Many parents consider whether they should quit their jobs to stay home with their children. This article will help sort through the pros and cons.
Have you always wanted to be home with your children?
Some people have a strong desire to stay home with their children. Some people just simply do not. If staying home is not something you feel strongly about, perhaps it's not for you. However, if staying home is something you've been looking forward to for years, it is probably important that you find a way to make it work.
Do you enjoy being home, doing domestic things?
Stay at home parenting is not about being a housewife, but at-home parents generally do a larger share of housework than a working spouse. If domesticity just simply isn't your thing, that's no reason to plan to return to work, but it is something to talk about with your spouse. Oftentimes, the working spouse has expectations, usually unspoken, about housework. Each family needs to work out what will work best for them, but it's important that you agree beforehand.
Do you enjoy social activities?
Very social people sometimes feel that they need the stimulation of being at work to fulfill their social needs. However, being a stay at home parent can also fulfill a social butterfly's needs for interpersonal interaction. Joining parents groups, or even non-parenting related groups, can help fill the social void.
Is your self-esteem tied to gainful employment?
This is perhaps the strongest sign that staying home is not a good option for you. If your self-image is strongly tied to your job, it's possible that you would be unhappy leaving that job. For example, if you are a local TV or radio personality, and enjoy the recognition that comes with you job, you might find it difficult to leave the spotlight. However, if you feel that staying home is important, it is possible that you could reach some sort of part-time, at-home, or occasional employment to give you the best of both worlds.
Do you have concerns about being financially dependent upon your spouse?
This is often a difficult issue for at-home parents to deal with. Leaving a job means that you have no independent income. Usually, it is not hard for an at-home parent to find gainful employment in a hurry if circumstances warrant (if your spouse is laid off, dies, or leaves you). But living day to day relying completely on your spouse's income can be stressful. If you have serious concerns about this aspect of staying at home, perhaps talking to your spouse or even a trusted outsider can help.
Do you have a support network?
Stay at home parenting is a hard job, often made harder because those who work do not realize how hard it is. This is why having a good support network of other parents who have stayed home, or who are home, is important. A support network can be found online, through your local hospital, or through organized groups such as La Leche League, Moms of Preschoolers, or other parenting-oriented groups.
Are you willing to make lifestyle adjustments?
This is also a major issue. Usually, becoming a stay at home parent means that your family will need to live on a reduced income. For the majority of families, it is perfectly possible to live on a reduced income, even a drastically reduced income. But you will need to make lifestyle adjustments, such as cutting down on nights out, eating cheaper foods, and putting off unnecessary purchases.
