i'm torn between taking care of my baby & going back to work

Hi gabyperalta, just because you are at home with your baby and not earning a "wage" does not mean you are not working hard. Bring up a child is a huge responsibilty and takes a lot of time and energy. If you are not ready to go back to work and can survive on your husbands income then follow your heart and stay at home with your baby. If you really need to go back to work for financial reasons than think of your son and remind yourself that you are doing it for him. Good luck to you and your family, I am sure you will make the right decision for you and your baby.

If you have to work, you have to work. But if you're able to make it on one income *and not pay a sitter!* I'd recommend it. Some people really need their adult time and it's best for them to work, even part time. I worked up until my sons's 1st birthday, when I was let go. It was really hard on me, but I think losing my job turned out to be great. I'm now trying to do what I can to make money at home and will probably end up doing daycare at home. I've gotten to spend so much time with DS and learn so much about him and teach him so much. I'd love to be able to afford to stay home all the time. Talk to your DH about how you're feeling and see if you guys can work something out. Remember, raising a child is a big responsibility, and just as important as earning money.

right now my hubby is out sleeping in a tent in 14 below winds and i feel like crap cuz here i am in a nice warm house with our 3 kids sitting on the computer don't seem far but we have looked in to it and if i went to work and had to put the kids in day care i would have about $30.00 left and we both decided it not worth it to have some one raise our kids for an extra $30 a week but we also have 3 kids to pay daycare for. my hubby don't want me to go out of the house to work till our kids r in school, he feels the same as me about leaving them with other people i won't my oldest son is 6 and a half and i have left him maybe 3 times with someone else and twice when he was very young not even a year and it was with my mom and then again last year with my aunt so i could do christmas shopping. so don't worry so much it will all work out you just have to work together.

My husband and I are also newlyweds (married only 5 months!) and first time parents to a 4 month old baby girl. As much as I would like to be able to stay at home with my daughter for the first few years, it's just not possible in our situation. We need the extra income too bad. Like you, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my baby girl with a stranger, so I'm going to work part-time and work opposite shifts from my husband. My mother is also going to help out by watching her a few hours a week and my mother-in-law might also pitch in a bit. As long as you and your husband are able to pay the bills and put food on the table on a single income, than I would continue to stay home with your son. It sounds like that's what you feel is best for your family. If you really want to help out financially, than maybe you could work just a few hours a week, one or two shifts, while your husband or a family member (anyone you trust) watches your son. Do you know anyone else who has a young child that you could trade childcare with (she watches your son one day per week and you watch her child one day per week)?