https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:42:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094856 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:27:11 +0000 littlek 1094856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: Are you on linkedin? That's a great way to network. I've gotten most of my jobs through networking. Also try looking at monster.com. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094807 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:09:59 +0000 mrs. wagon 1094807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: I work in a similar industry as you and I very randomly found a 30 hour/week job. They're out there! Maybe contact some recruiters in the area? They are always hounding me about contract jobs. I work on a contractor basis so I'm not a full time employee, but that works for us since I can be flexible about my hours and I don't need benefits since Wagon Sr.'s job gets us those. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094749 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 11:50:17 +0000 wheres_c 1094749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for your comments, suggestions, support so far. I don't know how or where I would go about finding a job that I can just work 3-4 days, and I don't know how that would cover childcare (it seems so expensive) but it seems like that might be the best option.</p> <p>I'm still interested in any other thoughts... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094748 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 11:50:10 +0000 wheres_c 1094748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: Thanks for the support. When I get a freelance project, it's about $1k for 8 hours of work. Much more lucrative than any job I could get outside of the house. It's just hard finding projects without being a sales-y person.</p> <p>@looch: Our parents are out of state - even out of the country so they are not an option unfortunately. I would like to support him and provide some income....its just hard knowing I might miss some firsts...</p> <p>@DillonLion: If I do go back to work, knowing it's temporary will help. I havent looked at daycare prices, but in Florida, my salary would *just* cover daycare and I would have been left with about $400/paycheck. That didn't seem great. If you don't mind me asking, what percent of your salary goes to daycare? You can wall me if you don't feel comfortable sharing here.....i understand if you don't feel comfortable answering at all.</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: I guess a lot of it is I'm really loving being at home....going to storytime with him, swim classes, as he gets older the playground etc. I'm going to miss that...</p> <p>@mrbee: I'll look into splitting days with a part time job. hadn't thought of that.</p> <p>@autumnlove: I do miss financial stability and adult interaction, but I love being at home. ARRRGH!</p> <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I should have specified that I would work part time nights, like 6-11. Go to bed at my usual 12am bedtime, up at 8am with baby. Seemed doable to me?</p> <p>@littlek: I like seeing the pics of your LO at daycare, he really does seem to enjoy it. It's mostly more about me wanting that time with him, and to teach him myself vs thinking daycare is "bad". I also worry that my salary will just barely cover daycare so whats the point? YKWIM? I feel like you probably make more than I would?</p> <p>@mrs. wagon: Thanks so much for sharing. Perhaps if I could work 3-4 days a week outside of the house, that would be good for us? I'm going to look into jobs with this kind of flexibility.</p> <p>@Cole: @sunny: I just posted some childcare ads to see what hits I get.</p> <p>@rawrasaur: I'm super sad about it myself. I didn't realize we were in this situation, otherwise I probably would have not signed a 2 year lease on the house and moved into an apartment instead. oh well. :( I like the suggestion of trying to work 3-4 days though, that would be good for me as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094677 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 11:21:19 +0000 rawrasaur 1094677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aww, I'm sad to see this. If I were in your situation, I would probably try to get a part time job that allowed me to work 3 full days at work (with LO in daycare) and then have the rest of the week to be a SAHM. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094593 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 10:36:19 +0000 sunny 1094593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like @Cole's suggestion above! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094563 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 10:25:41 +0000 Cole 1094563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about working as a nanny? Maybe you could find an after school job that would let you bring your lo along then you could work on building up freelance work during the morning. You could plan on working until the school year is over and then switching to rely on your freelance income? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094456 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 09:46:21 +0000 mrs. wagon 1094456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know where you are!! I was a SAHM for 18 months and we just kept stretching and stretching... to the point where I had 3 part time jobs and Wagon Sr. had his full time job and 1 part time job. We had ZERO family time all together. I ended up WOH 4 days a week and I loved it. But I did not really enjoy being a SAHM. </p> <p>Our daycare has lots of kids that are only there a few days a week, or half days... I'm sure you could find a daycare that has that kind of coverage. Maybe, especially now that LO is getting older, you could find a part time job that will more than cover his daycare costs. Part time daycare is way way way cheaper than full time. And it's great for kids learning how to share, be social, etc! