What did you give up to stay home with babe?

[Anonymous]

Shouldn't babyhood be babehood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious - what did you do or sacrifice to be able to stay home with babe if your partner doesn't earn enough to comfortably support the family on one income?
The sad posts from moms who must return to work break my heart. Lets hear from people who stayed home with babe despite the financial challenges, maybe this will give perspective to someone caught between a rock and a hard place.

My girl is 21 months old. It was unthinkable for me to send babe to daycare, because I was 100% sure that it was best for babe to spend her babyhood with me.

I left my dream job, and we went from having enough money to poor. It has been very stressful, especially on my husband. My previously good credit is now worthless, as I have had to leave bills unpaid. My husband is stressed out that he works all day but has no money for things he wants and needs. Now that babe is older, I have found part time work and am looking for something better.

But I honestly think that the financial hole we are in has been worth it, because any way you look at it, our babe is doing really well. I took advice from some of the best child development books such as "The First Three Years of Life" by Burton White. As a result, babe is independent, curious, well-behaved, happy, friendly, confident and healthy both physically and emotionally.

The way I see it, my babe has had a great start in life. I am proud of that. The money hole is a temporary problem that's within our power to fix, but there's no way to re-do the period when personality and worldview are forming.

Any other moms out there who chose to be poor or gave up much to stay home with their baby? Was it worth it?

Wait until your kid starts school - then you will realize the experts lied to you!

Want to know the most important time to be home with your kids? After school. So much of the real work of parenting that shapes a child long term doesn't start until then. You will regret that you have zero flexibility and no money once your kid is in school.

The first 3 years - as long as you have a nice, nurturing, kid, daycare provider and you as parents are engaged with and love your child - you have it covered.

Go back to work right now and fix your financial situation for the benefit of your child long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:she is back. not a troll!

huh?

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/522408.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't give anything up. I chose a new lifestyle.

I like this perspective, PP.

OP, I still work. And my DS, who's been in daycare since 3 months old, has a great personality and even has a little best friend at his daycare. He's around other kids all day, and it's affordable for my family on a dual income. The caregivers at his daycare know him well and love him. I agree with the PP--if you think about it in a way that you "gave up" something, then it's too much. If you think about ti as changing your lifestyle, then you're doing the right thing. I don't think you did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People. Do you really not see that OP is a troll? And not a very good one, at that. Babe???

I actually find this hilarious (and I'm a SAHM). Whoever the WOHM was who wrote this crap clearly has waaaay too much time and bitterness on her hands.

Huh? This is obviously a SAHM playing the martyr card.

[Anonymous]

Awe babe, that's so sweet. Blissful visions of maternal martyrdom, financial stability be damned, stress out tense household matters not in the face of mommy bragging about her sacrifice...

Do you hear what I hear?

A troll

A troll

Babbling on the web

So silly and yet so-o sad

So silly and yet so -o sad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You remind me of the babe.

What babe?
The babe with the power.
What power?
The power of voodoo.
Who do?
You do.
Do what?
Remind me of the babe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious - what did you do or sacrifice to be able to stay home with babe if your partner doesn't earn enough to comfortably support the family on one income?
The sad posts from moms who must return to work break my heart. Lets hear from people who stayed home with babe despite the financial challenges, maybe this will give perspective to someone caught between a rock and a hard place.

My girl is 21 months old. It was unthinkable for me to send babe to daycare, because I was 100% sure that it was best for babe to spend her babyhood with me.

I left my dream job, and we went from having enough money to poor. It has been very stressful, especially on my husband. My previously good credit is now worthless, as I have had to leave bills unpaid. My husband is stressed out that he works all day but has no money for things he wants and needs. Now that babe is older, I have found part time work and am looking for something better.

But I honestly think that the financial hole we are in has been worth it, because any way you look at it, our babe is doing really well. I took advice from some of the best child development books such as "The First Three Years of Life" by Burton White. As a result, babe is independent, curious, well-behaved, happy, friendly, confident and healthy both physically and emotionally.

The way I see it, my babe has had a great start in life. I am proud of that. The money hole is a temporary problem that's within our power to fix, but there's no way to re-do the period when personality and worldview are forming.

Any other moms out there who chose to be poor or gave up much to stay home with their baby? Was it worth it?

You stiffed creditors in order to stay at home?

You don't know that the "result" of you choosing to SAH is your independent, curious, well-behaved, happy, friendly, confident and healthy baby. Mine possesses all of those attributes and I WOHFT.

Bingo. Also, you'll be singing a different tune when your stressed-out husband who has no money for his needs divorces you and you have no credit. Money issues are one of the leading causes of divorce. Another also, thank your lucky stars that your babe didn't have serious medical needs requiring treatment that you wouldn't have been able to pay for. Or that your husband didn't get fired or injured or sick.

[Anonymous]

Wow, this thread is harsh! No surprise I guess, it being DCUM! I guess I am in the minority because it seemed like a legit, if slightly annoying post. At least OP is looking to get back to work and try to help out her poor suffering husband and climb out of debt. That's a good start, OP! Staying home with your child may have helped him or her be happy, that's great.... But it sounds like time to get rolling back into FT employment!