Working Outside of the Home Moms?

I love my job - I like what I do, I enjoy my co-workers, and the benefits are tremendous. I suppose I could quit my job and my family could live off of my husband's salary but that really does not appeal to me whatsoever. Basically my husband's income covers all the bills and my income is for the family to do with as we please - save, invest, spend, etc. Although I don't spoil my children, I like that I can take my kids to the zoo, go on vacation, let them take classes or lessons without having to worry if doing so will mean we don't get to eat for an evening or saving up for months just to do something. I also like that my sons see a strong female role model who has gone on to college, finished two Masters degrees, and is working outside the home to make a difference in other peoples' lives while successfully balancing a home life. I wouldn't have it any other way!

Hi L.. Yes, I love my job. I work for a company that is a sub-contractor for PR businesses. And Yes I work even though we don't need the money. I was a SAHM for almost 2 years, and while I adore my child and love that I got to spend the first 2 years of her life w/her full time, I found staying home to be very isolating and lonely. My old boss called me and offered me my job back recently. Actually, she begged me to come back lol. And I happily accepted. I love my job because I was there a long time before my child was born, and I was second in command at my company. I moved right back into that position when I went back. I love the responsibility and stress (yes, I love the stress & I work very well under pressure). I work about 30 hours a week, and I love to go there and have adult interaction. I love that I bring in my own money again. We don't need extra money (my husband makes very good money), but I like the feeling that I am contributing none the less. I am fortunate that when I work, my husband is home to watch our daughter. If I had to put her in daycare, I would not work. I just plain don't trust her with strangers.

I don't feel guilty about it at all. I think I am a better mom because I work. And while I am at work my child gets quality daddy time. They go do fun things while he watches her. We have many friends that own farms nearby, so they go see the horses and cows and all that, and she has a blast. Some mom's need to work - weather for money or just to get out of the house. Whatever the reason is, no mom should feel guilty about it. Good luck :)

Staying home has never been an option for me - not because of finances - because of my personality, my personal ambitions and my personal needs for fulfillment that I don't think I could achieve by being a Stay at Home Mom.

I've yet to find what I want to do the rest of my life, and I fear I'll have to commit to going back to school full-time to find it (e.g. Med School, etc). I don't hate what I do by any means, I just haven't found what completely fulfills me yet.

I don't feel like I've compromised being a good mom by working. I don't think I have the temperament or personality to be a fabulous stay-at-home Mom, but I don't think you'll find another mother (working or SAHM) who is more dedicated, nurturing or committed to their children.

Until I was laid off last year, I was the primary bread winner making over 65% of our household income. I'd been fortunate to advance my career and salary to a really nice level, but cancer and a lay off a few months later wiped that away. In this economy, I think we all have to be grateful for any opportunity we have to provide for our families, but my ultimate motivation to work is personal fulfillment I can't find on my own.

My husband makes 6 figures so technically I don't "have" to work. That being said, the extra money in this economy has helped us stay afloat. I own an insurance agency and love what I do. I love that I don't have a boss and can make my own hours. This is the first year the kids have not been in aftercare and I pick up all 3 from school. I also love that I can help people save money by shoping around their home and auto without lowering their coverages. The down side is that because I am commission only, I have no idea month to month how much my paycheck is. My husband is commission only also so that is a burden in itself. There is something to be said for getting a "salary", you at least know what you have coming in. I have always worked outside the home. I am just not a SAHM type. I love my kids dearly and don't think they have suffered by me working outside the home. I also like that the kids see me as a business owner and that women can do anything they want in life, even in a "mans" world such as insurance. I think you should do whatever makes you happy. Life is WAY too short to waste it working somewhere you hate, doing something you hate.

I suppose I do love my job most of the time and I work because I do need the money. I guess we could survive on just my husband's income but I've always worked even before I was married. It would be very hard for me not to be employed.
I work for the District Attorney's office. I love going to court and helping people. Most of the people I assist daily realy appreicate my service and this makes my job worth while. I feel like I'm doing exactly what I intened to do after college.

I mostly love my job although I have been pretty bored lately. I am a data analyst for a global consulting and outsourcing firm. I answer lots of random questions about the companies whose benefit plans we administer and the participants in those plans, particularly the retirement plans. I do have to work - I am "the breadwinner" and carry all of our benefits - but I could never be at home full-time I just don't have the patience for it. My company and industry has been hit hard with lay-offs so yes I am grateful that I still have a job. The best thing about my job is that I work from home a few days a week. This gives me the flexibility that I need to be home after school and not have to have my kids go to before school and after school programs five days a week. When I was in the office FT I felt guilty about that because my oldest was young (2nd grade and younger) and he was exhausted at the end of the day. Now my kids think their "after school" days are a treat and they look forward to having an afternoon of fun activities because it's not every day, just my office days. I am very, very lucky to have flex time and exceptional childcare options, which make me love my job more and feel less guilty about working, needed or not.

I like what I do - software consultant. I like helping people and making their jobs easier. I also like that it constantly changes and I work with a variety of people.

It isn't my great love though, as I had an injury in college and couldn't take the classes I needed.

I think even if I didn't need to work for the money, I would have to do something for the sanity. Yes, I feel guilty, but I also know that I am making a better life for my kids. I'm not saying that money is all important, and I understand those that believe that the best thing you can do for your children is giving them your time, BUT I know what it is like to grow up without much money, and the stress it puts on marriages. I would like to show my kids what it can be like without debt, with happy parents, and a good education in their future.

