Hellobee Boards Topic: SAHM - early years or school years?

Hellobee Boards Topic: SAHM - early years or school years? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 00:08:27 +0000 mrs. 64 on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566863 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 08:23:58 +0000 mrs. 64 1566863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For me, I would prefer to stay home during the younger years but if it were ever financially feasible it would not be until they are older. Sigh. Mrs. Lion on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566785 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:56:17 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1566785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For me, the first two years are the most important, because I have worked in the infant/toddler classrooms, and as much as I love little kids and love teaching, the constant chaos made me miserable. Not to say that kids are being harmed in these classrooms, I think they adapt well fairly quickly, but I don't believe that the social aspect is important until 2 and a half, and I would prefer that my children spend more time at home until that age. The constant sickness that I hear happens with a lot of little ones in daycare is also a pretty big factor to me. Also, bedtime is so early now, so if I was leaving him in daycare all day it would mean so little time together, whereas when he is older a later bedtime would allow us more family time on a daily basis. That said, I hope to only work part time during the school age years. It is important to me to be involved in the school and to be there after school as well. Anagram on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566762 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:47:10 +0000 Anagram 1566762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think they could both be beneficial. I work in schools, so MY ideal would be part time, from 6 months-Kinder, because I also get school holidays and summers off so there's probably only a gap of an hour or so after school where I would need an after-school program after my LO is in school, so I'd be fine being full-time again at that point. I would choose part-time over full time SAHM for my career and to make sure I'm still adding to my own retirement benefits in the event of divorce, spousal death, etc. But I'd love a couple extra hours with my babe each day and if I weren't in education and were looking at a job with only 2 weeks vacation a year, I would feel differently. MamaBehr on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566741 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:36:11 +0000 MamaBehr 1566741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My perspective is slightly different because my career is a teacher so I my schedule will mirror theirs. That being said, I think it's important to be at home 0-5 more so than 5 and beyond. Silva on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566713 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:18:27 +0000 Silva 1566713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ for our family, the early years feel most important. I'll be full time at home until about 18 months, and then will work part time. WHen our second comes along, I plan to stay home for at least a year (probably 18 months again), then work part time until the youngest is in preschool. Thats the plan for now anyway. It means delaying some of our financial goals, but feels worth it. I may decide to return to work full time earlier, but it really depends on what our second child needs. Dandelion on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566712 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:17:59 +0000 Dandelion 1566712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Since I've done both and am doing both, I would pick the school age. I see a lot of benefit of me being home, encouraging homework and volunteering and supporting at every opportunity presented. On the bonus side, you get more time to yourself to get things done and if you're going with public education, it's not financially draining. mediagirl on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566704 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:14:03 +0000 mediagirl 1566704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 5-10. I'd love to do it and my husband is working hard to get himself to a position where I may be able to drop to part time so I could be there for drop off and pick up and maybe take some time to volunteer at the school, as well. Ra on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566700 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:13:19 +0000 Ra 1566700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 0-5, though I will likely go back to work before 5. I had a bad experience at daycare when I was a child and it is important to me (albeit paranoid) that he not be in daycare until he can articulate himself. I also feel like he is changing so much at this age. I love being there for all of his milestones. My husband WAH so he will be able to handle school drop off/pick up, breakfast, and any parent involvement at school. Pumuckl on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566696 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:12:30 +0000 Pumuckl 1566696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would rather stay home once the kids are older because I feel that it is then that other people cannot help them out as well as it is possible for a younger child. Changing a diaper is something "everyone" can take care of, talking to your child about the feelings the peer pressure creates in school is much harder for someone else to do. Isn't there this saying: Small kids, small problems - big kids, big problems? (I may have freely translated that from German though :) ) bushelandapeck on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566695 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:12:29 +0000 bushelandapeck 1566695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to think staying home the early years was best, as that is what my mom did with us. Now I feel like there is value to both and I see many of my mom friends with older children struggling to be involved in school activities, etc with their work schedules. My SIL just started staying home and her boys are 11/14 because she feels they really need her to be there when they get home, and for all the million activities they have going on. I hope to have the ability to work part time throughout their childhoods, but if I had to choose, I guess I would say being at home more during the 5-10 or 10-15 age. T.H.O.U. on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566687 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:06:26 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1566687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I am hoping to be more well established in my career to be a bit more flexible when the older years come (5-10 but even 10-15). I worry more about the trouble a teenager (or preteen) can get into with no or limited oversight (aka on their own from 7am-6pm) versus putting my daughter in daycare. looch on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566685 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:05:38 +0000 looch 1566685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was home from birth to age 2, it was fine, but honestly, I see the value now in being home when my son is in school (and by school I mean preschool or kindergarten). The school day is short and I would like to be involved in the school, the classroom, know the teacher, etc. I don't want to hover, but I can tell already that my son isn't going to be like I was, rushing home to go to my room to do my homework, so it's important to me that he has time to come home, decompress and still have quiet time before the chaos of dinner and bedtime. We picked our house so that I wouldn't be putting my son on the bus or dealing with the drop off line, but I am still undecided on how we'll actually get him there when the time comes. Mamaof2 on "SAHM - early years or school years?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-early-years-or-school-years#post-1566676 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:02:11 +0000 Mamaof2 1566676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If you could chose to be at SAHM for a few years when would you do it? Age 0-5 or Age 5-10 I always hear the argument that kids need their parents in their early years but personally I feel like my kids would benefit more from having me home once they start school. What I mean is being there in the morning to get breakfast for them and send them off to the school bus (Then I would head to work PT) and then be home before they get home and meet them at the door and have a snack ready - talk about their day and help with homework. That would be my choice! Neither is a reality for me but if you could choose one - which one and why?