym and story times! </p> <p>Best of luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009736 Mon, 05 Jan 2015 09:24:53 +0000 StbHisMrs 2009736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going through the same thing right now, last Wednesday was suppose to be my last day, but they ask me to stay for another month or two. I think we'll be ok because my pay was so little, but it'll still be an adjustment. I'm hoping to sell quite a bit online, and work so very very part time side jobs here and there.</p> <p>I was a SAHM with my son, he's 13, I went to work when he was in Kindergarden. It's been a long time!!</p> <p>Goouck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009644 Mon, 05 Jan 2015 08:18:20 +0000 looch 2009644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats on the decision, I know it's not easy to decide!</p> <p>You have a lot more time ahead of you than I did, I had planned to go back to work, but 6 weeks after the birth of my son, my husband and I determined I wouldn't be going back to work. It was a weird adjustment, I had been working full time for more than 12 years at that point, it was what I knew. Then I had the added issue of being in a foreign country, without my support network.</p> <p>So, my advice is even though you are going to be home, see if you can organize a day a week or even half a day where you can have some mom time, to do your errands without the kids. By the time my husband and I figured this out at 4 months in, I was feeling pretty isolated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009459 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:59:19 +0000 Chaosmaven 2009459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. J: Activities and a structure for the day really helped me! Especially with a toddler - we do swim lessons and art classes at the local Y, music class, story time etc. I also make use of the childcare at our Y a couple times a week - scheduling in some time for yourself helps to make it less overwhelming for me. </p> <p>We have a pretty tight budget, so Aldi is my go to for groceries for a great deal. I do some consignment for clothes for DD as well.</p> <p>Honestly, the hardest part was reviewing the budget with DH and figuring out the things that were not necessities that had to go or be reduced. Its a give and take, and we had to acknowledge things like eating out for lunches, expensive date nights, excessive gifts for ourselves or others were not in the budget. I also had to plan far ahead for big things like travel, weddings, Christmas. It is easier when you decide together on those things ahead of time - we learned the hard way that we had different ideas about what living on a restricted budget meant. It can be hard when you are used to have more excess cash available!</p> <p>Yay - so excited for you! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009408 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:14:27 +0000 Mrs. J 2009408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBehr: finding a group is a good idea...I don't have a lot of mom friends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009407 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:13:51 +0000 Mrs. J 2009407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: @Mrs. Lion: @Zbug: thanks! Activities are definitely going to be key. @Tanjowen: yes, we use Mint. We are going to have to watch it even more closely now! Luckily, since I do the menu planning, I can try to reign in the groceries etc. It is definitely going to take a concerted effort on our part. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009281 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 19:35:09 +0000 Tanjowen 2009281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! As @Mrs. Lion: said, don't be surprised by a variety of emotions you might have after staying home. Even though it's hard at times, it's a lot of fun!</p> <p>I agree with PP's about activities! Some free activities we do are going to the park, local coffee shop that has a play area for kids, and music time at the local library. If you aren't already part of a local mom's group, reach out to one! Mine has a separate baby group and we meet once a week for playtime and chat time for moms. </p> <p>Do you use a budget? We use Mint and I watch the budget closely during the month. I also don't know you and your DH's money situation, but we have a combined money account and credit cards, so we never have to borrow money or ask for money from each other. And it makes everything much easier to track. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009271 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 19:26:27 +0000 MamaBehr 2009271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't become a SAHMS by choice. I got pregnant with my second right before accepting a new teaching job, so I didn't get FMLA and the commute was horrendous, so I decided to stay at home. The best thing I did for myself was creat a weekley schedule for us (library time, play dates, park dates etc) and find a support group of other SAHMs. It can be lonely at times, so having friends who can hang out during the day and understand what you are going through is key.<br /> Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009242 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 19:05:53 +0000 Zbug 2009242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've got to second activities! Story time at the library, play dates, etc keep me sane. Congrats. It's notceasy but it's definitely fun :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009221 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:40:05 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2009221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The biggest financial thing for us was adjusting our tax withholding! We don't get a refund, but it increased our monthly income because we dropped to a lower tax bracket. We don't go out to eat a lot, I buy all of LO's clothes used and we rarely get new clothes ourselves, but we make it work. We have to live on a strict budget, but we still make date nights and reasonable travel happen when we can. </p> <p>As far as the emotional side of things, I wrote a couple blog posts about it. I always wanted to be a SAHM and was very surprised at how hard it was on me the first year. I think with two kids it will be better, honestly (I hope!) but there are definite perks and I am really thankful I had the opportunity to be here with lo for the last 2 years. </p> <p><a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2013/10/04/becoming-a-sahm-5-things-i-didnt-expect/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2013/10/04/becoming-a-sahm-5-things-i-didnt-expect/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2013/11/08/becoming-a-sahm-one-more-thing-i-didnt-expect/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2013/11/08/becoming-a-sahm-one-more-thing-i-didnt-expect/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009217 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:37:31 +0000 lilteacherbee 2009217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice because both DH and I are teachers and well, we know how that is :silly: but I'm so happy for you! Exciting stuff mama :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009208 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:23:51 +0000 BandDmommy 2009208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I moved to being a SAHM because LO was struggling at daycare. I enjoy being a SAHM. The key is to find activities. We do little gym, gym, swimming and preschool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009181 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 17:56:01 +0000 Ash 2009181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. J: awe! Exciting! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009179 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 17:54:45 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2009179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. J: I see. I'm not a SAHM so I can't help much with recommendations :). But I wish you the best of luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009178 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 17:53:29 +0000 Mrs. J 2009178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: we are a small, Catholic school, and we don't offer day care there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009158 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 17:36:08 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2009158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your school doesn't offer discounted options for children of teachers? I think at our school teacher's get to put their kids in the day are for a significant discount. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/becoming-a-sahm#post-2009142 Sun, 04 Jan 2015 17:13:11 +0000 Mrs. J 2009142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, DH and I sat down to crunch some numbers for the future because we are due with LO#2 in August. I'm a HS teacher(at a Catholic school, so pay is even worse), and if I kept working, we would have to send both of them to day care. Currently, my mom helps and we have someone come two days a week, but my mom works and I can't ask her to take two. Anyway, we basically figured out that it would be financially in our best interest for me to stay home for a little while, after this school year ends.</p> <p>Talk to me about making the transition to SAHP, one income, etc. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time! Any advice? </p>