No. I don't love my job, but I don't hate it either. I am a single mother so not working is not an option for me. I made my life so I have to live it accordingly. I had to change my career path when I got divorced so I am not able to do what I once really enjoyed doing and take care of my family and be home with them every nite, etc. I don't have the satisfaction from my current job that I had before, but I have a very understanding employer who let me change my schedule when my daughter started school this year, so I count my blessings that I have this job and it affords me the opportunity to be with my kids as much as it does.

And, yes, I believe we should all feel lucky to have a job in today's economy. When I start feeling sorry for myself that I don't love my job or feel like I am making a difference, etc, I just try to remind myself that I am making a difference in my kids lives and that is what really matters!!!

I absolutely love my job, though I haven't been doing it very much lately. I am a birth doula, which means that when I have a client, I am on-call 24/7 for when my client goes into labor, and I can be at a birth for up to 36 hours at a time, or even longer. I also have 3 children, ages 9, 5, and 20 mo. Being on-call for a client means that I risk missing anything that may be happening during that time, often up to a month or longer as I am officially on-call from 2 weeks before the due date until the baby is born, but if the mom goes earlier than that, I drop everything anyway and go if I possibly can. Missing birthdays, performances, special programs, family events, etc. It means that I have to have someone available to watch the kids 24/7 (really only a problem during the work day when my husband isn't around). And of course, if I'm at a birth for 24 or 36 hours, it also means complete exhaustion when I get home but being mom anyway. But I love it! I am so honored every time someone allows me to share such an important, intimate part of their lives with them. To be able to help and support someone as they go through the transformation to being a parent (or a parent again) and the rite of passage of birth is such an amazing experience... It's worth all the stress and sacrifice of being on-call. So I don't take very many clients these days -- it's stressful for my family, and for me. Now that my youngest is sleeping through the night (started this week -- yay!) I intend to take on some more, just as soon as I catch up on sleep a little bit more, but I'll still probably teach more Birthing From Within classes (which I also love doing, just as much as attending births) than attending births. I'd be happy with maybe 4-6 clients a year right now. Hmmm.... just realized that my last client's baby will be 1 year old tomorrow. Definitely time to start attending births again.

Someday I will get the training I need to become a midwife and attend homebirths, but for now, I don't want to be on-call that much.

I'm an ED Nurse. I love my job and hate my job some days. Who doesn't need the money :)!! Would love to get paid for full time and work fewer hours...is that an option?

Some days I like my job. Some days I hate my job. I need to work. I carry all the benefits (health insurance and retirement) for our family. Seeing many families out of work these days with no hope in sight, I'm thankful that I have a good job.

What I'd really like to do is work part time, either 1/2 days or just 2 or 3 days a week. I can dream......

Yes.

I have good days and bad days. I like my work. I would rather be home with my kids. I feel like I miss the ease of a simple daily routine with them - too much running around and sitters. I would miss the company of great adults who I consider friends. I would miss the money and benefits like saving for retirement. I like the security of knowing I am employed should somehting bad ever happen to my husband. I get frustrated over caring for the home and staying on top of making good meals because I am away so much. I hate that I have to make lots of compromises and thing 3 steps ahead all teh time about my schedule. I also feel compelled to make the most os a hard earned graduate degree. Sometimes I go through these range of emotions in a day!

I am very lucky to have been able to keep my job 6 years ago and reduce my hours first to flextime, then to 2-3 days per week. O a;sp cam wprl frp, jp,e a ;lot. I feel like I am lucky to have the flexibility to do both - work and parent. And I like both. If I was forced to work full time, I would probably quit my job or find something outside of my field. If we won the lottery tomorrow, I might quit and do philanthropic work. So, my answer is:"Yes."

I am not working right this moment because I am expecting our second child any day now... but otherwise I do work full time. I love my job. I work as a teacher at a preschool where I also have the opportunity to develop curriculum and materials. Our center has acres of lad for the children to play on, and we spent a lot of time and energy developing outdoor classroom areas for children to learn about gardening, and local wildlife. We even have a habitat to raise and release butterflies. We have an extensive social emotional program to teach children independence, responsibility, honesty, and empathy. But the best part about my job is that my son attends the school, and my daughter will once she is old enough to join the infant program. I often get to see my son whole I'm working, and get a quick kiss. And I'm never worried about his care, because I know and trust all the people he is with.

Yes, I work because we need the money, but also because my job is fulfilling, and because I don't think I'm well suited to be a SAHM, it's just not my nature. I don't ever feel guilty about working, but that's because I know I can give my children a great place to learn and grow and develop in the meantime. I think having my son attend the school since he's been 4 months old has really done wonders for his skills and social development. I honestly don't think I could have done as good a job on my own at home.

I love my job. I am an attorney, I work close to home, and my husband works part time from home (because of my salary is 3X his, it is better I work full time), and is there when the kids get home from school. I love the people I work with, I have flexible hours and I am proud to bring home the bacon to support my family. I would love to be a sahm - as long as I could get the same paycheck! We have no debt, we love to save money and invest and at our rate we will be able to "retire" (at least temporarily) and be home 24/7 when in a few more years (for the kids ages/years 10-18) i.e. when we feel they will need the most parenting intervention (which is unfortuately the age when most sahparents return to work).

I don't love, but I like my job...it's what I wanted to do when I was a child and it gives me a chance to make a real difference in the world. Many times, I feel like it is not worth separating myself from my son, and to be honest, even though I like my job, I would not work out of the home again if I had to do it all over again. But, I am here, I like my work, my son goes to a very good quality day care and seems very happy, so I am fairly satisfied. You can't have everything you want in life.