One Family's Tug of War with Moms Working or Staying Home

About five years ago my wife and I decided to try and have a child. With this choice came tough decision that followed with the man one being if my wife should quit her job and stay home full time or continue to work. Woman have struggled significantly with making the choice of putting careers on hold to have children and care for them part-time or full-time. Each family has a unique situation and some struggle dearly with choosing which path to take. Other families may not have a choice depending on financial stability and other factors. What's important is that you follow your gut and do what's right for your own situation and family.

As a family we decided that my wife would continue to work part-time which for her is anywhere from 2-3 days a week. This would allow for our daughter at the time (we now have two girls) to be with her mom the majority of the time. This choice has worked for our situation but it hasn't been easy. It's hard to find part-time care because most daycare providers want to fill a full-time spot. Not to mention my wife and I have interviewed many providers and their care varies widely which has become the most frustrating part about the choice we made for her to work part-time. My wife has worked at the same company for over 9 years and did not want to lose that longevity with her employer who has been extremely flexible. In the end depending on your situation you will have to make the choice that fits your life style and you will have to make sacrifices but it's worth it to your children to be involved in their lives as much as possible. My wife works part-time for an outside employer but when she is home she is a full-time mom who takes great care of our two girls. I'm willing to sacrifice the material things that others may enjoy to know that my wife is making a big difference in how our daughter is raised. I also feel that it's very important for her to interact with other children which is what she is able to do when she is at daycare for a day and a half a week.

When it comes to your children you have to think differently about everything because what you do and the decisions you make don't just have short term effects they have long term consequences.