Is This the Right Time to Go Back to Work (Part Time)

I went back to work 2 mornings/week once my son turned a year old. I find it SO rewarding to be able to work in my field and interact with other adults and children a couple times per week.

I still consider myself to be a SAHM but I love wearing "real" clothes and make-up on those mornings and having adult conversation. I was really torn (at first) about taking the position but I definitely made the right choice. Plus it gives our moms a few hours alone every week with their grandson.

If you're totally content being a SAHM right now and you don't feel like you're missing that "adult" part of your life, then you should definitely stay home and enjoy this time with your babies. If you're feeling the need for more adult interaction and conversation during the day, then I would consider taking the position.

I'd say with any other job market or economy just hold out and not go back to work, but in my opinion you just don't know what might happen. It might be that your husband loses his job and then you have something to fall back on.

I work 4 evenings a week and start right when my husband gets home to watch our son. I also work 2 mornings a week (3-4 hours total) and have a babysitter during the time.

It's stressful to work and have children even part time, but to me it's worth it. I need something that's for me, I value the time I spend with my son more and it's nice to have extra money. I can put my son in a gymnastics class without having to worry about the expense or in other classes or activities.

Lisa I say go for it, at 20mths old you have spent some serious quality time with the youngest and it is time for the 20 month old to maybe be with other kids a couple days a week. I think it is a good thing for you and the kids to get away a couple days a week. I am a stay at home mom and I work PT at night just one-two days so I don't miss stuff during the day but about 6mths ago I put my daughter in PT daycare just to get her ready to be with other kids before preschool. It was the best thing for us both, she gets her time away and so do I. I think it sounds like a good opportunity especially for the kids, they need to be with other people/kids - they will love it especially since it is only 2 days a week. If it does not work then you can always leave but I bet you will love it!

If you say you don't need the money, then why not just go for it and if it doesn't work out, then it will be okay for you to leave. Maybe even tell your boss, that you will do it on a trial basis for 6 months or something. I work part-time and I think I have the best of both worlds. I think the kids get good balance from it too. If you liked what you were doing, then you are lucky and I think it is worth a shot to keep your foot in the door. Part-time is usually hard to come by. Good luck!