I work as a respiratory therapist. Right now I work full time which consists of three days a week, 12 hour shifts. I also have a side job two days a week, working 12 hour shifts. My husband works full time as a computer programmer, M-F 9-5. I am working so much at the moment because there is money to be made in my field and I wanted to start a nice savings account before we become parents.
I actually like working in my field and don't want to quit my job. However, I know working as much as I do would be absolutely impossible once a child comes along. My husband and I have talked about me just working 2 nights a week...7pm to 7am. That way he would be home to take care of the baby and I could still stay in my field so that when the child was older, I wouldn't be out of practice and it would be easier for me to find work. (Medical field-type jobs require constant education, experience, etc as things change so rapidly).
My question is to all of you working mothers now... My mother says she thinks I would be too over-stressed to work 2 nights a week like that with a baby and that I have no idea how much work it is. I know I can't even imagine what it will be like, she is right on that but I still think this sounds feasible. She's not really discouraging me, she's just being a mom. :) Everytime I tell her my plans she just smiles and shakes her head and says wait until the baby gets here and then decide what to do. Maybe she's right?
What do you guys think? Some people seem to preach being a stay at home mom is the only way to be but I think you can have kids and a career. I know it won't be easy but...
If anyone has any advice to offer on how you make your schedule work around kids I would be happy to listen. My mom was a stay at home mom until I was 15 so I can't really get advice from her on that. ↓
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| Name: marija | Date: Oct 24th, 2006 3:51 PM |
hi
i have a friend that worked those hours she is a pyschiatric nurse and she found it quite easy. After her maternity leave she returned to work (3 months) she was lucky because when she returned her baby was sleeping through the night so hubby got a good nights sleep. She had childcare for 2 days a week, so she would come home after work and prepare breakfast and lunches for baby and husband, then she would drop baby off at day care, come home and do a bit of housework and be in bed by 8.30am-9.00am, have a nice sleep and get up about 3-4pm depending on whether she had shopping to do, start dinner and then pick baby up, or hubby would pick baby up on the way home. Yes some may think it is a long day in daycare, but as a small baby (when i was working i had 3 in daycare at young age) they adapt quickly and as they grow older they love it. Guilt need not be a factor as you are only working 2 nights
i wish you luck in your career. ↑ |
| Name: Lizzi | Date: Oct 24th, 2006 4:24 PM |
| I think you could manage working just 2 nights a week and I think it is a very good idea to remain active in your course of work for reasons you've stated yourself. Working just 2 nights a week will help you keep your foot in the door and you will still be bringing in some money which will help you feel better too. You can kind of get the best of both worlds! :) ↑ |
| Name: loakley80 | Date: Oct 24th, 2006 4:52 PM |
| Yeah, I think it can work... Plus, it will allow Daddy and baby to have some "bonding time"... hehe. ↑ |
| Name: angelmama | Date: Nov 18th, 2006 3:07 PM |
Times have changed since your mom was raising children.
Imagine having no husband and scrambling for options.
Working with kids can be done. Even alone. I am a classic example. Do I recommend it? No way! And, I deal with a medical type job as you described. You CAN have kids and a career if your life depends on it. There's no choice. If you can be flexible and have the best of both world's....go for it!
I was the office manager of a radio station when I went out on maternity leave with my first pregnancy. I will never again have a job I loved that much. But I knew that I could not work 10 or 11 hour days and then come home and spend hours on advertising proposals AND have any time for my new baby daughter. I will never regret my decision to stay home with her. It was fine for me at the time. Now, she's 20 - my son's 11, and I slave to keep up.
Ask the Human Resourses Dept. of your company how long you can take according to FMLA.
You will be fine!!! ↑ |
| Name: cath_edwards | Date: Nov 19th, 2006 1:18 PM |
| im on baby number 3 and have never been able to afford to stay at home. I envy those who can. My husband and I have always worked shifts around each other with my in-laws helping out sometimes. You'll be tired with a baby whether you stay at home or go out to work. ul know how much you can cope with,. ↑ |
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