stay-at-home vs. working mom

I am a stay at home mother of an 18 month old boy. My husband and I have been together 8 years and I have always worked up until the 8th month of my pregnancy. However, we opted to start a family and planned for me to stay home because of our views on raising children. I think that it is terrible when you work because you have to and because you want to. My parents divorced when I was 10 years and my mother finished raising four children by herself. The oldest 15 and the youngest 18 months. My mother was never home. Either at school or work. It was incredibly difficult growing up in that situation and it devistated our family. Though most of us managed to become productive adults our childhood was frought with emotional challenges which manifested itself differently for each child (my oldest sister pregnant at 17, my brother and I were JD's and completely out of control). Despite my mothers sucess in becoming an x-ray tech and being able to provide a more stable environment for my youngest sister in her teenage years my mother still harbors a tremendous amount of guilt for having not been able to have been there for us more emotionally or physically.

im a working mom. i did try to look into the possibility of being a SAHM but with the current economic situation that we have, it would be difficult for a family's budget if only one person puts in income. i guess i would feel more guilty if i'm staying at home but not seeing the amount of money that i want to spend for the family but at the same time knowing that i can add my share if i work even for just a couple of hours.

I used to work in a hospital when I had my first child.I decided to stop working because I am afraid to leave my baby to someone else.I feel guilty whenever I leave her.Until my second and third child came permanent stay at home mom i am indeed.I was afraid they might get hurt or the nanny is hurting them when I'm away.When they grew up and need to help my husband earn for their education that was when I started to work again.

I worked before I had children and when my oldest son was born my husband and I decided that I should stay home with him and when the second child came along I continued to stay home. I went back to work when my youngest son started school and yes there are days when I wish I were still home with them and then there are days when I know my income makes a difference and that does help. Would I stay home if I could choose to- yeah probably but our lifestyle is much bigger than one income and we are okay with that. They always have a least one parent at every event and are loved more than any other two little boys you would ever meet. No I don't feel guilty about working but there are times when I feel guilty if I miss an event. All in all I think we have a very balanced family and I am proud of that.

Hi, I'm a single mum and I have done both stayed at home until they were at schooling age and then gone to work and whatever a mum decides to do we are always worrying about if we are doing the right thing for our kids, it's part and parcel of been a parent. At the end of the day it has to be an individual decision on what suits you and your child/ren best and either way is not right or wrong, it's tough to be a parent and we are not perfect at it none of us. Now I stay at home and work from home which is ideal for myself and my kids st the moment.

I am a stay at home mum although I have always worked part time to help my husband out, but I was very lucky there was always field work. or private cleaning where the kids could come with me, I have never left mine with a minder. I think I have been very lucky but if you need to work or a single parent you go for it and good luck to you , that must be so hard to have all that reeponsibility on your own,even if you don't mind doing it, I do realise some mums need to work to keep their brain going,the fact is you have to do what suits your family and what ever works for you.xx

I am a stay-at-home mom and I know I am blessed to be one. I thank God everyday for the ability to be home with my child. I know that many woman would like to be able to stay home with their children and circumstances don't allow it. I admire women that find in within themselves to be able to do both, but I don't believe I would be any good at a job and being unhappy with my job performance would probably cause my parenting to suffer as well. I am blessed and extremely thankful to be a stay-at-home mom.

I'm a stay at home mommy now. But then when I used to work I feel bad coz I can't take care of my daughter personally. And when I get home, I'm so tired I can't even play with my kid and I feel bad.

I was a part time waitress before I got pregnant. When I got married, I moved to New Jersey and got pregnant a month later. I didn't work then because most employers won't hire you knowing you are already pregnant. I am a stay at home mom and I go to school online. I also try free lance work but that has not been very lucrative for me. My mom was a working mom and she went to college at nights so we were in daycare.