https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 23:54:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2478514 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 13:23:58 +0000 fussygal 2478514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I WAH FT (not self-employed though) and our current situation right now with one LO is that my mom or MIL (we also had a PT nanny at one time) comes over and watch her while I work. It works out really well for us, but I know not everyone has the luxury to retired parents to help! </p> <p>We have #2 coming in a few weeks and I'm not 100% sure what care will look like when I'm back from maternity leave, but I think we'll likely rely heavily on family helping, but we're also thinking about a PT daycare for our oldest and/or a nanny to come a few times a week, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2478512 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 13:22:22 +0000 skipra 2478512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Glitter: a lot of people around us will us teenagers as mother's helper. They can go to your house after school and you will be home for emergencies. Just someone to help keep the LOs occupied.</p> <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: how old is your younger LO? In some ways mine was an easier baby but when he became more aware it was all mama all the time. Plus he gets into way more trouble so if he's not whining to be picked up he is probably climbing on the table with a knife or something! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2478482 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 12:59:54 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2478482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm at home with my three right now and we're interviewing a part time nanny to give me a hand a couple times per week. I seriously never thought I'd be a SAHM with a nanny.<br /> We're doing it mostly for household help so I can focus on the kids while she helps with chores and food prep.<br /> I'll be doing some part time work starting in a month and cannot imagine doing it at home without some childcare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2478465 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 12:44:06 +0000 Glitter 2478465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: Yes. My husband helps a lot but also works a lot. Doesn't get home before 8pm on most evenings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2478463 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 12:41:45 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2478463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: this is funny, in my friend group we all seem to marvel at the opposite-- our seconds are so much more self sufficient! However my first is still shaken by being a new brother and is also three so he sucks up the emotional energy in the house right now. Poor second!</p> <p>To the OP, do you have a partner? If so, that helps. My husband took on more chores after my second was born and he lets me leave at night to work or hole up in our room to do work while he does bedtime with both kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2478413 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 12:00:26 +0000 Glitter 2478413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: I wish we had all those options, but unfortunately mother's helper and similar programs do not exist here, and I know no one personally who is available. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2478411 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 11:59:40 +0000 Glitter 2478411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FancyGem: None of the daycare options are home-based and I so enjoy having DS home with me! Maybe if we hire someone to take on more hours with the retail store, I can free up some time of my own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2478358 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 11:11:13 +0000 FancyGem 2478358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Glitter: It didn't take long. Some kids in his class were either full time, drop in, or a few days per week. We found that one day a week wasn't enough, but 2 days are fine. He loves it there. Are there any good home based daycares near you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2478009 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 07:12:40 +0000 skipra 2478009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Glitter: I think you are lucky how your LO is rather independent. I know it is not the case for everyone but my friends and I have noticed a common thing for us is that our second born kids are much clingier and needier than our first. I SAH with mine and couldn't imagine really having to get work done during the day. I guess it's possible during naps but it takes a while to consistently get them on the same schedule. Maybe something like a mother's helper could come to you after school so that combined with any double nap you could work? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477975 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 02:34:28 +0000 lamariniere 2477975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am self-employed and WAH. There is no way that I can work with my two kids at home. My job requires a high level of concentration, I usually can't even listen to music while I work, so they go to full time daycare. I also have to meet very strict deadlines, which is impossible without childcare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477905 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 22:09:07 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2477905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Glitter: I definitely choose the easiest classes...register for more than I need and then compare syllabi to make sure I'm not overloaded at any point. When my older was at school I'd devote 2 hours a day 3x a week to school or work (I teach English at a community college), then Sunday night to work or school, and some evenings as necessary. Now I'm not working and have both kids at home. I go out Thursday night to Starbucks and do classwork, and do work Sunday nights. That usually gives me time to do the readings (Thursday) and do the assignments (Sunday). Later in the semester when I have projects I'll have to devote more time. Right now my kids' nap schedules are opposite so daytime work almost never happens, plus I can't focus anyway. My