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094451 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 09:43:24 +0000 littlek 1094451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck. I enjoy being a WOHM and LO thrives at daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094414 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 09:32:31 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1094414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How is option 1 fair to you, your baby or your employer? You would be working around the clock with not enough time to rest to properly do anything well.</p> <p>Good luck as you figure this out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094275 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:53:42 +0000 autumnlove 1094275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck and thinking of you. I enjoy WOH/WAH for the financial stability and adult interaction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094269 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:51:16 +0000 mrbee 1094269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One option I've seen some parents do is split the week... 2 days in daycare, and 3 days out of daycare. On those daycare days, a number of parents work a part time job too! It can be a nice way to balance spending time with LO and keeping costs down/income up. </p> <p>Oh and I agree with @T.H.O.U.: ... depending on your commute, you can get a lot of time with your kids even when they're in daycare! I usually get 1-3 hours in the morning, and then a few hours in the evening too...</p> <p>Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094255 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:47:17 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1094255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry. I don't think a night job sounds like the right option. Maybe watching others in your house? There are ways to help protect yourself. </p> <p>Also, dont beat yourself up over daycare. I see my daughter way more then 1 or 2 hours a day. We all wake up at 6 and drop her off around 7 (1 hour together) and then pick her up at 5 and get to spend a few hours with her before bed (she goes down around 8:30). We have our night routine really down pat, so we can usually be done eating by 6:30 which leaves us a good hour to play or do whatever before she has to start her bed time routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094254 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:46:37 +0000 DillonLion 1094254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love being a WOHM. A big reason is that we don't have to worry about money at all and can afford to give LO a great life. We've put a huge dent in our debt and only have student loans left. Once those are paid off, I have the option to stay home if I want. So knowing that this situation is temporary if I want helps too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094252 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:45:55 +0000 looch 1094252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are your parents or inlaws close enough to help you out? I am guessing no, otherwise you would have included them in an option?</p> <p>I only see my son for a half hour in the morning and 3 hours at night...but you know what, it's been so wonderful to see him develop in day care. They're so fabulous, they really love him and he's learning so much about social skills and interactions. Yes, he's had some sicknesses, but he was sick when he was at home too. I know it's hard to go back to work when you've been home for a while, I did it after 2 years, so I get it.</p> <p>Look at it as helping to ease the burden on your FI. He's working his butt off and now you have the opportunity to support him in the family finances. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094243 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:42:54 +0000 Bookish 1094243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have great advice but I will send lots of hugs at you. It's really sucky when we don't have the option to SAH. I WOHM because I have to, and yeah, it sucks only getting to see her a couple hours a day, but....you do what you gotta do. I like your #4 idea, with the freelancing. I don't know how much that brings in but you could set your hours and not have to WOH. </p> <p>I'm sorry :( I hope you can find something you like and still get to spend tons of time with your cutie pie! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-avoid-woh#post-1094227 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:37:47 +0000 wheres_c 1094227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been at home since my 9mo was born. At first I was on maternity leave, then I worked from home until he was 7 months old.</p> <p>Our plan was always for me to SAHM. Well we can't afford it. I have over 800 in medical bills per month (COBRA &amp; bills from delivery). Combined with our credit card debt and household bills...FI does not make enough to cover them.</p> <p>We talked last week about me getting a night job, but now he thinks I should get a day job....as it would bring in more money.</p> <p>I'm so so so sad. I'm loving the time I spend with LO. I know there's some good day cares out there but they are expensive!</p> <p>It seems my options are:<br /> 1) get a night job - Macys, a call center etc.<br /> will only pay about $12/hr - this might not even be enough but I still get to stay home during the day.</p> <p>2)try and find a child (or two) to watch in my home. I'm not sure how that works legally and as far as liability. FI was originally against this for liability reasons but maybe he would be open to it now considering our situation.</p> <p>3)try to find a WAH job. I would still need childcare but I'd be at home with him too. Might be hard to find.</p> <p>4)Build my freelance web design &amp; social media business. I've done this in the past, and do it word of mouth...I've never been a good salesperson, so I wait for clients to come to me.</p> <p>5) WOHM and put LO in daycare. I really really really don't want this, but I know there are lots of happy kids in daycare. It's more about me than him, I will be devastated if I only spend an hour or two with him a day.</p> <p>Thoughts? Suggestions? Emotional support?<br /> I am so sad. </p>