You're Hired!!!!!! :)

Congrats! It will be an adjustment but it will be worth it! And 5 minutes from home - how lucky!!

8kidsdad: where is your wife? Apparently she gave up her role as "mom" to support YOU and the eight kids. I think you should encourage her to quit her job so you guys can go on the welfare roles. Your children will be so much better off with their mom at home. That way you can divide up and stand in ALL of the free grocery lines at the neighborhood churches! After all, we wouldn't want to teach our children to do what is necessary for the family and a good work ethic.

EDIT: I am so sorry that 8kidsdad responded in the way that he did. You specifically asked for words of encouragement and he chose to question your worthiness to be a parent. Take a breath and know that you are doing what you think is best for your family, whether others agree or not!

Congratulations!

Your "baby" is actually a toddler who will probably LOVE being around other kids. Such a great opportunity for her and for you!

After dedicating the last years to raising your family, it's time to refocus on supporting your husband and nurturing that relationship as well as your own "cognitive growth".

Oh... and you can probably do a little "work clothes" shopping this weekend!

Congratulations! Its an adjustment but it can be done and done well. I have been a SAHM and working Mom. I worked on and off during my kids being toddlers and school age. I went back to work full time when my youngest was in 7th grade.

8kidsdad - I am very surprised with your post and disappointed. I am a better Mom working than one who stays home. My kids are happier when I'm working because I'm happier. Our family is more secure when I'm working, as in most families. Regardless I am MOM.

8kids .... how dare you. '.. any mom worth the title'... Really? Are you serious? A good mom puts her family first and foremost and for some of us that means getting out there and bringing in an income. I am a full time Mom who happens to work out of the house. My kids love me. I am the afterschool taxi. I am the volunteer at school (when they let me), I'm the 'GameStop' driver, I help provide my kids with a roof over their heads, food on the table, and an amazing childcare provider that is like family. If I didn't work out of the house my kids would have me around 24/7, but wouldn't have nearly the comfortable lifestyle that they have WITH me working.

PartyofFive: Congratulations!! Yes there will be and adjustment. Yes it will seem like all of the kids will get sick within the first 2 weeks and you have to stay home....

Some tips.
- Gather your things in the evening. Just like getting your school kids stuff together at night so its ready in the morning, the same is true for the toddler and you.
- Brown bag it. One of the easiest things to do when out of the house is grabbing lunch on the go. The easiest way to save money and show that you working isn't adding to the bottom line is to pack your lunch. (at least 3 days a week)
- Taxes. All daycare, work attire, drycleaning bills and supplies you purchase for your new position are tax writeoffs. So hold on to those receipts!
- Money. Yes your new paycheck will help take the burden off of hubby, but don't forget yourself in the process. Set $20 a paycheck aside, if possible, as 'splurge' money - lunch, coffee, snacks, etc.

Good luck!

At 18 months, it's a super time for your daughter to start daycare. She's going to make new friends and you'll see social and verbal skills develop like crazy.

There are always going to be naysayers when you're a mom. Just do what you think is best and it sounds like this is a good decision for your family. Your mom already raised a family and did it her way; you get to do this your way.

Sounds like a great opportunity! Congratulations!

ETA: 8kids ... hope you were joking! Otherwise, that's very rude and demeaning to modern women.

8kids.............."Give up your position of Mom". That is a very demeaning statement for those of us who work outside of the home. Some families don't have a choice but to do so! I don't believe that makes us any less of a mother for doing so.

Partyofive-Congrats on the new job! I am sure your family will adjust wonderfully! Just remember, it is about "quality" time you spend with your children, not "quantity" time. Your little girl will love the time she gets to spend everyday with other kids her age.

Just wanted to say congrats and IGNORE the haters! Especially 8kidsdad, that guy goes out of his way to make every one of his responses politically motivated and otherwise hateful and creepy :(
Your baby girl will be just fine and so will you! I am SO jealous. I have been out of the workforce for 19 years (for the most part) and am finding it very difficult to get back in to do something I would actually be challenged at and enjoy, so good for you and best of luck!!!

