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If You Could Afford Not To Work Would You? - Page 3

post #41 of 66
2/13/04 at 7:54pm
Yes I would. I enjoy being a working woman and I can afford not to work (which is why I started my own business which makes no money)
But I would not work far away or full time.

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post #42 of 66
2/15/04 at 4:37pm
I would definitely quit my job if we could afford for me not to work. . . Actually, after dc #2 is born I am going to be a SAHM again. My dh is a medical student, and will graduate and start to earn money this July. Therefore I am no longer the breadwinner!

I went back to work after ds turned 1 1/2 years old becuase we were just too strapped for cash, but I have been dreaming of quitting since the day I started. I too have an advanced degree in my field, but my work is nothing like the schooling that I recieved. Therefore I have never really enjoyed my job. Also, I always believed that I would take the time off to stay at home with my children, so going back to work when ds was so young has always bothered me. I am literally counting the days until I'm done.
post #43 of 66
2/16/04 at 7:42pm
Yes. I am a single mama however so it would probably be a lotto miricle:LOL
post #44 of 66
2/20/04 at 2:47pm
Even if I wasn't working for a paycheck, I would keep doing what I do.

Even on my "off" time, I do stuff related to my field. Or sort of mechanical, at least.

This weekend, if it doesn't rain, I'm going to be fixing (I hope) the heating system on my car.

This spring, we're installing a wind measuring system, just like at an airport, on some land we own on a ridgetop in Vermont. I plan on putting in a majorly huge wind turbine for generating power for the house we're going to build and want to "map the wind" for a year before doing it. This will be a 40 meter tall (about 130' tall) mast with three anoenometers and a data logger attached to the rock ledge by guy wires.

I'd like to get my PE (Professional Engineer) license and a little more expereince and then several million dollars backing and start my own wind power company.

But, I would still be working.

And, stupid addition perhaps, but whenever I hear a question like this, I feel a need to add: "EVERY MOTHER IS A WORKING MOTHER!!!!!"

(Just me being pedantic.)

post #45 of 66
2/27/04 at 2:20pm
I would DEFINITELY not be working! My job has always been just that to me....a job; something to pay the bills, and not a "career". If I was in a career, or doing something more exciting and close to my heart, I might think differently. As things are now, though, I'd love to not have to work, so I could stay home with my kiddies, help out with school functions, etc.
post #46 of 66
2/27/04 at 7:43pm
I would still work. The more realistic option we've talked about is dh staying home because I make more $. We probably could do that now, but we'd have to adjust our lifestyle more than we'd like to. Sure I'd like to work a few less hours, or work more from home, but I wouldn't make it as a sahm.
post #47 of 66
2/27/04 at 11:47pm
Hey ladies,

Is there some unspoken (or perhaps printed in black and white right in front of my face somewhere?) agreement or tradition on this forum about never revealing what you do for a living? I was so curious to read everyone's responses, but the most interesting detail of all--what all of you who like or dislike working actually *do* for a living--is missing from every single response! What's the deal? It would be so interesting to find out what jobs people enjoy and why!

So I'm going to try to start a new trend. I work as an Italian teacher at a big university, and though the job is "full time" with a full time salary, I teach only two hours a day, and run a meeting once every two weeks. So the job is very family friendly, what with the short hours and many vacations, and 4 1/2 month summers. The people are really nice, fun, interesting (not all, of course, but many) and I enjoy my interactions with the students, and I enjoy the pay, the only working 26 weeks a year, etc. But I'm no longer interested in the subject, and am dying to get another degree so that I can become the curator of a historical museum--my dream!

In short, I'd quit in two seconds if we could afford it and stay home with my little baby full time for now (at the moment my husband and I have staggered our teaching schedules and just trade off baby for car keys at noon every day); but for next year I'd put our son in our wonderful cooperative daycare from 9-3 and go back to school to work towards my new career goal!

As it is, I'm sad because this is only a dream now--we just can't afford it. So I've vowed to just enjoy my baby every afternoon, and by next year, volunteer now and then at the local historical society museum, to get some experience.

ke3
post #48 of 66
2/28/04 at 12:12am
I posted already with that I would love to quit my job if I could. As for what I am doing...I am a teachers aid at an elementary school.
post #49 of 66
2/28/04 at 12:19am
Quote:
Originally posted by kathleenE
Hey ladies,

Is there some unspoken (or perhaps printed in black and white right in front of my face somewhere?) agreement or tradition on this forum about never revealing what you do for a living? I was so curious to read everyone's responses, but the most interesting detail of all--what all of you who like or dislike working actually *do* for a living--is missing from every single response! What's the deal? It would be so interesting to find out what jobs people enjoy and why! .....
Welcome, kathleenE and I think a lot of us have our professions/livings in our profiles.

