What did you give up to stay home with babe?

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Yikes.

[Anonymous]

Getting dressed up every day and having an assistant. Being able to hide out in my office when I am sick. Being able to disappear to work when I have house guests who drive me nuts.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Honestly, i get the big picture of what you are saying. I have sacrificed in my career to be more available for the kids.

However, I'm just going to say it- I think you've sacrificed too much. OK, yes, I know people who gave up their dream job, and I get why and you do what you have to do. But being poor? Credit rating in tatters? Too much stress on your husband? Nothing for needs? That is crazy time.

Shoulda woulda coulda - but we budgeted and planned carefully to have money in hand before baby was born. Yes, it was tighter after baby, but we planned for it and adjusted accordingly. You seem like you did not plan and just jumped into it willy nilly and put your family at risk.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Honestly, i get the big picture of what you are saying. I have sacrificed in my career to be more available for the kids.

However, I'm just going to say it- I think you've sacrificed too much. OK, yes, I know people who gave up their dream job, and I get why and you do what you have to do. But being poor? Credit rating in tatters? Too much stress on your husband? Nothing for needs? That is crazy time.

Shoulda woulda coulda - but we budgeted and planned carefully to have money in hand before baby was born. Yes, it was tighter after baby, but we planned for it and adjusted accordingly. You seem like you did not plan and just jumped into it willy nilly and put your family at risk.

Or OP just likes being a braggy martyr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Honestly, i get the big picture of what you are saying. I have sacrificed in my career to be more available for the kids.

However, I'm just going to say it- I think you've sacrificed too much. OK, yes, I know people who gave up their dream job, and I get why and you do what you have to do. But being poor? Credit rating in tatters? Too much stress on your husband? Nothing for needs? That is crazy time.

Shoulda woulda coulda - but we budgeted and planned carefully to have money in hand before baby was born. Yes, it was tighter after baby, but we planned for it and adjusted accordingly. You seem like you did not plan and just jumped into it willy nilly and put your family at risk.

Or OP just likes being a braggy martyr.

OP is a very transparent troll trying to come off as a braggy martyr. Just another disgruntled WOHM with nothing better to do.

[Anonymous]

You said babe too much and it was distracting. That said, I gave up a 10 year start on the career I dreamed of. But I did finally start it.

[Anonymous]

Hey babe. Awesome post babe. Sounds like you should get a job babe.

[Anonymous]

This is obviously a troll.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Wow. I took four months of maternity leave before going back to work and getting a nanny. My oldest is now 4, and youngest is 2.5. They are both "independent, curious, well-behaved, happy, friendly, confident and healthy both physically and emotionally" within reason for their ages (my 2 yr old has just gotten the memo on terrible 2's).

It's great that you did what you felt was best for you and your family. And it's great that I did what I felt was best for me and my family. One of the best things I've learned outside of school, as an adult, is that there are wildly different ways to approach life and still become successful.

[Anonymous]

Sweetie, I think the website you're looking for is www.babycenter.com.

[Anonymous]

Babe. Babe. Babe. Babe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I took four months of maternity leave before going back to work and getting a nanny. My oldest is now 4, and youngest is 2.5. They are both "independent, curious, well-behaved, happy, friendly, confident and healthy both physically and emotionally" within reason for their ages (my 2 yr old has just gotten the memo on terrible 2's).

It's great that you did what you felt was best for you and your family. And it's great that I did what I felt was best for me and my family. One of the best things I've learned outside of school, as an adult, is that there are wildly different ways to approach life and still become successful.

+1.