My kids are now 12 and 9. From day one I worked full time outside the home and both kids were in daycares until they started school...and then they were in aftercare too, until we got off work. Now however, I am blessed with a hard working husband that has allowed me to be home for our kids the last 2 years. I work from home so I'm busy while the kids are in school, but I'm home when they leave for school, and am home to greet them when the get home from school. Both of these were by MY choice. I am not a good SAHM, I tried it for about 8 months. I was not loving or caring toward my kids (as 8kidsdad implied) and they did MUCH better with a care provider. I did not love them any less, but simply was happier working full time. Lots of moms CHOOSE this, some are forced to work and some are forced to be SAHM's. I now own an insurance agency, not a lot of women are true business owners. I think this is a GREAT example to my kids. I make my own money and can do what I want. But they also know they are my priorities, they always have been and always will be. Not all families can afford to have the mom stay home to care for their kids. This doesn't mean the mom loves or cares for her kids any less, in a way, she loves them even more for wanting more for them, to provide financially side by side as their dad does, and to still take care of the home and the kids after a FULL day. So good for you! Do what you need to do to be happy and the rest will follow. Good luck!

Congrats!!!!! I just got a job also after being home for years! I am nervous also, but I know that the kids are going to enjoy being able to have things that I have had to say no to. Keep your chin up and dont let your mom ruin your day

Congratulations! What you are doing IS for your family and your little one will get to play all day with friends! Best of luck in your transition!

It will be an adjustment, but hopefully a positive one! Your daughter will have a great time at daycare, I know mine did. She loves having kids her own age to play with all day.

Don't let other people make you feel bad for doing what's right for your family. I get it all the time for not having another baby right now, because my husband and I are paying off bills first so we can have a baby without the stress of being able to afford the extra bills that come with it. I keep getting laid off, and every time my family says "just have another baby!" like that will make things better. It makes it hard to be happy when you do get another job and you're excited to get back on track.

Good luck!

You go for it. More than likely your kids will learn your work ethic whatever that is. It won't hurt or harm you 18 month old to be in daycare either. She will learn how to interact with other children her age which again isn't the end of the world.

Unless your mom is going to step up with the money your family needs at this time she has no say. Love her though but her vote it vetoed.

My mom worked, I worked and I turned out alright and my bioson is going to be starting college on Saturday with a full 4 year scholarship based on his brain not his brawn or my income. He is already looking forward to working in his field of expertise. I don't think that is a coincidence but because he saw me work for years and all the ups an downs that comes with it.

I want to encourage you to have a definite plan and strategy for what to do with your income. Make certain that plan also includes some fun stuff for you only, for the family and for the kids.

Congratulations on this new segment of your life. It's your life so live it well and that does come with a dollar attached which is a reality.

Go for it and don't let anyone talk you out of what you are about to embark on. Your children will adapt to the new schedules. Everyone will be fine.

Congrats to you!! I am a SAHM as well, have 2 in school and a 2 yr old at home. I miss my days of working outside of the house. I will just say to make sure you do your research for the expenses of childcare. I was looking into going back to work about 6 months ago and discovered that financially, it wasn't worth it after paying for childcare for 3 kids and gas. At least your gas expense shouldn't be too bad with the place so close to home.

You have to do what's best for you and your family. I don't know your financial situation, but honestly, your situation seems enviable -- a good job AND a 5-minute commute? Where can I sign up!

There's evidence now that children of working mothers do no worse than those of stay-at-home mothers, and that working mothers feel better about themselves in the long run. There are going to be some days where you feel guilty (and stressed out from working a full-time job and being a mom of 3!), but I think overall, you working your own full time job will be good for you, your self-worth and confidence, and your children will benefit from seeing their mother happy, healthy and mentally sound.

Also, my mom, may she rest in peace, was also a naysayer. But its a different time, with a different social mindset. Maybe she'll see it later as an opportunity to spend more time with her grandkids!

For what it's worth, I disagree with 8kidsdad. I've seen those reports he's referring to. And for those that work low-paying jobs and pay for nannies or high child care costs, and plus the cost of commuting, etc, it really doesn't make a lot of sense to work.

But, if it's a good paying job (I would think a professional position like receptionist would be) and your commuting costs are low (5 minutes from your house) and child care expenses are low (you don't say), it can be a tremendous boost to your family income. Let's face it, nowadays it takes TWO incomes to make it.

Just do the smart thing. Take your net income. Deduct any extra expenses related to working - gas to and from work as well as to and from child care providers, vehicle maintenance, parking fees, office lunches, business clothing, etc - and see what you're left with. Is it worth it? You'll know.

Your kids will fluorish with this new opportunity to build relationships with others - whether it's with family stepping in to help or new friendships. It will be good for them.

Congrats on landing the job.

How awesome! Congrats to you :).

