Reply to Would you stay at home with small children, or wait for more work flexibility for kids when older?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I stayed home for the first 8 years with my kids and then returined to a six figure flexible law job.  I could afford to stay at home indefinitely but have no desire to retire in my forties. Everyone has their own best course,[/quote]

I agree there's a different answer for everyone.  However, all my friends who re-entered the workforce after a 5+ year hiatus, came back at half to 2/3 their previous salary.  I'm surprised you re-entered law easily after 8 years.  Is it a certain niche?  or did you keep up your credentials or do some consulting projects in those 8 years off? 
I think all moms would like to know the path to meaningful career re-entry.[/quote]

I did nothing during the time I was off that was job related.  I had 10 years experience,   non equity partner status when I left, and the type of credentials in terms of schools and firms that impress employers that care about such things.   I also had excellent references. I think the degree of difficulty getting back in is hugely overestimated,    of course, only a small percentage of people can afford to take the time off, that is the big limiting factor, not reentry.[/quote]With all due respect, I believe you are a bit of an anomaly. Most parents who have stayed home for a significant period of time, and not kept up credentials or certifications, have a difficult reentry years later. My neighbor was an event planner for an association and is having difficulty finding something at the level she was and is now leaning toward getting her masters in education so she can teach. Another friend, who stayed home for 10 years, worked as a consultant at one of the then-big 6, and she too had a hard time finding the right fit. It is doable, but it certainly isn't as easy as you make it sound. I can only guess your degrees/experience are such that you were able to take such a long time off with no consequences. I believe, however, that situation is fairly unique.[/quote]

Another mom here who had zero trouble reentering.  I think the key is to keep up your professional network while out of the workforce, and to leave as a top employee.  Frankly, I did stellar work while I was in the workforce full time, and people remembered that.  I had no trouble getting a plum consulting gig once my youngest hit kindergarten.  Actually, I regularly turned down offers in the years I was out of the workforce.

If I left the workforce as an admin, or a just-above-entry-level employee, I'm sure I'd be singing a different song.

I know that this board is read by women in all different parts of the country, but there are many women like me in DC and close-in 'burbs.  I'm no unicorn around these parts.  In fact, I can think of quite a few women off the top of my head who left the workforce and had no trouble getting back in - one did web design and leveraged a business contact to get back in, and another was a lawyer who had a notably impressive ability to deal not only with clients, but with difficult senior personalities at her big law firm.

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