Considering Becoming SAHM Instead of Working Mom

almost 6 years ago i went from working 40 hours per week to being a SAHM - and i haven't regretted a day of it yet!!!

as far as entertaining him - well if you can get him enrolled in a preschool (not a daycare) that is educational like 2-3 1/2 days per week that is good - for both of you really.

also ( i have a 3.5 year old son so i can speak from experience) your son would enjoy the following things: uno - great for teaching colors/numbers; puzzles - dollar store has them and you can find them at the salvation army, yard sales or walmart; coloring;

also - most local libraries have SEVERAL FREE programs that you can take your kids too - and network - find other SAHMs to havce playdates with - and although there is a yearly fee its nominal but MOPS have programs ALL over the place.

I don't know where you live - but i live in Mechanicsburg and i would love to meet you and help you through the adjustment - feel free to email me: ____@____.com

I used to work part-time when my oldest was born, but my husband and I soon decided I would stay at home as long as we could afford to do so.

A year ago my son be came ill. His medical treatments lower his immune system so we are choosing not to put either of our children in daycare/preschool until he is more stable. I was concerned about how this would affect him intellectually, but testing through Early Intervention revealed that he is right on track for his age. We don't do anything special or particularly structured. I have 2 books that are calendar-type books for kids/toddlers. Each gives a daily activity to try - art activities, simple science experiments, subjects to research. I think the Mommy and Me website has a similar feature. I use them for inspiration and tailor the activity to be age appropriate if necessary. I then find other activities to build on the concept such as reading a book on the topic or finding pics on the internet to color. Toys like playdoh and building blocks keep my kids busy. They also enjoy matching games, Go Fish, jigsaw puzzles, and simple crafts (paints, stickers, glue, paper, crayons). They recently have gotten more interested in cleaning and doing things I do so I enlist their help with housework (sorting and putting away toys, dusting) and preparing for meals (filling cereal bowls, folding napkins from paper towels, mixing tossed salad). What I am trying to say is that I don't think you have to do anything ultra-creative. Variety is important and exposure to new things is important. That is where the books help me out - I tend to get in a rut.

Joining a mom's club would give you playdate and "field trip" opportunities. Libraries and community centers offer many free or low cost activities, story time, etc.

Hope this is helpful to you. Good luck with your decision.

Hi there, Here's some ideas, if you go to the dollar store, you can find a couple of cheap things that will entertain them for a little while at least. I am always there and I look around and you be surprise by what you can find. (I found these rocket ballons, the kids just love them) If you pull out a new item every week,(again dollar store) once in awhile toys r us.
Are you looking for a little work on the side to supplement your income? have you thought about doing something like Lia Sophia(It's light and easy to carry(I do partylite and tupperware too , they can get heavy). You can do like 1 party a week(in the evening and that way your husband can have alone time with the kids and bond with them) You could even do like 1 party every other week or weekends only. That's the beauty of doing home parties or book parties is you can make your own schedule. Hope this helps, S.

I have gone from working full time to being a SAHM but my situation was different from yours. I have a 16 year old daughter and had a newborn 9 months ago from my second marriage. I was never home with my daughter except for some summer layoff situations and she was always in daycare.

My advice to you is to keep your son in daycare part time if you can afford it. He will crave the regimen and scheduled activities that the daycare provides to him daily. If you can join a mom's group or befriend some neighbors with children to schedule activities/play dates that would be great. The local public libraries have lots of free programs that are usually 1 or 2 days a week for an hour or so each. It's a great place to meet other SAH Mom's too.

If I could do it all over again, I do wonder how my daughter would have turned out now if she was home with me versus the daycares/after school programs. I do remember thinking when she was little (under 6), saying that I didn't think I could have ever taught her all that she learned there.

If you go into it with eyes wide open, with lots of activites and a daily schedule planned for your son, you should be ok to start but I do know that it is easier working full time than it is being home with children 24/7.

Good luck.

