A Personal Decision

The decision to either stay home or put your children in childcare and go to work after having a baby (or a few) is a personal decision a couple must decide on themselves.  But if you are struggling with this decision, let me help you out on the benefits and disadvantages or each decision.

Going to Work:

First of all, if you don't mind going to work, you have to do some calculations first.  Will the money you make be profitable to you after you deduct the cost of childcare? That is the #1 question to ask yourself before going to work.

In the case that going to work is profitable to you, there are some benefits.  Obviously, one of the benefits is having extra money of your own without having to constantly as your husband for some. The biggest benefit is the feeling of having your own life and accomplishments.  Stay at home moms can at times feel as though even though they are working very hard, they have no appreciation from others or personal accomplishments of their own.  Working can restore that feeling that you have your own life.  A huge disadvantage associated with working is that it can actually feel like you are living two full time lives, or that you are working two full time jobs instead of one.

Childcare can be very beneficial for children.  Children learn social skills very early and receive an education at this crucial time when their brains are developing most.  Children who wait to even go to preschool later (at age 3 or 4) or kindergarten have a much more difficult time in school.  As a former childcare worker, I can tell the children who are just beginning preschool and the ones that have been in it since a baby or toddler.  They end up doing very well in school.

Staying Home:

Staying at home has its advantages, where you simply choose to or realize working will not be profitable enough to make it worth it.  The biggest benefit with this is that you know that your children are in excellent care in your own arms and not in the arms of strangers you only sort of know.  You get to spend quality time with your children. You may not even worry about your child getting a good education, because you are their personal teacher and tutor.  Children of stay at home moms have the potential of doing excellent in school as long as the stay at home mom is educating them in the home.  Also, as a stay at home mom, you have more time to keep your home in order.  Working moms may have chaotic, messy homes, and if they don't, it is probably because they are sacrificing sleep to take care of it.

There are disadvantages such as having to rely on your husband's money and not your own.  As I mentioned earlier, some stay at home moms can feel like they don't have a life of their own. But truly, many stay at home moms feel lucky that they can be with their children when their children need them.
Please comment and let me know what decision you have made regarding this, and how your decision is important to you.  My mom was at times a stay at home mom and at times a working mom.  At times, she did both and worked from home.  I hope to stay at home, but also to work on the side whenever I become a mom. 

For my project of the day, I have made soap!  This soap is white glycerin based with red dye, and cinnamon scent.  Glycerin is very good for your skin, and the dyes I use are safe for the skin too. 

Here is my soap in the mold after melting it down and mixing in the ingredients.  It is hardening.

Here is my finished soap.  Smells awesome.