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Post by Jessie on Aug 26, 2007 6:04:11 GMT -5
Congratulations on taking that huge leap! I'm sure everything will work out fine and you will be so glad you did it.
Must say, I'm a tad envious, especially after reading MB's post . . . the museum, the libraray . . . what are those places??? LOL
Jessie
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Post by Chris too on Aug 26, 2007 15:06:48 GMT -5
I don't know how many children MB has, but I've not been able to do all that stuff since... hmmm... can't remember. It's all I can do to raise my munchkins up right. We do have lots of fun, and we are able to manage grocery shopping and an occational trip to the library, but 6 kids of various ages in a museum? Not without DH there & he's still tied to the 48 hours of work a week. So not so much. Plus with school and other activities (therapy, dance, choir, swimming), there's little time for visiting with Grandma or anyone else. Still I wouldn't trade it for all the castles or cadillacs in the world.
Now, Dolly has only Eric still home, I think. So she should be able to get in lots of fun and relaxation time as well as lots of one-on-one with Eric! Yea!!!
Chris too
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Post by momofrussell on Aug 27, 2007 8:41:28 GMT -5
Chris Too....it does take some time but Kevin too now pulls in what he and I were BOTH making combined when we lived in CA and I became a SAHM. Man...it was a CRUNCH!
But.. that is why they also have programs like WIC, ect. It was an August when I stopped working and by Jan the next year I was pregnant with Reece and money was TIGHT because his commission checks sucked sometimes... so we qualified for WIC and that helped us out for a few months!
A.
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Post by Jackie on Aug 29, 2007 15:00:35 GMT -5
Dolly...I am proud of you for making the decision!...but...as the wife of a physician who depends on a long time employed nurse...YIKES whatever...will they do without you?!? Enjoy...... Jackie
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Post by Chris on Aug 29, 2007 16:54:10 GMT -5
Dolly, This is my fourth year to teach half-time. I really wish I could stay home to take care of my family and quit but that just isn't possible for me right now. My older daughter starts college next year. Today I was talking with my principal about my schedule and all the scheduling conflicts and he said to me, "I can't imagine why you would just work half-time." In other words, he feels that I am lazy. It took all my self-control not to say anything. You know, even if Sarah didn't have Down syndrome, she still would benefit from having a mom more available. As a matter of fact, my 17 year old daughter needs me, too! My whole family is happier, including my husband, when I don't work. You made the right decision. Chris
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Post by Jodi on Aug 29, 2007 23:02:16 GMT -5
Hey Dolly - that is so wonderful! I know it is a tough financial decision - but man oh man, if you can do it... My husband has been a stay-at-home dad for about 4 years now and though there are times he wants to run screaming in the opposite direction of the kids - we BOTH know how amazing it is to have the opportunity to do that. Sometimes we get caught up in the thought that maybe he should work so we can plan better financially - but in our hearts it just doesn't feel like the right thing to do right now.
Wishing you much peace and joy in your next chapter...
Jodi
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Post by laurasnowbird on Aug 30, 2007 7:10:54 GMT -5
Good for you Dolly!!!!! It took courage to make that decision, and in doing so, you are following your heart!
I quit working after I had Victoria, who is now nine. It was a really rough transition for me, because I was very career focused. I think I was a candidate for meds for about six months! I didn't realize how much of my "social life" revolved around my work, the office chit-chat, the interaction with clients, etc. I would really recommend that if you don't have friends that stay home, that you look for some classes you can take with Eric or SOMETHING, to get you plugged in with other stay at home moms.
We joined MOPS (mothers of preschoolers, and of course Eric is a little old for that, LOL!) and some of my best friends came from that connection. When I had Ethan a few years later I was so grateful I had already settled in to the stay at home routine because his schedule was crazy!
It must be a relief to have taken that step when you've been feeling for so long that you should do it. ENJOY your time, you've earned it!
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Post by meghans_mom on Aug 30, 2007 17:16:41 GMT -5
Dolly
I know that had to be a tough decision, but I am sure it is a great one!!!! GOOD LUCK & ENJOY!!!!!
laurie
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Post by mollysmomma on Sept 1, 2007 10:09:59 GMT -5
oh i sooooooooooooooooooooo feel your pain!!
I took the last 6 weeks of summer off....and only came back under the LAW, that my hours would be cut wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back. I too, think that molly could be doing SO much better, if I was more involved in her life!
She fits into SOOOOOOOOO many different spectrums, and at LEAST until i KNOW she can communicate her needs to strangers, i can't just leave her at home with daddy! He's great...but she needs SO much more than ML Baseball...NFL football...NASCAR...and COPS! HA!
Good luck...i know that i put a BUNCH of weight on while i was off, and did NOT get HALF of what i wanted to do accomplished. Being a SAHM takes a lot of self-dicipline, and planning.
All our prayers,
e & molly kate
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Post by laurasmom on Sept 1, 2007 10:31:13 GMT -5
Congratulations on your decision Dolly!
When you take the time and sit down and look at the $$ issue, you will probably be surprised at the amount of money you have been spending on the "convenience" items, like take-out, etc.. I know when Mike and I did that, we were shocked. When I didn't work, we didn't eat out as much, but I enjoyed it more when we did ; . I didn't buy books to read, but I did use the library much more. And I had the time to really "manage our money", instead of letting the lack of time manage our whole life.
Only one suggestion from me, beware of the PTA, and I mean this nicely, not in any negative way. When they discover a mom that is a stay-at-home mom, the calls for volunteering will begin. I did run into this problem, and had trouble saying no. One day I looked at my calendar and realized how much time I was spending at the school on PTA stuff. Talked to my mom about it, and discovered what those red "x" marks on her calendar were. She always puts a red "x" on a certain number of days of the week on her calendar. And when she gets calls to volunteer, or something along those lines, if it is a day with an "x", she says "I am sorry, I already have something scheduled that day". It is usually laundry, house cleaning, errands for me, but it is all stuff that has to be done. And taking care of family and yourself is why you are doing this to begin with.
I work part time, however haven't worked since the end of June due to the needs of my in-laws during their illnesses, and the ultimate death of my mil. Now I need to either get back to work, or make the decision to stay home full time. I am not sure what I will do right now, I will talk to Mike about it this weekend. I am leaning toward staying home, but still not sure.
Best of luck on your new adventure!!!! I think you will love it!!
Sharon
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Post by MB on Sept 2, 2007 12:58:18 GMT -5
"Beware of the PTA stuff" Sharon writes. I wanted to comment.
I remember when a PTA officer called and in a very distressed tone asked if I would chair the school carnival. I declined. She then said that if someone didn't chair the carnival, it would have to be canceled.
I said that obviously the school community did not feel that the carnival was worth the effort. Go ahead and cancel it for that year. If it is truly missed, many people will come forward to put it on next year. If people do not come forward, know that it was an event that needed to be eliminated.
MB, who put on a convention rather than a school carnival! LOL!!
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