If you are re-entering the workforce, why?

[ellies mom]

I never intended to be a SAHM. I got laid off while I was pregnant with my oldest and it just kind of happened. I also got retraining benefits from that lay-off and decided to take advantage of them to change fields. So I stayed home for a few years, went to school super part-time for two years, went to school full-time for two years and when I finally got a job I chose to work part time. So right now it is kind of the best of both worlds. I have the money to do things and have fun and I have the time to do things and have fun as well as the volunteer stuff I enjoy.

While we could afford, just barely, for me too stay home, it put our long-term financial goals on the back burner so it was never intended to be permanent.

[DietCokeLover]

I have been a SAHM for 5 years, but went back to work very part time about a year ago. I work two days per week in private counseling practice. I did it to help out financially for our family.

[twowhat?]

I never intended to be a SAHM either but when the twins were born and at the end of my maternity leave, everything was SO much harder than I imagined (surprise!! LOL) that it made more sense to quit and be a SAHM. I was only a SAHM for about a year and a half - I know most SAHMs here have been doing it for much longer.

Returning to the workforce: I really just started to feel panicky about my ability to get back into the workforce in the economic downturn. We never intended for me to be a SAHM forever - DH doesn't make enough for me to do it long term and for us to feel comfortable about it and at the time I was making pretty much exactly what he was, so my quitting work meant our income was cut in half. While I was a SAHM, we really had to be careful with where our money went. I wanted to be sure I was more financially independent should something happen. But mainly my reason was that I wanted to get back into the workforce so that it would be easier to maintain being IN the workforce, which to me translates to better financial security. I had JUST gone on a job interview when my old company called asking if I'd consider coming back. I never intended to go back to my old company and was considering a change in career direction, but I decided to jump on it just to get back into the workforce and I am ever so glad I did.

[niccig]

I have multiple reasons:

1) my own need. I was never happy in my career pre-DS and there was always the need to work out what I wanted to do when I grew up. Me staying home with DS was the time to work out what I wanted to do.

2) increase household income. DH earns a good salary, but his work situation got precarious the last few years. It does look better now as he's swapped to a new position, but in this economy, you never know. I also want more savings for retirement and college savings. Because I've gone back to school, it's going to be a few more years until I am working, but even with that, DH has said he's less stressed about being the sole income. My future career prospects are better than my old career.

3) Typically DH's career is short - around age 55 you're considered old and get less work, get paid less. The plan was always for me to be back working by then. If DH's new position goes well, he will have a longer career arc, so this may no longer be a concern.

4) DS and DH's relationship. I'm back in school full-time and DH now does more around the house and with DS. I think this have been very beneficial for both of them.

5) Role-model for DS. DS sees that Mama has her work and things to do outside of the family/house. I don't think it's good for kids, especially boys, to have parents do everything for them. MIL did everything for DH and it's taken us time and many arguments to get to more of a team effort. I hear from friends IRL and here about DHs that won't help and the wife is left to shoulder everything + work fulltime. I do see as a mother to a boy that I have large influence in the kind of man he will be as a partner. DS's future SO will thank me that DS will be able to do household chores and pitch in to help. I do know it's possible to have everyone help with a SAHP, but I do think it's more common for the SAHP to do it all. I know I did more as I was physically at home more.

[KpbS]

I am a SAHM and have no plans to go back. I might do some contract work years down the road but the reality is that in my field it is almost impossible to work part-time and full-time is very demanding. I have no desire to go back--I liked it but didn't love it and certainly don't miss it. Right now I have more on my plate than I can handle (at home w/ 3 DC) and I don't see things changing for a couple of years at the earliest.