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!! think of it this way - you get to step out and help your family financially......and if this is not working out for you, you can always give your notice and quit.....no one will force you to keep working if you don't want to! I am sure your 18 mo old will love being around other kids but beware the transition will not be easy......there will be plenty of tears at drop off time but everyone will get used to the new routine before long. I always say give a new job 6 months of 110% effort before deciding whethes its for you or not.....that is when you are changing jobs. This is even a bigger transition for you so hold on to your seat belt and get ready for the ride!

CONGRATULATIONS! I think you are doing a wonderfully AWESOME thing to help your family out boosting the income. You going to work does not make you any less of a mom so don't listen to THAT GUY. Errrr.

So my advice is get super organized with your kids school stuff - have a folder, basket, whatever for each kid and their papers, artwork, etc... Have a system of having the kids put anything you have to sign in a specific place each day. Lay out all of their clothes and yours for the next day. Pack lunches the night before. Make a schedule for cleaning your house so you don't spend all weekend doing it - do a little each day. Put on some "fancy" work clothes and go enjoy yourself at your new job! I envy your ability to wear more than just a sloppy tshirt and shorts like me! :)

Now with all these posts about landing new jobs, I want to know your secrets! I'm starting to look now that both of mine are in school and I'm a nervous wreck!

Congrats again and keep your chin up!

Congratulations!!! Try to do as much as you can the night before school. Have back packs by the door and ready (folders looked at as soon as you get home), lunches packed the night before and outfits set out including socks and shoes.

Try to plan meals that you can help cook some over the weekend incase you get home late. That way you can still throw together dinner but if most of the ingredients are already cut/cooked, it will shorten the time it takes to make dinner.

After dinner, pack your lunch so you don't splurge and eat out very much. That can be very costly!

Congrats again and good luck!!!!

Be flexible! You may set up a routine/schedule and find you have to make adjustments. Also, make sure you give hubby some responsibility. Too many moms try to do it all (take kids to school/daycare, make lunches, grocery shop, clean, etc) and get burnt out quickly! Since you won't have as much time with your kiddos, make evening/weekend time sacred...you may have to cut back on social events (I'm not sure how social you are) or run errands on your lunch break, so you don't have to do them on the weekends.

Also, spend as little of your income as possible. Use what you need to make ends meet, but don't overextend yourself. That way, if the job isn't working out, it will be easier to go back to a SAHM.

Good Luck:)

I really hope MP removes 8kidsdad's post for flaming. His wife was probably SO happy to go to work, bless her heart. I'd want to if I were in her shoes, that's for sure.

What I found when I was working, is that the best thing to do was to be super-organized and have everything ready the night before. Stuff in the car that didn't have to be in the frig, lists of what needed to be done, etc. Being organized at home helped me in my job, actually. If I could be "on point" with my family stuff, my mind would also be organizing my work stuff. I'd just write them on separate sheets of paper. If I thought of something extra during the day, I'd jot it down and then add it to the sheets later.

Coming home, clothes from the washer into the dryer. One or two loads a day, never missing a day. That prevented 10 loads on the weekends. Running the dishwasher every night and unloading it during dinner making. Cooking several meals together during the weekend and eating off of them during the week, especially the meat course. Having a basket in the living room to throw stuff in that needed to go upstairs, and not worrying about getting upstairs with it til the weekend. Getting your bills paid every weekend so that you don't have to worry about it during the week. These kinds of things.

Please try to ignore misogynistic types who try to make themselves feel better by denigrating women. When a man loses his job during downsizing and a younger woman who they pay less is hired instead, he can either realize that older men AND women get cut during economic downturns by corporations who look at the bottom line rather than the "human cost factor" and just GET OVER IT, or these men can blame minorities and women for it, and strike out at them as if it is their fault he lost his job. YOU don't have to stay at home in order to atone for corporate sins. You certainly don't have to let men you don't even know keep you from helping your family financially.

Good luck in your new job. The weekends will be all that more sweet having quality time with your kids.

Dawn

Go For it..

Good Luck!!

Congratulations on your new job. NOBODY can decide what's right for you and your family except you and your family.

Okay, I just have to say I almost spit out my drink from laughing when I read 8kidsdad's response. Dude, you were downsized because you weren't a minority or a woman? Really? Just a hunch that it had more to do with your attitude and "observations." Oh sorry, just a "hater" here. At least I'm not suffering from angry white man syndrome. Geesh.