https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:12:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270519 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 19:39:35 +0000 gingerbebe 2270519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am about to go back to work part time after being off for a year. I took the long leave because we didn't know if we'd have another opportunity to have an infant (if we couldn't have another, we'd adopt and that would mostly likely mean a toddler or older) and we wanted to see what SAH would look/feel like, both financially and emotionally. </p> <p>My son kicked my tail - he had colic and reflux and I don't think I was a functional human being for 4 months. He became normal and happy around 6 months and it was pretty fun from that point on BUT we also had my mom coming over a few days a week. We hired her to be a mommy's helper because she lost her business and needed some income. She helps a lot and gives me some adult interaction, which is really the hardest part with an infant. You don't really have chances to do playdates and all that so its pretty isolating. </p> <p>So we're hoping 3 days a week at work is a good balance. Long weekends at home and grandma care the other 3 days. I'm really glad I took the year because if I had to go back to work at 12 weeks or whatever most people take these days for maternity leave, I would have only had the memories of my son being a terrorist. And now I feel ready to go back and see what balancing work looks like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270511 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 19:24:12 +0000 Corduroy 2270511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first I would say about week 3. Colic kicked my butt and I just didn't get the baby stage at all. I'm on maternity leave with #2 now and I am enjoying it. We're having layoffs at work so I started daydreaming about SAH. Totally forgot that LO1 would be home too in that case. I'll just go back to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270441 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 15:26:16 +0000 ElbieKay 2270441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never considered being a SAHM for an infant/toddler. I might try to scale back when my kid(s?) are older so that I can be home in the afternoons with them. Full time childcare for my toddler would be way too intense and exhausting for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270298 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 08:40:21 +0000 lawbee11 2270298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sort of always had a feeling but maternity leave confirmed it. There were days I was so jealous DH got to go to work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270284 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 07:47:04 +0000 catlady 2270284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had never considered staying at home until the end of my maternity. The guilt of leaving LO at daycare was killing me. DH and I agreed that I'd go back to work for a month or two and the re-assess. We didn't even need that time, it was pretty obvious almost immediately that WOH was better for me. Plus LO loved "school" from the start. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270283 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 07:43:22 +0000 travellingbee 2270283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Always knew. I just like working. And LO likes "school". He's extremely social and he does so much better with constant interaction that would hard for me to provide. I'm so glad it's worked out so well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270212 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 00:15:26 +0000 sapphire 2270212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Always knew! I love my time with my LO but I've worked hard at a career that I love. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270183 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 22:18:36 +0000 cascademom 2270183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Returning to work after my first brought a sense of stability back when it was so chaotic in our family and marriage at the time. This time around, I'm getting more ready to go back to work because while I love the time I'm having with him, I want to feel like an adult again who can do things without a baby in tow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270176 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 22:06:26 +0000 mrsjyw 2270176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always knew but it was confirmed during maternity leave. I also have a flex schedule that allows me to wfh and my mom watches my kids (ds1 will be in preschool in a few wks), I feel really lucky to be able to work while still being close to my kids. Overall, I just function better mentally and emotionally as a mom and as a person being able to maintain my career path. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270175 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 22:04:45 +0000 Mamasig 2270175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always knew I couldn't stay at home - for financial and mental reasons. I knew it wouldn't suit me. During my 1st maternity leave, it was super clear to me. Some moms are meant for it and I'm not one of those moms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270088 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 19:34:54 +0000 ladybee 2270088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a teacher and bad 9 weeks off every summer. About 6 weeks in I'm so done. This is my first week back and I feel like such a good mom again. I'm so happy. At the end I was feeling like such a failure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270083 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 19:13:49 +0000 wonderstruck 2270083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never really had an urge to stay at home, but it seemed to be what made the most sense for our family. I figured out pretty quickly that it wasn't for me. After we had our second I just couldn't suck it up anymore. I registered for full-time classes and put the kids in daycare for the two days a week that I had school. Recently I took on even more credit hours and found a WAH job, so now they're in daycare FT. And I am so much more appreciative of my time with them, and a way better more patient fun mom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270073 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:57:28 +0000 BandDmommy 2270073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I always knew but when I was offered a contract position about 10 months into being a SAHM and I jumped at the chance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270062 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:26:38 +0000 gilmoregirl 2270062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was home for nine months and felt pretty ready to go back by six months or so. </p> <p>I always find myself telling people how fun my son became around 9-10 months, which is partly because he learned to walk, but also because I went back to work. I was so so so much happier after I went back to work. That solidified it for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270039 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:34:02 +0000 Freckles 2270039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The second month i had both kids at home. LO2 was about 7 months old, and LO1 was 3 years 3 months old. Preschoolers REALLY try your patience... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270038 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:33:28 +0000 plantains 2270038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always knew but maternity leave solidified it for me. I had 5 months off and was pretty ready to go back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270026 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:11:22 +0000 MsMini 2270026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>During my first may leave - by about 9 months in I was considering going back early (Canadian 1 year leave), going back at a year just solidified it - I was/am a much better Mom when I had time away at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270025 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:08:05 +0000 autumnlove 2270025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After the first week back after maternity leave! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270021 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:02:15 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2270021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I always knew it wasn't my first preference but I did it anyway because it worked for our family. After baby2 gets here I have pretty certain plans to work again. Honestly to me sah is really tough. I temped for awhile right around when I got pregnant again and loved it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-realize-sah-was-not-right-for-you#post-2270019 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 16:52:02 +0000 simplyfelicity 2270019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you always know or did you realize at some point during maternity leave? </p>