My thoughts on the Stay At Home Debate

5 Comments

I agree that it seems pointless to return to work if you are paying for Childcare or using the money for the extras in life. But for some that is what is important to them. Other mums really have no option but to work.

I worked part time after my first two children, as a nurse I could work my shifts around my husband so the kids did not go to daycare or rarely needed to be looked after by grandparents. The money helped with everyday living costs as well some extras. Looking back i would have prefered to be home with the kids. I am divorced from my first two children’s father. the fact he wanted me to work more and more was part of the reasoning for our divorce. I have since had twins with my new husband. We are not much better off financially but both agree it is best for me to be home. I love been there for my children, I love been able to go on kinder and school trips, I love seeing my twins milestones first. No money could ever buy moments and te with my children. We have to often stretch to make ends meet but we find ways to. Money though is something we can’t go without even affording the basics can be a struggle so to give us a buffer I am starting up my own small business from home that I can work around the kids. I think there are plenty of options and ways to make the money you need whether its needs or wants that don’t have to mean sacrificing your children.

Posted by rdb5116, 16th April 2013

5 Comments

- - june11 said
  - 24 Jul 2016
    10:28 pm
You made the right decision for you and your family. A school age child should not go home to an empty house.
In some cases you are no better off placing your pre-school aged child/children in daycare. By the time you pay for childcare, extra transport costs etc. you may be no better off financially better off / or worse off if you are on a low wage. Depending which state you live in, even if you are on a very low income it can cost you a mininum of $45.00 per day, more if one person is working. I know a lady who had her 1 year old in daycare in Qld and it was $21.00 a day. In SA she is paying $45.00 day and is only a single Mum’s pension until she finds a job. Admittedly out of that fee in some daycare centres they get fresh cut up fruit for morning tea, a cooked lunch and fruit for afternoon tea. If your child is on ordinary milk they provide the milk. You have to supply a bottle with your child’s name on it which I think is fair enough as your child may be drinking a bottle when he/she is picked up and some Mums wouldn’t return bottles otherwise. The staff also have to be paid, by law there is a limit on the number of little ones in a group and it is surprising how much a child learns and advances in a group like that.
I talked to one Mum who went back to work to relieve the financial burden. By the time they paid all expenses she was earning a net figure of less than $3.00 an hour. One Mum would have had to put 2 children in daycare so it was cheaper not to work; certainly not worth missing out on so many “firsts”, the stress and routine imbalance

- - mom93821 said
  - 09 Jan 2016
    4:54 pm
Every family is different and every family situation is different too. There is no wrong or right, just people doing what is best for their families by providing shelter, food and the other costs of living. Stay at home parent/s or work parent/s, all need our support.

- - mom81879 said
  - 09 Nov 2015
    1:01 pm
Yes, the work, life, family balance seems almost impossible to achieve nowadays. I can’t think of too many people, except for those happy to live off Centrelink, who are lucky enough to be stay at home parents

- - shazzbot said
  - 06 Apr 2014
    1:45 pm
I am one of the lucky ones, I have been a stay at home mum for 20 years now and love it. Fortunately my husband has a very good wage because I would have hated to have had to go to work and miss out on looking after them, I always liked being at home waiting for them after school.
- mom57522 replied
  
  26 Dec 2014 , 8:21 pm
  Agreed. My favourite time of day is when the kids come home from school.