By Lindsey Meier
For some women, the decision to stay at home with their children comes naturally. The answer is either of course she will stay, or of course it is not an option. But when there is no simple deciding factor, most expectant moms need more than nine months to weigh the options.
Staying and Paying
The financial implications of staying at home can seem devastating at first, especially if it means sacrificing a substantial income. However, the costs of going back to work should also be taken into account.
So what are the costs of doing business? Here's a possibility:
- Traditional Childcare: $350-500 per child monthly
- Mom's Postpartum Career Wardrobe (your old clothes won't fit): $400 annually
- Gas for 40 miles a day for 20 days at 22mpg at a price of $2.80 per gallon: $102 monthly
- Wear on your car at $.31 per mile for 40 miles: $248 monthly
- Lunches for both parents (since you won't have time to make them): $300 monthly
- Formula if you aren't pumping milk: $150, or Breast pump rental: $60 monthly
- Dinner for workdays so you can have a little break: $400 monthly
For a family with a preschooler and an infant the costs could be well over $25,000 a year. And that's with conservative miserly estimates that don't include getting your hair and nails up to professional par. Doctor visits and time off work due to the little people catching colds at daycare can also add up. When life gets tough, some of us may need to tack on the counseling fees and time off work necessary for seeing a psychiatrist for postpartum psychosis when you feel overworked, underpaid, over taxed, never see your hubby, and wake up every 3 hours to feed the baby. So when the question of returning to the workplace arises, do some math first, and take a realistic look of what sacrifices could be made to keep mom home a little longer.
The cost of staying home is not cheap either. Parents who choose to keep mom or dad at home have to do without the conveniences another paycheck could provide. Benefits such as health insurance and retirement investments may be lost when staying home. The mental and emotional cost of staying home can be considerable, too, especially if keeping contact with the outside world is not prioritized. Even if you never had one, you may find yourself missing your office.
Priceless Things Count, Too
When a family can find a way to get by without mom's paycheck, they experience treasures far above any pecuniary value. A happy and healthy baby is worth thousands of emotional “dollars” every month, and home cooked meals increase a husband's morale and stamina by hundreds. Hearing baby's first words is worth millions, and there is nothing like an afternoon nap with your baby while nursing.
Doing Whatever It Takes
Many creative moms have found ways to produce an income while staying home, and sometimes employers can allow for telecommuting. So even if you have no choice but to head to work for now, take some time to evaluate and consider the changes that could lead to bringing you home in the future.
If staying home with the babies of your dreams seems like only a remote possibility, seriously take a look at what could be done to make it a reality. You will find that sacrifices such as ditching the cell-phone, cable TV, and high-speed Internet, sharing one car, always eating at home, and even moving to a less expensive home can save you hundreds and are all worth it. Just ask any mom who has done it before.
Lindsey Meier lives in Texas with the love of her life and their two children. Between diaper changing and dish-washing she enjoys writing, reading and art. Lindsey and her husband aim to live productively and purposefully but don't mind having a little fun along the way.
