No more work!!!

[andrewsmom]

Well sort of ;D. I spoke to the owner of my co this morning. I will no longer be drudging around showing buyers home after home. I also will not have to go looking for any listings myself. I will only take a listing (or buyers) from friends and family, and whatever my boss refers to me with my approval. I guess you could say I'm a kind of behind-the-scenes Realtor now. I just have to finish up 2 deals I am working on now and my boss is going to do all the follow up for me. I don't know how I ended up with such an awesome boss, but she really is the best!

I really hope we can swing this. I'm really nervous, but I know this is what's best for me and my whole family...especially Andrew. It's just soo scary, kwim? I know I will have to cut down on my shopping habits, and going out to eat and such, but I'm ready for the challenge. It really doesn't seem fair that two parents have to work just to be able to provide for their family. Something is really wrong with our system.
Ohh guys please say a little prayer that we will be able to make this work. Like I said, I'm REALLY nervous. Thanks!
-Trisha

Ps...I may be typing a little slower than usual because I think I have chewed my nails down to the bone now...lol.

[ValerieC]

We've done the one income family thing for 10 years now. Yes, I won't lie to you, it can be difficult, but the rewards far outweigh the difficulties. There are always ways to cut back, just remember, when you think you can't trim anymore, you find a way to trim some more!

Enjoy being home with Andrew!

Valerie C

[sarahsma]

Trisha
I too am a stay at home mom and was just as nervous as you when we made the decision. My advice is first and foremost seperate your wants from your needs.You'll be surprised when you find that your needs are all met and there is still a little left for your wants.My full time job was working for our county MR/DD program. I learned so much about how to teach Sarah to be successful in the world. The problem was by the time I got home I had used most of my energy and all my emotions with not much left for Sarah.The people most precious to me (my family) got what was left over. The Lord seems to make a way, helping us to be the best parents we can. I will keep your family in my prayers. Enjoy your NEW rewarding and challenging work. Lisa

[MB]

Trisha,

I will keep you in my prayers. Would you allow me a stroll down memory lane to a time when my family had more time than money? I wanted to list my fondest memories.

Trips to the Library
Free museum entry days
Parks with great playgrounds
Picnics
Cooking breakfast with other families in the park after church
Making popsicles from koolaid and paper cups
Coffee in thermoses while kids played outside with other moms
Evenings at the neighborhood pool
Chef-boy-ardee pizza night
Watching movies outside on paint tarps powered by someone's power point set up
Free local concerts
Community drama group productions
Paper maiche
Play dough
Decorating cookies
Pot luck dinners
Reading chapter books out loud as a family
Board games
Pick up sticks
Scavenger hunts
Outside neighborhood night games
Fire pits with smores and scary stories
Christmas carolling
Visiting nursing homes
Homemade Christmas ornaments
Sleepovers

Anybody else?

mb

[momofrussell]

OH Trisha.. good luck! In my former life LMAO.. I did bookkeeping and accounting stuff.. did very well and made good money.. but when Regan was 6 1/2 and Russell was 1 1/2 we realized I wasn't at work enough to justify the $$ which daycare cancelled right back out for TWO kids! I cried.. my boss cried.. she was willing to adjust SO much so I could stay.. but it just was mute at that point. So.. I stayed home.. then we moved to the midwest which helped ALOT actually. We really did struggle a bit in CA.. but we were still renting and Kevin's checks some months were small.. so being pregnant with Reece.. I got WIC for about half a year which helped! We laugh at our last tax return for the year after I stopped working.. I don't know how we did it.. but you know what.. we lived JUST fine and DID DO IT!

I too was scared for the change.. I thought I would be bored.. been working full time at a job since 13. And I ALWAYS WANTED KIDS...but I didn't know what to expect.. but I LOVE IT!!! I am a bit lazy at times heehee... ask Kevin and the kids.. but I wouldn't have changed it for the world! I do now have a little p/t job again about 7-8 hours a week.. I just got 2 weeks ago. helping a friend's business doing payables.. but other then that.. I am a SAHM!

I have learned to shop at Super Walmart and I love it actually. I am a bargin shopper genetically anyway LMAO.. so it's fun to see how much I can get for X amount of money.. groceries included! heehee

You will adjust.. like what we do anyway in life.. and it will be JUST fine!

And after reading all of MB's former life "do's" and suggestions.. I realize I am a LAZY BORING mom!!!! When we move.. Kevin and I talk about not focusing on the house so much and focusing more on the kids!!! We have poured money and heart into redoing this house for 3 yrs that we do not do as much family stuff as we want to or should.. that is our goal when we move!!!!

OK.. sorry to ramble!!!!

Hugs!!!

A.

[Chris]

Congratulations and enjoy your family. I was able to take a three year leave of absence from my teaching position after Sarah was born. I had to return to work last year but I begged them to give me a half-time position. I work two full days and one half day. I get half pay and have to pay for half my insurance benefits ($6,000 a year!) but we are getting by just fine. When I returned to work last year, my husband quit his full-time teaching job at a Catholic high school and started teaching part-time at the local community colleges.

