Transitioning from sah back to career?

[texmati]

Well... after years of waffling, I've decided to quit my job for a few years. Ideally I'd like to go back somwhere in 2014/15. I cannot do two more baby years and work; emotionally, physically, dh and I were literally at the breaking point. (and that was with one kid). However, I cannot, currently envision myself as a SAH forever. I don't like the financial hit, and to be honest, I'm not great shakes at SAH. Plus, prekids, I used to like my work.

Does anyone have any tips or even BTDT experience with how to transition yourself back to work after a few years off? How do I explain the time off? Do I need to look for part time work? Should I see if I can work somewhere for free?

[*MamaJen*]

Are you planning to go back into the same field that you're currently in? My advice would be to invest a little bit of time into keeping your skills current and maintaining your contacts. Skills and contacts can atrophy really quickly. Depending on the field, that might mean little things like setting up google news feeds, staying subscribed to professional literature, taking refresher computer or professional development courses, what have you.

Do you have many professional contacts? Stay in touch with them through email, LinkedIn, Facebook, and maybe face-to-face lunches as such every now and then. As your baby gets older, you could even make yourself available for a little bit of contract or consulting work, if it's applicable to your field. Or offer to serve on a relevant board. I know a lot of stay at home moms who find themselves craving the stimulation that work used to offer them, and wind up setting up really positive situations with part-time on contract work. 

All of this doesn't have to take a huge amount of time, and it definitely shouldn't be your priority in the first few months with a newborn. Enjoy that baby and enjoy being a stay at home mom. But after three months or six months or something, maybe you could schedule in ten hours a month for professional maintenance.

As you ease back into work in a few years, it would be nice if your resume could reflect some of those efforts. I don't think it's professional to put cutesy things like "domestic engineer" on a resume, but it's perfectly appropriate to write something like "family caregiver." People will know what you mean. It would also look good if you could put a list of professional development classes, or even a line like, "stayed abreast of industry topics by x, y and z methods."

Also, I think we as women have a really bad habit of undervaluing ourselves. Working for free can, IMO, make it look like you have nothing of value to offer (unless it's in a volunteer situation where everyone is working for free.)

[Peony]

I was a SAHM for almost 7 years before going back to work part time. I never needed to explain the time off, I had 3 children, it was obvious why! For me, I kept up to date as much as I could (I'm in the medical profession), I read journals, did continuing education, got more certifications and slowly worked towards others. I did do volunteer work in my speciality for all that duration but that was more because I loved the work then just to keep a foot in the door. I didn't set out to network professionally, everyone I used to work with moved on, but I ended up creating new contacts mostly through my volunteer work and some because all my children turned out to have some SNs so I met many a medical professional dealing with them. 

In late 2009 a job offer literally fell into my lap through my volunteer work and I jumped on it. I actually have a much better job now then prior to being a SAHM, I make slightly more, and am in a supervisor position with a lot of flexibility to arrange my work around my children. My youngest isn't quite two and I'm pg again so this job has been wonderful.

It certainly possible to SAHM for a few years and then re-enter the work force successfully.