Mine is actually in my post above (sort of) in my "Location" and my reference to getting my P.E. License etc.

I think there is a Working Mother Roll Call thread on this part of the boards, too, somewhere.
post #50 of 66
3/10/04 at 12:32am
I would not work at the job I have now if I could afford not to. I'd take time off to spend more time with dd and being involved in her school. She'll graduate in two years then I'd GO TO SCHOOL, something I never did. And I dream of opening my own shop or becoming a yoga instructor.

Ahhhh, to dream........
post #51 of 66
3/13/04 at 11:10am
Actually, I'm trying to do both. My husband is adamant that our children will not go to the "baby kennel" every day so since he works full time, childcare is my responsibility. I still have to bring in some kind of income, and I am fortunate that my old job can be done exclusively at home (via the computer). It is a challenge to discipline myself to work every day. We live out in the country and my dh gets upset if I drive to town too much. But the isolation is really getting to me. I don't particularly like my job - I'd drop it in a minute, but I would need to have enough money to drive to town and see other people (aka have some kind of life). My salvation has been my involvement with a direct sales company. I've been a consultant and fooled around with it for eight years, but now I'm finally getting serious about it since my dh doesn't complain when I go to town if I can write off the mileage. DH can watch ds in the evening and weekends when I'm out selling, and that gives me a break and him an appreciation of what I do all day every day. I mean, it's nice that I can do my old job from home, but I would so quit it in a second if I possibly could. I'm hoping in another month my sales volume will be up where I can at least cut back with my job and not have to worry about making myself do it so much. So I understand both the SAHM and working mom's dilemmas.
post #52 of 66
3/13/04 at 3:17pm
Quote:
My husband is adamant that our children will not go to the "baby kennel" every day so since he works full time, childcare is my responsibility.


Wow. I am aghast on so many levels, I'm speechless.
post #53 of 66
3/13/04 at 3:35pm
Well, I think this question is really hard.

On the one hand, we can afford for me not to work. But that would mean most likely moving to a much less expensive area... not saving $$ aggressively for retirement... not having any savings or "fall back" money to speak of... not saving $$ at all for dd's and ds' education... not being able to afford top-notch health insurance and the superb health care it allows for... not being able to afford high quality education options (such as sending dd and ds to a private school)... possibly not being able to remain completely debt free... as well as a whole host of smaller things like not being able to do the sorts of home improvement or gardening projects we do... not being able to buy all of our food at Whole Foods and eat as healthfully as I might want us to, etc.

On the other hand, if we won the lottery and all of those things above were therefore paid for for the rest of our lives... then YES I would quit my job in a heartbeat.

Does this make sense?
post #54 of 66
3/14/04 at 1:16am
Yep, I know what you mean, and it makes me feel like a spoiled brat sometimes (only in these last few years; my dh and I both studied and lived on associated budgets until our early thirties).
I guess it just indicates that what one can 'afford to' varies from person to person and depend on what you feel is important and/or what you're used to etcetera.
post #55 of 66
3/15/04 at 4:50pm
Quote:
Actually, I'm trying to do both. My husband is adamant that our children will not go to the "baby kennel" every day so since he works full time, childcare is my responsibility.
EFmom, i too am speechless.

Baby Kennel? Good grief, and on a working mothers forum no less :
post #56 of 66
3/15/04 at 5:25pm
Sweetbaby 3 and EF Mom-

Thanks for saying something about that "baby kennel" remark. My first response was and "how insensitive" but then thought maybe I was over reacting so I kept my usually big-mouth shut.

Unfortunetly I have seen/heard that same kind of tone on other of the mothering boards, just not said so horribly...
post #57 of 66
3/15/04 at 5:33pm
HBM

I feel that when those remarks get thrown into a post, rarely is it accidental. It is insensitive. and rude. and quite inflammatory, especially on a forum specifically for working mothers, many of whom work outside the home, many of who use some sort of daycare, be it private, school like, coop, etc.
post #58 of 66
3/15/04 at 6:54pm
I sort of got the feeling from the post that "baby kennel" was her DH's term for it, not hers (since his attitude seemed to result in her "not having a life", etc I felt like she didn't share his attitude, kwim?). Perhaps if the member returns she might explain herself...
post #59 of 66
3/15/04 at 10:23pm

I think opinions are OK

I don't think it is flaming to share with us what a DH calls a "baby kennel". I really don't think that the poster wanted to offend, but rather share with us the feedback that she got.

Let's face it, not every day care situation would qualify as a baby kennel, but let's not pretend that some children don't have a really hard time adjusting. I have put my child in backup daycare, and would have done full-time daycare with no qualms, but that doesn't mean I think that there aren't less than ideal situations, out there.
post #60 of 66
3/15/04 at 10:34pm
ITA. I read it that her dh was being insensitive, not her. I felt really badly for her when I read it, not mad at her.
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