https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:09:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-vs-working-my-dilemma#post-2271241 Mon, 24 Aug 2015 00:05:46 +0000 ChelseaRose 2271241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@soyjoy222: I work in a similar field that requires licensure and most of my classmates did not get licensed right at two years, despite the best of intentions. I wonder if you could find an even more part-time job to keep earning your hours and stay up to date if your field. Although we earn hours during my regular job it is not therapy in the traditional sense and some of my coworkers have worked outside normal business hours to get additional experience. You might be able to find a solo practitioner that's willing to take on someone pre-licensed and allow you to work 1-2 evenings and a half-day on Saturday or something like that. It might not be as many hours, but if you didn't need to use childcare at the moment then it might be worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-vs-working-my-dilemma#post-2271239 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 23:47:09 +0000 gracecat 2271239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like you should stick with it if the cost isn't a huge problem as it seems like the more you do it the earlier you will get licensed and can get ahead. Also it's personally fulfilling and that is huge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-vs-working-my-dilemma#post-2271225 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 22:46:03 +0000 yoursilverlining 2271225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think when you go into any business for yourself (either opening a business or working for billable hours as you are), you need to think long term. You're only working 2 days a week; how reasonable is it really to expect that to bring in the $$ you need it to? </p> <p>Besides losing immediate income, you are losing whatever chunk of time you take off where you would otherwise be building a name and reputation, networking, gaining clientele, etc. you're losing seniority and connections. </p> <p>Another thought - does your licensing board require you to finish licensing hours within X period of time, before you would have to go back to school or redo exams or whatever in order to qualify to get licensed again?</p> <p>Does your husband bring in enough not only to cover today's bills, but your loss in potential retirement earnings from not working? If the "break" extends longer than you plan, does your husband's salary make up for an extended employment break? </p> <p>Not questions you have to answer here, but things I would think about in this situation.</p> <p>I also think working, if it makes you feel more complete, it a better choice, even if you only break-even financially short term. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-vs-working-my-dilemma#post-2271221 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 22:27:10 +0000 youboots 2271221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not exactly the same, but the base costs of running my business is significant, plus taxes on top of that. Unless I am working high volume I'm not making much. So I'm closing my business to SAH. I'm fine with it. I can always decide to start shooting weddings again. I think we will all be happier. Trying to squeeze in my work with my husbands travel schedule has been a challenge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-vs-working-my-dilemma#post-2271209 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 22:03:41 +0000 wheres_c 2271209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like in your heart you know what you want/need to do :)<br /> Daycare costs will always be a factor until your LO starts school. It will get better as little one gets older and it gets cheaper, as well as your client base increasing.</p> <p>Also, what about working say 2 evenings a week? When I looked for a therapist, it was so hard trying to find an evening one. Is that an option? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-vs-working-my-dilemma#post-2271206 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 22:00:56 +0000 soyjoy222 2271206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: it's that gap that i fear. i am a therapist, but i am just working towards licensure hours right now. i fear that my classmates will be licensed within two years and i'll be dwaddling behind. Heart wise, I have to say I've been happier since working just twice a week, so I know what I'm doing is the answer...if it wasn't for money it would all be great haha!</p> <p>@Truth Bombs: well the ramp up period was a good point. when the holidays are approaching, people begin to seek help more frequently. i forgot about that part! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-vs-working-my-dilemma#post-2271204 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:59:15 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2271204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was in a somewhat similar position but had a ton of scheduling and other issues/factors too (mostly related to dh's unpredictable schedule) and chose to sah. But it has been tough, I've spent a lot of time wishing I was working. Is there any other childcare situation that would work besides the current daycare? I'm inclined to say keep trying because the long term benefits of experience will be good and what's going to change in a year anyway? That is UNLESS you could do stuff on the side and want to stay at home. But your post just sounds a lot like me and if I were in your shoes I think I'd want to try to stick it out. Disclaimer, I'll be basically paying to work after baby2 gets here (soon!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-vs-working-my-dilemma#post-2271199 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:49:42 +0000 wheres_c 2271199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What industry are you in?<br /> Does your heart say stay at home? or are you enjoying the working?</p> <p>Originally my job didn't cover the cost of daycare so I didn't go back after my son was born. Instead I stayed home a year and then went to a different job.<br /> I found even with just a year off, it was difficult to get interviews because of the gap in employment. I have friends that graduated from grad school and have had a tough time getting a job after taking time off.</p> <p>Could you work more days a week and put your LO in a half day program? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-vs-working-my-dilemma#post-2271198 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:49:38 +0000 Truth Bombs 2271198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How realistic is it that you will begin earning more in the next 3-6 months? If this role is something that has a ramp up period that you just need to suffer through until you have a full list of clients I would keep working. You are enjoying it, and hopefully gaining experience that will lead to more income. However, if you have a full list of clients and it's still not covering daycare costs, and that's unlikely to change, then I would start looking for another job. It sounds like you would prefer not to be a full time SAHM so don't think in terms of this job or no job at all. See what else is out there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sahm-vs-working-my-dilemma#post-2271194 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:38:34 +0000 soyjoy222 2271194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is about 8 mos now, and things are going really well. I also started working about a month ago. I graduated graduate school right before I was due, so I planned to stay home for a bit with DS and then start looking for part time work. The whole time I was home, I felt antsy to get started with my career, which I now am struggling with. </p> <p>I love my job, it's 2 days a week, DS goes to daycare those two days and he is thriving. DH can cover our major bills comfortably, but this added childcare cost is huge. My salary HAS to cover it. The issue is...I am "fee for service", which means..if my clients do not show up, I don't get paid. And while I enjoy the work I do, I really am not getting paid.</p> <p>Basically, after crunching numbers, DH and I realized that this isn't working. While I have a decent caseload, I am just not bringing in the money to cover daycare. He thinks that I should leave now before too much more is invested in it, and in a year go back and try again. I am on the fence. Part of me wants to try a few more months, but with daycare requiring 30 days notice before unenrolling, we would wind up paying for a month we don't need - so if this doesn't work out, we will be on the hook for the daycare fee for at least one extra month. The other part of me wants to just throw in the towel and worry about it later, but that scares me so much.</p> <p>We don't have family around here to help with childcare, or else this wouldn't be an issue. I only have one friend with a child right now, so it's hard to find someone to talk to about this. Has anyone had a similar experience where you left the "working world" for a while and went back to it with success? I'm so afraid I will screw up my career if I leave and go back in a bit, but this is more common than I think, right? If you had to stay home because you could not swing childcare cost, how did you make peace with that? The guilt I feel right now over going to school and not actually using the degree right away is what is bogging me down, I think. I have put a lot of pressure on myself to do it all, and I"m starting to see that it might not actually happen right now (which is hard). </p>