Going back to work - Dads perspectives sought...

[dh1]

hi all,
I'm a stay at home dad who's had a couple of years out combining being the main carer ("spending time with my family") with doing one or two other activities, including business consultancy, some study, helping friends and getting very actively involved in ds' school stuff - PTA, Board that sort of stuff.
It's been great and I'm really grateful for having had the opportunity and I'm sure me and my ds will reap the benefits in time, but I'm beginning to feel that it's time I got back into the big bad world of work and have started the chore of looking for a job - I really do want to get back out and start doing something and earning some money again, but I keep getting these little pangs of guilt. My DP is (currently) our breadwinner and works very hard, including the almost obligatory long hours. We've got one or two family situations ongoing(who hasn't) which together with her work tend to mean that she sees very little at all of our ds.
So such a move would be a very big change in our circumstances and would probably mean an awful lot of adjustment on everyone's part with, I fear, the biggest loser being our ds. Hence the guilt pangs I guess.
I'm sure lots of you have been there - any advice, thoughts, opinions, welcome.

[Homebird8]

Hi dh1,

Are you planning to return to your old career (whatever that is?) or would you consider another way to bring in an income but be your own boss and get to be flexible around the family?

I do just that, as my DH rarely sees our boys and would dearly love to. My goal by Christmas 2008 (18ish months) is to have a forecast for the following year (2009) that allows my DH to give up his job and take local contracts so that we can be a family again. I'm running my own business from home which means that I can stay at home, don't have to pay for child care, get to be with my boys, earn money and retain my sanity. Perhaps this could work for you. I'm looking to train up someone who wants it to work for them and the potential is limited only by what you're prepared to put in.

If you want to know more then feel free to e-mail me at drruthwilliams at netscape dot net