Reply to Anyone regret becoming a stay at home mom?

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[quote=Anonymous]As a working mom (attorney), I wish I had more time with my kids.  Because we have 3 kids, I feel more stretched and like I don't have enough time for the kids.

Here was my history:

Age 31-32:  Stayed home for 1 year with my first born.  I found it very rewarding and satisfying

Ages 32-42:  Worked part time in a good job that was with a well-known company because I figured it would put me in a good situation for later employment.  (I wasn't looking to re-enter the workforce, but got a call from an old colleague with the part-time opportunity.  Also, my DH's income was OK but we weren't able to save for college.)  I had 2 more kids during this time.  In hindsight, I paid A LOT for babysitting services to cover my odd hours.  (My hours were part-time, but not always the same each week, hence the need for additional coverage.)  It was a huge blessing to have that flexible babysitting coverage, but it made it feel like most of my income went to pay for the babysitting help.  It was a stressful time because the kids were young and needed a lot of attention, and yet I felt like I was dashing off to work.  (Fortunately, only a small bit of travel was required.)

Age 43-present.  For the past 2 years, I've been back full-time.  I'm very satisfied with my salary and benefits and feel like I'm setting us up for a better retirement etc, but I feel guilty that it's full-time.  I ask the kids if they'd like me to cut back, and they all say "no" it doesn't bother them that I work full-time.  Granted, I still feel stressed.

I have to put a conscious effort into not looking stressed to my kids because I don't want them to grow up as anxious kids.

I do exercise, but wish I had more time for more exercise, some alone time, etc.

The biggest stress still comes on days when one of our kids is home sick from school.  That is a source of tension between my DH and me -- who's going to be the one to stay home until the babysitter can arrive (if she's willing to work when one of our kids is sick.)

So in a nutshell, I think that there are a lot of stresses that come with being a working mom.  Sure, our family's financial situation is much better in our case than if we stayed home.  But it feels hectic.  Granted, some people are better able to juggle the duties than others.  I have discovered about my self that I probably would have been better off focusing only on my kids for 20 years, and then re-entering the workforce.  But for better jugglers, I think that part-time is a nice option.  And if your DH has a good income and is trustworthy and committed, then I think being a SAHM is a great option.[/quote]

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