Working Moms: How Far Do You Drive to Work?

Updated on June 25, 2011
H.B. asks from Fort Worth, TX
34 answers

Hello!

I am currently a SAHM but am wanting/needing to get back to work. Before I stayed home I worked in the oil & gas industry and loved it. I live in N. Ft Worth and worked downtown Ft Worth so it was about a 20 - 30 minute drive depending on morning/afternoon traffic. I am wanting to get back into the o&g industry and have gotten a couple calls from companies in Dallas and none from Ft Worth. Dallas would be about a 45m - 1+ hr drive from where I live and I am just trying to determine if it would be worth it.

I haven't worked for about 4 years so I may have to just take a job in Dallas just to get my foot back in the door and some current experience and maybe try again in Ft Worth in a couple years.

So my question is: do you drive a long distance/time to work and is it horrible or doable?

Thanks!

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C.F.

answers from Boston on

I'm really lucky my drive is 10 miles one way and Mikey's daycare is 2 minutes from my house so that doesn't effect my commute.
I wish you the best ! Good Luck !!

2 moms found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

12 minutes. I would hate being in a car for a long commute because it would keep me away from my family for too much of each day. Good luck re-entering the workforce! I hope you find a job that you really enjoy! :)

1 mom found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Orlando on

I work at home so I walk from bed to the living room couch. :)

When I worked out of the house it was about 30 minutes with daycare about 5 minutes from where I worked.

1 mom found this helpful

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S.H.

answers from Spokane on

My drive to work takes about 35 minutes (45 if I have kids to drop off) and my drive home takes 40-45 min (longer if I have kids to p/u).
It is totally worth it to me! I love where I live and I also love my job.
I also use that time to "transition" from work to Mom life and am 100% ready to be with my kids once I pick them up or get home.

3 moms found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

I work from home, so my 'drive' is the 20 steps from my bedroom to my bar.

;)

BTW, the average person commutes 1 hour one way to work. True statistic. I'm full of useless knowledge ;)

3 moms found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I used to have about 45 min to an hour commute depending on the traffic and the weather honestly I hated hated hated it. My work right now is 10 minutes from my house honestly on a good day when god grants me all green lights I can make it home in 7 I love it. I would not go back to the commute ever. A lot of people think it is time to "decompress" before you get home but I hate to drive so for me it was terrible.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Lake Charles on

We're opening a business and I'll have a 45 min to a 1 hr drive (one way) daily as well... I do have parents in the town where the business will be so that will help but I say if it's something you LOVE you won't mind plus I have to say I'm looking forward to 2 hours alone in a car each day LMAO (I'm also a SAHM for 2 years now with one on the way).

2 moms found this helpful
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S.G.

answers from Dallas on

I live in N Ft. Worth too, and work in O&G.... that's weird that there is more in Dallas than FTW, since Barnett is more FTW based...
Well, anyway, it takes me 45 min- 1 hr to get to downtown FTW from Alliance area because I35W is so jacked up. There are 2 areas that will suddenly cut from 4 to 2 lanes, then you are only 2 lanes for about 10 miles before reaching downtown. So, probably wouldn't be much worse just driving to Dallas.

1 mom found this helpful

A.S.

answers from Detroit on

I drive about same as you're looking at... 45min-1hr. one way. Doable? Yes. Does it suck? Yes. Financially worth it? Yes.

1 mom found this helpful

J.G.

answers from St. Louis on

I used to have a job that was three miles. This one is 15 miles but in rush hour it can take over an hour to get here.

I wish some would explain how they came up with the term rush hour.

1 mom found this helpful

L.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I travel about 50 miles, 1 hour both ways, 3 times a week. For me, and for this job, it's worth it. I don't actually mind the commute, as it's my time to prep my mind for the day, and to unwind after my work day before I get home. Although, I did love when I worked 5 minutes from home too. LOL But you just get used to whatever your situation is.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.W.

answers from Washington DC on

I currenlty commute about an hour (50 mins. on a great day!) and I will say this, I hate it. I am a first time Mom that has a pretty well paying job. It is not a too horribly stressful line of work, just the usual political snobbery! That being said, if I could find a job closer to home that could pay me even remotely close to what I make now, I would leave in a heartbeat. I miss not being 'available' to my child. My husband is only 35 minutes away for now... he starts a job in august that will put us both at the hour drive mark
:o( Well wishes on your decision making and good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

16 miles or 30 min every day. It is not horrible. This time allows me to think and destress from my job. I also make my shopping list on my to/from work and anything else I can do while in the car.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.C.

answers from Allentown on

Half hour with no traffic each way; with traffic and school drop off, it's about 50 minutes. I'm used to it so it's OK, though would love a shorter commute as that would mean more time to myself!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm 15 miles away but in rush hour, it can be up to an hour and 15. Hour commute is the average though. For me, it's worth it because I work at a job I really like. If all you can get is the Dallas, go for it. Like you said, you may need to just get your foot back in the door and depending on your personality (i.e. as long as you don't get road rage), 45min-1 hr commute doesn't sound too bad.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

I live about 3 miles from work. It takes 10-15 minutes. I refuse to drive more than 30 minutes anymore, but we set up our living situation to make that possible. It all depends on how much you make, like the job, HAVE to make, etc. I used to do a 45 min to 1 hour commute each way, but after kids decided definitely not.

1 mom found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Sacramento on

about 10 minutes.....

