As you know, having a child is a life-changing moment and decision. You went from being responsible for yourself to being responsible for a whole other human being! Being a parent brings about so many changes to your daily life too. When you were used to getting eight hours of sleep, it might be reduced down to five or six hours of sleep. When you were used to regularly working out, you might be too tired to do so now. And one of the biggest changes is that you’re used to living in a two-income household, but it’s currently reduced down to one while you’re on maternity leave. You know you need a second income but you don’t want to leave your little one. Here are some considerations to think about before becoming a working stay at home mom.
While you’re on maternity leave taking care of your new little one, you’re having all kinds of thoughts in your head like what kind of mother will you be? How do you know if you’re doing motherhood, right? But the elephant in the room that you’ve been doing your best to avoid is, are you going back to work? Well, you could go back to work, but then you’re facing the issue of leaving your child with someone else and if your family can even afford childcare… the thought is just exhausting, but as your return to work date is quickly approaching, you’re going to have to make a decision one way or another.
This is a serious decision you have to make, and you definitely don’t want to feel rushed into making your decision. That’s why it’s important to sit down and talk about it with your spouse or significant other… You want to talk with them about it too because your decision not only impacts you but it impacts them and the entire family as a whole.
Whether you’re a new mom or a seasoned mom, just know that you don’t have to give up on your dreams of working. You can be a working stay at home mom and still be a loving mother too but before you decide to be a stay at home working mom, take a look at these considerations first.
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Can Your Budget Handle the Dip in Income?
It’s important to know that when you decide to leave your full-time job and start working from home, you’re letting go of a steady paycheck and that you’re not immediately going to start making money with your home-based business… Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your business.
Knowing that it’s important for both you and your spouse to look at your budget and see if it can handle a temporary pause in cashflow. That might mean getting rid of cable or cutting back on eating out… having to adjust lifestyle changes like that are serious conversations to have.
Will You Be Okay With Being By Yourself During the Day?
A lot of times, when moms decide to work from home, they forget about all the time they’re going to be spending at home. Sure, you’re going to be running errands and arranging playdates from time to time, but outside of that, you’re going to be at home the majority of the day, all while conducting business and taking care of your baby. So it’s important to keep that in mind… you might get a little stir crazy from time to time.
What Will It Cost For You To Run Your Business From Home?
The answer to this question is all dependent on the type of business you’re running and the equipment you have, as well as other considerations too. To get a good idea of what it’ll cost you, try jotting down everything you need for your business and then start calling around and price checking.
If you don’t have the internet, you’ll need to shop around for deals on that, you’ll need to find the best quote for business insurance, and you need to buy all the equipment you need. Those are just a few upfront costs that you’ll need to get started.
Do You Plan on Working From Home Long-Term or Short-Term?
This is also a consideration to think about, as well. Some moms only want to work from home until their children hit grade school age. Once they get to the age of preschool, they want to go back to the office. This is perfectly fine, but if you’re running a home-based business, you’re going to have to look at letting go of customers, selling your business, etc.
According to digitalexits.com, to sell your business, you’re going to need to know what your business is worth, find a broker, get your business on the market, and take other important actions… it’s no easy walk in the park. So, knowing your business timeframe is also an important consideration to think about.
Take a Moment to Think
These are just a few considerations to think about when thinking about leaving your full-time job after having a baby and becoming a working stay at home mom. Emotionally, all you want to do is snuggle up with your little one and be there for every moment. Still, you also have to be realistic and look at the overall dynamics of your family and be honest with yourself on whether or not your family can handle such a change in finances and if you are ready for such a different lifestyle change. So, don’t make any jump decisions… just take a moment to think about your options.
Featured Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash
