[meowee]

Before becoming a SAHM, did you work for pay? If so, how many years of experience do you have?

 

[Eman'smom]

I was professionally employed with pay for 5 years, technically employeed for 6 (I took a year of leave after having ds). I also worked all the way through college to put myself through.

I voted 5 for the professional years.

 

[HelloKitty]

I worked at the same company for 16 years before becoming a full time SAHM. Prior to that I had a few other jobs.

 

[rainbowmoon]

I was a hairstylist for 10 years. When I had decided to SAH I had just become a massage therapist and shiatsu practitioner also and was working at becoming a doula..I must say it's been nice to take some time off for the last 2-3 years

 

[vegmom]

I have worked most of my life. But i worked for 2 years professionally prior to becoming a stay at home mom. I worked hard in college and had gone back to school after spending one year searching for work in my field. I had worked in temp agencies to make ends meet during this period. I was not going to let my hard work during my first years of college be in vain. I went back to school. After graduating i got a job that i thought would be a dream job. It turned out not to be so. And my studies that i loved so much did not give me the satisfying career that i thought i would have. So i decided to stay at home with my dc.

 

[Greaseball]

I've worked full-time since age 16, and had my first child at 22. But I didn't start to get "real jobs" until age 20. My last job was as a crisis worker in a mental hospital...loved it!

 

[broodymama]

5 years in my career field.

 

[velochic]

I worked for 11 years as a computer programmer/systems analyst before having dd 3 years ago. I tried to go back this spring, but neither of us liked being apart.

 

[RyvreWillow]

I worked for my dad for about a year *rolls eyes* detailing cars and boats before i had my son. Just a side note, not a job i recommend during pregnancy, even if you are 17 and in decent shape, lol. Well, not for my dad at least--he was a tough boss, haha.

I've also been volunteering (they paid me occasionally though) every week at church for over 6 years. I guess that's something else i could put on my resume at least, lol.

So...i voted for 1 year.

 

[Leatherette]

I worked from age 16 to 29 (waitress, cafeteria worker, retail, mail carrier, group home aide, then counselor). My career as a special education teacher was the last 6 of those years.

L.

Oh yeah, and I get paid to SAHM. Don't you?

 

[UnschoolnMa]

I voted one year of paid work before I came became a mom. I was only 15 when I had Ds, and I'd worked in child care/office work aide for roughly a year before he was born.

I did work after I had kids though, for a time.

 

[sweetfeet]

I voted 6 years. I worked from 16-21, had Sophie and worked part time for 4 months when she was really young.

 

[mamaroni]

I voted "over 10." I've worked since I was 14. Until I became a SAHM 4 years ago, the only time I didn't work was my first year of law school. I worked professionally for about 7 years. Prior to that I was mainly a waitress/bartender.

 

[MoMommy]

I worked various jobs from when I was 16 up until dd was born (I was 24 then). I found out I was pregnant the same week I graduated from college, so I never actually started a "career" though. I voted for 8 years.

 

[sleet76]

I voted 5 for the years I worked full-time after college. I worked off-and-on and every summer from 14-21 though. I guess that would put me at 15 years total.

 

[Aeriane]

Hi, I worked in reference/interlibrary loan at a couple of university libraries for 15 years before becoming a SAHM in 2000 at 37 yrs old. Better late than never!

Kitty

 

[velochic]

Wow, I was thinking of my years working in my professional field, which was 11 when I originally answered. If I totaled it all up, I was gainfully employed for almost 25 years before having dd. (Boy does that make me feel old!!) I come from corn country where kids are often hired summers to de-tassel corn. I did that for 3 years, then at 14 I got my first full-time summer/part-time during school job. I also put myself through college working full-time and somehow escaped with only about $10,000 in school loans. I remember thinking at about 23 years old that I'd already been working for over half my life and could use a break. Thank goodness for dh!!! :LOL Wish I'd met him 15 years ago rather than 7 years ago.

 

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

I worked part time from when I was 16 until I had ds1 at 24. I only worked for 2 yrs in my field after college though.

 

[BlueStateMama]

Not counting my jobs during HS and college (waitress and fitness instructor)?

Four years practicing law, three years in a national sales position for a commercial printing company....so seven total

 

[willowsmom]

I started working at 14...and stopped working when I was pregnant with Willow.
I consider myself and Jill-of-all-trades...master of none. My last job was Registered Massage Therapist...I'm retired now. Much to the dismay of my family.