Fortunately, we have always been very conservative about our finances. Our house is paid for and we have zero debt. Sometimes I wish that I could buy my children a great wardrobe and give them what it seems all their friends have but I know spending time as a family is the most valuable gift of all. I wish I could quit my job today but I carry the insurance for the family plus I am only two years away from being vested in our retirement system. I would love to be a SAHM. I just pray that my school district will be able to keep me in a half-time position.

You did the right thing and you won't regret your decision.

Chris

[Valerie]

Congratulations! I really envy you! I would love to stay at home while Nicholas is little, but I just don't think we could swing it. The best I could come up with was working 3 days a week, 12 hr shifts.

Enjoy your time with your kids! ;D

[dannysmom]

I say a big congrats to you!!! You can do it. I stay at home....well kind of....I have a home day care that I opened when I got pregnant with my daughter. I had the corporate job...I was always attached to my cell phone and pager. I closed the door to my office....handed in my keys and cell phone and have NEVER looked back. I have much less material things now....but the time spent with my children is worth millions. Enjoy this time...for it will never be this way again!!! They grow up so fast!!

[ALLISA]

Trisha, congrats on staying home !!

sssiiighghhhhh I miss my Stay at home days....and even then I still worked a little, but being a single mom now, I realize what a luxury it is to stay home......

There are sooooooo many ways to trim and MB's list was great......some additions.....

Most local libraries have musuem/aquariam passes you can use for the day

Sledding

the Sprinkler !

"Breakfast" supper.....instead of eating out

Hiking thru woods

RIding bikes

Plan 4th of July so you can hit at least 3 different fireworks...most towns do on different night.....hit one on July3, then July 4, then July 5 .....

Any free "family" funciton offered by town.... town picninc, tour of historical houses, parades.....

And speaking of parades.....ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS Stock up at Walmart or Target for fun Cotton Candy and Light up Twirly Do-Dads that the kis will BEG you for....usually people wander over to our blanket to ask which vendor we bought ours from !!

Gimp. Sidewalk Chalk, and Chinese Jump Rope

Let the kids make Meatballs/Meatloaf with you !

I'm definitely not knocking working moms at all.....especially since I am one !! LOL BUT......the time you spend with your kids is so precious and like Lisa siad sometimes you have no energy after working all day.....

Plus I think you can save money by being home,,,,,now there is time to clip coupons, cook one or two dinners at a time ( and freeze one) ...thereby already cutting down on the eating out....make your own coffee !! I can't remember the last time I bought coffee in a styrofoam cup !!

I wish you the best !!
Allisa

[andrewsmom]

Thanks so much guys!! Your lists were all great!! I had fun just reading all the good things to do on them, I can't wait to start doing them!! We live in a very small town and they are always doing something. We haven't really gone to many events before because I am usually working on the weekends or in the evenings. Now there is no excuse!

I am still really nervous but you all have made me feel better knowing I am not alone. Thank you !!!
-Trisha

ohh yea...and I already am a very big fan of Walmart!! LOL!!

[marisa]

Trisha, congrats on your decision!! I am a SAHM and I love it!! We do have less material things then when I worked, but I really feel like I am the richest person I know because of the time I get to spend with my kids. I am sure you will find lots to add to lists already given. Personally I always keep brownie mix in the house. SAHMs gets stressed too and nothing brightens a day like having the kids help make brownies, licking the spoon and eating them warm right from the oven (and I am usually a very health conscience eater). Also, I find that we can still eat out on occasion, we just go out for breakfast. It is cheaper and you finish before the kids have a chance to act up ... LOL.

Marisa

[CC]

TRISHA, It will ALL work out fine Things always find a way of working out, they really do. I won't tell you not to be nervous bout the changes you have going on cause I have been there done that and I worried along the way no matter what anyone said.

When we first bought this house over 12 years ago I was working full time and my Mom was watching Chris. The deal Colin and I had was if my Mom could no longer watch Chris I would stay at home as he was unable to communicate well enough that I felt comfortable anybody watching him other then my Mom, KWIM. K, so we just sold our condo and purchased this house not knowing my Mom was not going to be able to continue to watch Chris everyday while I worked. So all of a sudden we have this much bigger mortgage and at the same time I had to leave my job and lose my income Honestly I was freaked a bit at the time it all took place, BUT it all worked out and was just fine.

Changes can be tuff, BELIEVE and ENJOY I wish I knew back when that it would have worked out so well could have worried less, KWIM

You got it some prayers going out from New Jersey that this ALL works for you guys

CC ~

[Mary_L.]

Good luck! I have been home since Patrick was born and at times it has been a struggle but I wouldn't trade these years for millions of dollars. You will make it work and you will love the time you get with your family.