work ethic has definitely slipped in comparison to how I was in my first year, when I was pregnant with my now 10 month old. I obsessed a lot more when I had more time. These days, I tend to give school a certain amount of time and am happy with my efforts, even if my grade isn't as high as it could be. This is also my second master's so I feel a little more comfortable prioritizing and not making every assignment equally important in my mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477895 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:51:32 +0000 mrsjyw 2477895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom watches our kids and ds1 goes to school part time three half days a week. Even then I find myself torn in two between working and moming. I often work at nights and wknds as it's hard to fully work during the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477877 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:33:46 +0000 winniebee 2477877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Glitter: I vote for some child care for the older or even a sitter for both kids / a mothers helped to help 3 hours a day. Maybe even for during the older kiddos nap time so that you can guarantee a few hours of work then. My personal opinion is doing it all is so tough as is, and adding your work to the mix would be too much. Just my experience though </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477876 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:32:42 +0000 Glitter 2477876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: wow studying with two babies sounds really hectic! did you study at nights? during naptime? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477874 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:32:06 +0000 Glitter 2477874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: My work schedule is extremely flexible, but also demanding. I run an online retail store. My assistant handles 4 hrs a day, and I do the rest which is round the clock. My consulting projects also have deadlines but I can work at whatever hour of the day I feel like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477867 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:23:17 +0000 winniebee 2477867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I have to agree with you. For a long long time I could barely keep on top of daily chores, send emails. I could not imagine fitting in work on top of it all, particularly the first 6 months. </p> <p>I do work from home, but I have an office type job and there's no way I could not have childcare for both kids. I work around 25 hours a week and our older goes to preschool part time and we have a nanny. A few weeks ago, our nanny was out sick and I got a total of 8 hours of work done all week. My older is almost 4 and doesn't nap but is content to watch gobs of tv and my younger is 14 months and naps twice a day, If that gives you any idea. I would definitely out the older in a preschool type program. But it seems like you have a more flexible work schedule? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477865 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:20:50 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2477865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last year I was combo working part time (maybe 10 hours a week? 4 hours outside the home and six at home) and doing two online graduate classes. My 3 yo was in daycare 2-3 times a week from 8:30--2:00 (I had to pay for a full week so I tried to use it as much as possible; I live in a rural area with limited childcare options) and my infant was home. Life was great! This year I am not working but still doing two online classes and both kids are home all the time. Hoping to work nights this fall. We are moving next month so my childcare options will increase in this new place. My then 4yo will be in pre-K two days a week 9--1:00. It is a mother's morning out type program. 16 month old will be at home with me until I return back to full-time work right around his 2nd birthday. Still haven't decided what to do with them once I go back full time; hoping nanny share. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477856 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:05:42 +0000 Glitter 2477856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FancyGem: How long did the 2 day preschool adjustment take? We tried day care 2 days a week, but he didn't do very well and the teachers felt that we should do every day instead, because the inconsistency in the daily routine would cause him to take long to settle in. So we went back to him being at home full time.</p> <p>Unfortunately there are no mother's day out programs where I live :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477835 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 20:25:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 2477835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I cannot imagine trying to get part time work done while being home with both of them! I have a 2.5 yo and 2 month old and haven't even mastered going to the grocery store all together yet. Dinner and cleaning rarely get done. Maybe it depends on your kids but I think it would be really hard to add working in to that equation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477826 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 20:10:17 +0000 FancyGem 2477826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How about sending them to a mother's day out program? There are some 5 day, 3 day, and 2 day programs. I did that for a little while, but now he goes to a pre-school program from 6:30 am- 6 pm (we can bring him later) 2 days per week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wahmsahm-with-2-kids#post-2477822 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 20:04:44 +0000 Glitter 2477822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are there any SAHM/WAHM moms who keep their kids at home with them full time? </p> <p>I run a small business from home, but we have a few employees so I'm not always working. I also do actuarial consulting a few times a month, from home. So most days I wah, but now and then I sah and my only work is housework. I'm expecting baby #2 in August, and DS will be a little over 2 then. I'm considering sending him to daycare so that I'm not overwhelmed all day, but was wondering if any other moms manage working part time at home, while having a newborn and a toddler. Any advice or tips? </p>