American moms... staying home or working?

Question

I guess I’m just curious and want to make myself feel better. 
I’m going back to work next week and my daughter will be four months old. I took extra time unpaid because I couldn’t bare to leave her. 
Luckily, my best friend will be taking care of her when I go back and I will get to see her throughout the day (my friend is going to bring her to my work and I will see her on my lunch break). 
I want to stay home more than anything but we cannot afford to leave on my husband’s salary alone. 
Again, I guess I’m just curious what other American moms are doing. I know maternity leave is much better in other countries, that’s why I’m asking American moms specifically.

Answer

I’ve been working full time since my son was 3 months (he’ll be 2 years next month). It’s hard sometimes but not as bad as I thought it would be.

Answer

I’m very luck to be able to be a stay at home mom. But I’m going to college and taking care of my son.  
It’s hard no matter what you have to do.  I give you props for going back to work even if you don’t want to  my son a years old and it would be so hard for me to go back to work even now.  I wish I was making some money though.

Answer

I work from home - I own a digital marketing agency. A few women in a mom group I belong to also work from home, they teach English online to children in China and it’s adorable.

Answer

I own an Education Consulting Business, which I run from our home. I feel as if I get the best of both worlds. I am able to stay home with my baby girl while continuing my career as an educator. Before starting my business, I was a second-grade teacher. When I was about 36 or 37 weeks, my husband and I decided it would be best if I resigned because the thought of a nanny caring for our baby girl was just terrifying. My husband makes six-figures so it was no doubt we could live off his income. After a few months, I started to miss education, but still did not want to leave my baby girl. So I started an Education Consulting Business. I love my business because I can work from home (or planes, mall, nail shop, beauty salon, aquarium, zoo, etc. lol). I have made well over $70,000 in just six months from my business, which is more than I made annually as a teacher with a Master's Degree. The fact that I can be home and experience all of my daughter's milestones while making money is the best thing ever. But even if I had not started my business, I woukd still stay home with my baby girl. Like I said, my husband makes a lot of money so we could probably live the same exact lifestyle if I had no income. I just couldn't imagine leaving my princess!

Answer

I’m able to be a stay at home wife/Mom right now because we rent a house in Calif and the rent here is so cheap (surprisingly)
my husband helps my mom out and my brother lives with us too (3 bedroom home)
Landlord already told us he’s going to raise the rent since his father and Mom passed away (they were the first owners)
But if we weren’t here at this home we’d be struggling for sure...it’s so hard living off one income in OC, CALIF

Answer

I’m an American but will be living in Korea. I’m going to start my job search when baby is 6 months old. My husband has a coworker who is married to someone with her master in public health (same as me) and works for the state of California remotely. She’s going to help me out as much as she can, but if I can’t get a job with her company I have promising outlooks elsewhere due to my experience and degree(s). My husband has known since early on that I wouldn’t be leaving my child in daycare (or with anyone for that matter) until they are old enough to tell me about their day. 
States vary their requirements but you could run an at-home daycare, or offer childcare to a handful of people so it doesn’t require certain certifications. You could also look into other work-from-home opportunities, like an online tutor possibly. They make pretty decent money too if you are just needing some extra money and not a large income.

Answer

Work from home.

American moms... staying home or working?

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