Is there any hope for SAHMs over 50?

[Anonymous]

I went from full time to part time when I had my first child. The youngest is still in elementary school, but we're having some financial issues and I'm thinking about going back full time. The thing is, when I left my career, I really left it. I had some momentum going, and although it wasn't a high-paying field, had I stayed in it full time I'd probably be making at least 70K about now. Part time is not really career-building, just punching in and out, so I haven't made any headway in over 10 years. My present job isn't available full time, and I'm having trouble identifying anything that pays a decent amount of money that I am qualified for. Most of the jobs I could apply for seem to be about 45-50K, and that would barely cover the additional childcare costs I'd incur. I'm making almost 40K now just part-time. Many of those jobs could lead to advancement down the road, but as I'm already over 50, I'm not sure I can get hired. Plus, it seems late to be starting over at the bottom. I feel sort of pathetic being 50+, highly educated, and really good at my job, but not actually able to make over 50K a year, and maybe not even that. What do former SAHMs do? The ones I know have never gone back after realizing that their careers have been permanently derailed, or else they end up as receptionists someplace. Is there hope?

[Anonymous]

Can't help without knowing your field and area of expertise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went from full time to part time when I had my first child. The youngest is still in elementary school, but we're having some financial issues and I'm thinking about going back full time. The thing is, when I left my career, I really left it. I had some momentum going, and although it wasn't a high-paying field, had I stayed in it full time I'd probably be making at least 70K about now. Part time is not really career-building, just punching in and out, so I haven't made any headway in over 10 years. My present job isn't available full time, and I'm having trouble identifying anything that pays a decent amount of money that I am qualified for. Most of the jobs I could apply for seem to be about 45-50K, and that would barely cover the additional childcare costs I'd incur. I'm making almost 40K now just part-time. Many of those jobs could lead to advancement down the road, but as I'm already over 50, I'm not sure I can get hired. Plus, it seems late to be starting over at the bottom. I feel sort of pathetic being 50+, highly educated, and really good at my job, but not actually able to make over 50K a year, and maybe not even that. What do former SAHMs do? The ones I know have never gone back after realizing that their careers have been permanently derailed, or else they end up as receptionists someplace. Is there hope?

A lot of moms here work at school in the Ffx County Schools.

[Anonymous]

Hope for what? Realistically, 50K at fifty after a long break is not bad at all. Many people would love to be able to afford a non-stress part-time job.

[Anonymous]

I think you should break out the pen and paper and really figure out your net beyond childcare costs, using real numbers. It sounds a little suspect to me that you think you'd net nothing due to extra childcare costs when the youngest is in elementary school. In reality, as pp noted, lots of people would be thrilled with a 50K job after a long break, and if you delay your entry to full time work much longer, it's just going to get even harder and harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hope for what? Realistically, 50K at fifty after a long break is not bad at all. Many people would love to be able to afford a non-stress part-time job.

I do feel very lucky to have been able to work part time this long. Personally, I don't feel that 50K is that bad, but I've been told that it's kind of pathetic and I should be able to make more by finding a different field. To me that seems kind of impossible - starting over in a whole new field with no experience and expecting to make more than 50. A financial advisor even told me that if that's all I can make I need to look for a different kind of job - but who starts out in a new field and makes more than that?? I have an English degree with a lot of writing and teaching experience, but none of it in a high-paying area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope for what? Realistically, 50K at fifty after a long break is not bad at all. Many people would love to be able to afford a non-stress part-time job.

I do feel very lucky to have been able to work part time this long. Personally, I don't feel that 50K is that bad, but I've been told that it's kind of pathetic and I should be able to make more by finding a different field. To me that seems kind of impossible - starting over in a whole new field with no experience and expecting to make more than 50. A financial advisor even told me that if that's all I can make I need to look for a different kind of job - but who starts out in a new field and makes more than that?? I have an English degree with a lot of writing and teaching experience, but none of it in a high-paying area.

Who told you that? If you have teaching experience, and you are only working PT, maybe look into tutoring. Tutors can make quite good money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope for what? Realistically, 50K at fifty after a long break is not bad at all. Many people would love to be able to afford a non-stress part-time job.

I do feel very lucky to have been able to work part time this long. Personally, I don't feel that 50K is that bad, but I've been told that it's kind of pathetic and I should be able to make more by finding a different field. To me that seems kind of impossible - starting over in a whole new field with no experience and expecting to make more than 50. A financial advisor even told me that if that's all I can make I need to look for a different kind of job - but who starts out in a new field and makes more than that?? I have an English degree with a lot of writing and teaching experience, but none of it in a high-paying area.

Whoever told you that has their own biases going- don't let them put that on you. If you were fine with or even excited about a prospect, don't let the fact that someone thinks it's "pathetic" derail you!

[Anonymous]

What childcare costs? Your child is in elementary school. How expensive is aftercare or to hire somebody to watch the kid til you get home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you should break out the pen and paper and really figure out your net beyond childcare costs, using real numbers. It sounds a little suspect to me that you think you'd net nothing due to extra childcare costs when the youngest is in elementary school. In reality, as pp noted, lots of people would be thrilled with a 50K job after a long break, and if you delay your entry to full time work much longer, it's just going to get even harder and harder.

Agree. Plus consider that if your child is in ES, by about fourth grade, they can stay a little while at home alone in the morning and get themselves out of the house for school, so no need for before care. And, if you have older kids, no need for aftercare. Cheap summer camp is only like $2k per summer. You might want something different for your child, but there are plenty of cheap safe options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you should break out the pen and paper and really figure out your net beyond childcare costs, using real numbers. It sounds a little suspect to me that you think you'd net nothing due to extra childcare costs when the youngest is in elementary school. In reality, as pp noted, lots of people would be thrilled with a 50K job after a long break, and if you delay your entry to full time work much longer, it's just going to get even harder and harder.

Yeah, I make $55k with two little kids in daycare, and it does not take all of my take home pay.

[Anonymous]

If going from PT to FT means only an extra $5,000-$10,000, after taxes, that could be pretty close to the cost of afterschool care.

I'd look at how quickly you could expect a significant increase in salary after going back FT and how long you plan to work.

I'm not sure why you call yourself a SAHM. If you've been working continuously, although part-time for the past several years, it should be much easier to find a new job than for someone who has a significant gap in employment.

[Anonymous]

This thread bugs me. I've worked full-time since I finished grad school--12 years--and have been promoted several times along the way. I have a job that many people would want. And yet I make just over 60k a year. My kids are both in elementary school and my income--even after health insurance, taxes, and retirement are taken out--is WAY more than what we pay for aftercare and summer camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread bugs me. I've worked full-time since I finished grad school--12 years--and have been promoted several times along the way. I have a job that many people would want. And yet I make just over 60k a year. My kids are both in elementary school and my income--even after health insurance, taxes, and retirement are taken out--is WAY more than what we pay for aftercare and summer camps.

But OP is saying that the additional ~$6K-$11K (pretax etc) that she would make would not cover the additional childcare costs she would have, which, if you consider the cost of beforecare, aftercare, and summer camps, is actually very quite true, at least in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hope for what? Realistically, 50K at fifty after a long break is not bad at all. Many people would love to be able to afford a non-stress part-time job.

+100
Sounds like a great gig to me.