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Somewhere along the line I'm sure I'll get some sort of part time job. But I want to be home when ds is, so I'm not sure what it is going to be. Ds is going into first grade and I have no plans to go back to work any time soon.

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I want to go back to work to have a career but my concerns are like many moms. "Who will be home for the kids after school? Who will go to the meetings at school. I understand that I can probably get a job that will allow me to do those things but I am hoping to work in a business setting and I realize that there is less flexibility there. I still have a couple of years to make up my mind. Great thread, looking forward to to reading what other moms say.

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In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.Mother Teresa

I am struggling with this rigtht now. I have been home for 14 years. My youngest starts 1st grade in the fall. I know that I do need to do something more the the sporatic work I currently do. However, I am not ready to go full time. I think I will try to find something part time while the kids are in school and try to be there to get them on and off the bus. Once my youngest is a bit older, I may go full time. We will see. For now, I am going to wait and see how he does with full day school before I do anything (he has anxiety issues and I need to be sure he is okay before I take on a job).

I have never really been a SAHM, but my youngest goes to kindergarten this year. I work as a special ed para for the school district. My kids don't go to the school I work at, but I can still drop them off work and be home before they are since their school has a longer day then mine does.

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~Happiness is a large family~

Since we'll be homeschooling I of course will continue to be home with them

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Happily married to my geek
Proud homeschooling, cloth diaperin, attached parenting, slinging, simplier, breastfeedin, sewing mama mades, christian and funky mama

I don't know. I'm conflicted. Part of me misses getting a paycheck with my name on it and another part of me wants to be home and actually keep house better, be there for the kids when they get home, and not have to worry about who's gonna stay home with them when they get sick.

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To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. -Elbert Hubbard

I tried both ways, sahm, and working mom. I can't say one was better than the other, but things ran more smoothly when I was home to handle any issues/problems after school. Not having to deal with making after school arrangements was nice. Our youngest is now a junior and driving, so it's less an issue now.

I worked two years, a 50 mile one-way commute, and was only partially reimbursed for mileage. I couldn't afford that commute now with gas prices. Unless you can find a job close to home, or that pays very well, getting that p.t. job might not be worth it these days. Finding something close-by and during the school day would be an ideal situation, which is why many sahm's work for merchandising companies (usually morning hours).

My kids will come first, if I can work and still be there for them the way I want to, then I will. I was going to go back to school when Jamie went to Kindergarten, but I'm not going to wait that long.

I am planning to work a job like this. I won't make as much as if I worked as a normal teacher in a full time classroom as I have in the past, but I want to be able to take my kids to school and be there with them after (maybe a 30 hour work week?). I worked in Special Ed before I was liscensed for regular ed, so I'm familiar with the hours offered, requirements, pay and benefits. I think it will be a good compromise. I can't imagine staying home with kids in school, but I also can't imagine working my old schedule, 7:30-4:30 with take home grading.