[karen ann]

My short answer is because I have to (I'm a divorced mom. I am living with my parents trying to save enough to get a little place for me and DS. I pay about half my salary for health insurance for me and DS because my ex won't/can't get a job with benefits).

But having gone through my divorce, even if I do someday remarry and have the option to SAH, I don't think I will. The idea of not being able to provide for myself and DS (and any potential other DC) scares the crap out of me. I'm almost 34 years old and I'm living with my parents. I went almost 6 years living in the middle of suburbia (read: nothing in walking distance) without a car, bumming rides from my parents). I have a credit score in the 400s now (trying to rebuild). By SAH (and having an untrustworthy ex), I am in a really really sucky position that I *never* want to be in again.

 

[SharonAnne]

DH and I had grand plans for our lives together and our family. We'd always planned on opening our own contracting business, and running it from home, so I could be home with our kids and do the office work.

We were so naive

The first thing that squashed that was that I really suck at working from home. I'll have invoicing to do and then realize the washer's stopped, so I go to throw the stuff in the dryer, but first I have to take the previous load out of the dryer. Then I fold it, and bring it upstairs to put it away, and wow, look at that, it's lunchtime already. Let me see if I can catch the afternoon news.....

Next thing you know, it's 5pm.

I really really suck at working from home. This was before we had kids, too. So, we ended up getting some office space a few blocks away from our apartment. Worked out great, until the company started to grow and I HAD to be there full time. And we had a baby. And she didn't WANT to be there full time with me.

We moved the office back into our house and my mom came to help out during hte day and it was working okay, except that our company, now, is too big to be run out of my attic. So, we got more office space. My mom watches our daughter, and I work in the office full time.

It wasn't the original plan, but it's what we have to do for now. When we're a little bigger, we'll be able to hire some office help, and hopefully I won't have to work full time here anymore.

But, anyway, that's why I work.

 

[Ana_Isabel]

I work to pursue my life dream. I always wanted to be a scientist, and now I am. I got my Phd and assist. prof. position before I was married, so things just fell into place that way.

 

[abeliamama]

I work because our business supports the family. My DH does the financial end of the business from home. I was lucky enouh to be able to take my kids to work until they were around 18 mos., then Dad or Grandma watched them. Since fall they are both in school, I am working 30 hours a week. It has been hard but what we had to do...

 

[moderngal]

I don't have to work.
I work because I love my career and I love my job. I'm good at what I do and it brings me great joy. I'm not just a mother- I'm a wife and a woman and so much more. I think working lets me fulfill some of my life's other roles.

 

[rmendaann]

I work cause it takes TWO income's to pay bills. If we hadn't bought a bigger house and gotten a second vehicle I might of been able to stay home.

But we wanted a bigger house to have kids and more room for us. Needed 2 vehicles so we could BOTH work.

PLUS-I enjoy getting out of the house and I only work 8 minutes from home and work in my family's company.

 

[CityChic]

I work because I have to, but would still work (part- time) if I didn't.

DH is a student so he does not work (and really hasn't had to when it was just the two of us). Now that DS is about to arrive DH has arranged his schedule so he can be a SAHD and be a student at night. We are really blessed that he can do this.

Why would l keep working?

-I like working. It gives me an outlet for the education I received and puts me in an environments for adults.

-I think it keeps me in the swing of what it out there. News, technology, trends, etc. Not that these things are the only important things but it helps me know what is going on outside my home. I like knowing what the world around me is doing.

 

[BoysBoysBoys!]

I love what I do for a living and think I am a better mother if I'm not with the kids 24/7.

 

[IselaCB]

-Health Benefits!!!!
-Financially we need the two incomes
-I like my job, I'm a special ed teacher in an inner city school and I feel like what I do makes a difference for many kids who have very little...
but I'm only going back part-time and will continue to do so for as long as I can