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Dallas on

I drive 50 miles (Rowlett to Westlake) .

It's worth it to me because I make 15 an hour and have good benefits. I have to be at work at 630am. I like my shift because I can be there with the kids in the afternoon.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.D.

answers from Dallas on

I am lucky, finally found a great job that is 6 miles from my home. I have had jobs that were a 45 min to 1 hour drive. It is doable and now that my kids are older probably wouldn't be as hard as it was back when they were much younger. You just have to plan ahead and stay organized as much as possible. With daycare, I always had to have a backup plan in case I had to stay late or traffic was so bad I couldn't get there before they closed.

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

My drive is a walk to my at home office from my bedroom in the back of the house to the office in the front of the house.

1 mom found this helpful

J.F.

answers from Philadelphia on

ugh from my house 30 minutes BUT now that my mom is watching my daughter during the summer I sleep at her house in Philly on the weekdays and its 1 and 1/2 hours to get to work and 2-3 to get back in rush hour.......ugh I'm drained!

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I use to drive 8 miles to work, and when we moved into a new office it was 3 miles for awhile.
Now that I work at home, I commute across my living room to my office.
Best commute ever!
And I can wear fuzzy slippers if I want to.
I know many people who've commuted LONG distances to Wash DC for work - like from West Virginia or from anywhere roughly 4 hours away.
These are the people who seriously lose it financially when the gas prices head up.
An hour or so of driving is about the longest I'd consider commuting.
The big problem for parents is having someone in place to handle getting a call from school if kids get sick, or what if you get delayed (major traffic back up/bad weather/etc) on the way home.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

I am currently less than one mile from my job and it's about a 10 minute walk. I love it. (Although the walk is not so nice when it's 95+ degrees or snowing.) We are talking about moving out of the city now that my son is getting a little older and I'm not looking forward to the possibility of having a 45 minute commute via train.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Houston on

12 minutes. I used to commute 45-1 hour. I will NEVER do that again. Quality of life is a high priority for me - let's hope employers are reading this and will move out to the suburbs where people actually live!

1 mom found this helpful

A.A.

answers from Las Vegas on

I live in Boulder City NV and work in Las Vegas. From my house to my job its 22.4 miles and it's all highway:) No traffic.
Good luck with getting the job you want!

1 mom found this helpful

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

You don't want to know. My husband and I share an office space (we are both insurance agents). We live on the SE corner of 2 major roads and our office is on the NW corner! So it takes us about 2 minutes to drive to our office!

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

I'm pretty fortunate. The school I work at is only 2 miles from home, so about six minutes!

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K.P.

answers from Seattle on

I used to commute 45 minutes each way (13 miles, but there was traffic). On bad traffic days, it was up to an hour. I found that amount of time difficult to deal with. It took so much time out of my day and away from my daughter, and it was hard to get to my child's preschool for events, etc.

I now telecommute full time, five minutes from my daughter's school. I'm very happy with this situation, but I realize it's not workable for everyone.

If I had a choice, I wouldn't want to commute more than 20 minutes or so.

C.S.

answers from Medford on

i am lucky. I live in a small town and my house is a mere 3 miles from the office with daycare/school in the middle. :)

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A.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I wouldn't do it if you can avoid it. It makes for really LONG days. I have worked over an hour from home and it was doable, but that was when I didn't have kids! My hubby drives 40mins and we both hate it, he used to work 20 mins from home and it was great. Now my commute is 20 mins, but that doesn't include the 15mins I go out of my way to drop the kiddos off at a daycare that is up to my high standards (but not close to home).

There's just not enough time in the day to be spending that much time away from family if you are not at work.

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N.C.

answers from Dallas on

My commute is 40 miles each way, sometimes it is 45 minutes and sometimes it is 2 hours!! But I love where I live and I truly enjoy my job too :) Once I get home after work I dont want to get in my car again!!!

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L.G.

answers from San Diego on

My commute used to be approximately 45 minutes, 1 way, with no traffic. With traffic, there were days that I would spend about 3 hours total commuting to and from work. There were times that it wasn't bad when my childcare was closer to work and so at least I got to spend more time with my daughter(I only had one kid then) albeit, it was in a car, but at least I wasn't away from her and also I used it as a time to make phone calls, etc. But when my childcare switched to where it was closer to my house I hated it because I was away from my family longer. Also the long commute means less time for me to get the house things done, like dinner, clean, etc. so I was stressed out the rest of the evening trying to get things done because I was working 9 to 10 hour days and spending 1.5 to 3 hours a day commuting. It was most of my day! But I didn't have any other options then. So yes it is doable, not always pleasurable though. But you just need to decide what is best for you and your family and make it work for you. Best of luck

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M.S.

answers from Chicago on

I use to live in city and work in the burbs...It would take me anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on traffic. It got to the point where I couldn't take it anymore so we moved. We rented out our place and rented a home closer to my work and family. My husband still works in the city but takes the train and is very happy.
If you need the job, then you'll just need to do it for now and keep reminding yourself this is short term. Anything is doable, you just need the right frame of mind.

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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I commute 45 minutes each way once a week. The rest of the week I drive to different locations so it's not the same monotonous drive. Previously I commuted 45 minutes twice a day 5 days a week. I hated it so we bought a house closer to work. You could try it and if you love the job and hate the commute move somewhere between where you and your partner/husband (I am making assumptions, sorry) work. In my mind, a commute of an hour or less is doable as long as it's not forever.

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