If you decide to become a SAHM it will take time to adjust! But you will enjoy being home with them.What kind of work at home are you interested in? I currently am an Independent Avon Rep and I love it!! I am also seriously considering getting involved with a company called Lia Sophia. Avon only cost $10 to get started! And Lia Sophia works a little different in getting started. I actually never heard of this company, until it was posted on the cafemom site, which I am a member of, but want to try something new and refreshing. Both of these businesses offer the flexibility that us moms need these days and the unlimited income that we want and/or need as well. If you would like more information about the Lia Sopia opportunity let me know and I will get in touch with the girl that I talked to. I would love to have you on my team either with Avon or Lia Sophia. Just let me know if you have any questions. With Avon you can check out my personal website and see if this may be something you might want to try! And if you have any questions please feel free to contact me via email or by phone, which is listed on my website. www.youravon.com/donaldfunk Hope to hear from you soon! Thanks, Pam

If you do decide to stay at home, check out www.momsclub.org There is a chapter in Drexel Hill and would allow for good support and MOMS Nights and Days out for you as well as great playgroups, etc for yourt children. Also, the YMCA has many great programs for kids and child watch while you work out in the gym, etc.

Hi P.!!
My name is Jenn and I am a single mom who works from home. My son is 5 and just started kindergarten. I work for a company called Ameriplan. This is a consumer driven health care company. It is a million dollar cash company with no debt. Ameriplan provides non-insured individuals with discounted dental and health plans. It is not an insurance company, but a discounted health care program. I would really love to talk to you about this oppurtunity. There is so much to say. Here are two websites you can go to:
http://www.myhomebusinesspays.com/40644058
http://www.deliveringonthepromise.com/40644058
Or you can feel free to call me! ###-###-####.
With Ameriplan you are paid on commission. But the great thing is, you are able to make residual income, as in you get paid over and over agiain for one sign up! Within 2-4 years many Ameriplan independent business owners are making 6 figures!! Another great thing about Ameriplan is that is willable and sellable. You can will this business to your children! This is such a great oppurtunity! I hope to hear from you!!!

If you feel in your heart that you are needed more at home with your children, you need to step out in faith and stay home. There are plenty of places now that offer at-home work if you have a PC available should you feel the need to work who have flexible schedules for women in your situation. You only have a couple of years before all of the kids will be in school.

Hi P. - Have you found anything yet? If not this is just what I do and it works for me. I work around my schedule - get free products and a residual income. I do referrals and have no selling, no inventory, no large investment, no taking orders, no deliveries, no billing, no collections and no repeat sales. I will be completely honest and up front with you. Here is info on what I do. Let me know if you want to talk. My email is ____@____.com are all already repeat customers of companies like Proctor and Gamble, Johnson & Johnson etc. and will continue to be because we have items we need on a daily basis. Our company addresses this and is recession proof. I don't know exactly what you are looking for but believe we may work well for you.

Briefly, I work with a 23 year old, established company on my own schedule. Now there is a set up fee ($29 but only $14.50 until 6/20) but you also get $100 in free products over the 1st 5 months. I simply switched to their store, save 30-40% on things we all use every day, refer others and receive a monthly residual income. It is easy, money saving and healthy. We all love the products, my kids said they would disown me if I ever switched back to where I used to shop and we are all benefiting. Also, if the kids get into them it isn't life threatening!

Please feel free to call me, ask questions. If you are interested I would need to talk to you directly to get you all the details so you can make an informed decision on whether this is right for you and your family. It takes care of your family and let's you help others too! Looking forward to chatting with you!

L. Castaldi

http://www.melaleuca.com/ - click the TOUR button to see what we're about and what we do.

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yes I have considered this from the day my son was born!!

As far as entertaining my children, we play outside, go for walks, we read, color, anything. You find tons to do with them. Especially since your son is 3, you can start working on writing and more school cirriculm.

When you are interested in looking to do some work from home, I want to introduce you to the MOM team. I am a proud memeber and this has given me the income to stay home.

Visit my website at: www.themomteam.com/christinalmarie
Request more info and I will call you personally.
THanks
C.

Hi Patty, I am a stay at home mom but I also do work from home. I find that it is sometimes hard to entertain the kids especially over the winter months but we get by. I have a 2 yaer old and 4 year old and they have lots of energy. Working my home business gives me a bit of an out because I can still socialize and in my business I do meet a lot of moms and we can get our kids together for playdates while we have a meeting. Just getting the kids out now and again and socialize them with other kids even at the playground makes them happy! You'll do fine!
A.
www.greensthewaytobe.com