AIBU to decide to be a sahm

[NCFail]

Single parent with no support from exP or family.

Have a child with autism who has struggled in mainstream & now in a specialist unit. Still struggles with school.

Have decided to be a sahm... Have worked, part time for since child was born, now 9yr.

Lots of reasons like constant exhaustion, no respite ever, have made myself unwell in the past through constantly being on the go and have the transition to secondary to get through.

Financially I am very slightly worse off but have made changes to negate this.

I just feel terribly guilty and a little less of a person. I am planning to finish some studies / do some volunteer roles whilst off...

AIBU to be a sahm or should I just get a grip, man up and go back to work?

I haven't read all the thread. But I agree with posters saying being a carer is a job in itself. You do need to be well rested and healthy (physically and mentally) to look after yourself and others. So don't feel guilty about doing what feels right for you, because your ds will also benefit. All I'd say, make sure you're confident on your finance calculations to be able to get by. I'm about to do this - walk out of a well-paid profession and register as a carer for dd.

Isn't it sad Op thst you even had to ask the question...

I have a legal background- I should be earning 3 times what I do now. I constantly get asked when will I be getting a 'proper' job.

I found a playscheme for ds in the last holidays. Its £350 per week- 25 hours of care. 10-3. He doesn't get a personal budget for social care so I would have to fund the playscheme. How many people could afford to pay £14 per hour care for just one child? I have 3 dc& expecting another in January. The youngest dc is 5, he has no diagnosis but possibly has asd too.

Dp needs surgery in the next few months. Im nearly 6 month pregnant. I will take 2 weeks off when I have the baby. We quite simply will lose our home if I stop working.

So I work from home. I work all day & when they go to bed. I get so exhausted I feel sick. Dp works shifts. My mil died 3 weeks ago so now we've no one to help.

If I could get out of my situation I would. You do whst you need to do for you & your ds.

Take care.

Shelley

I wish you had a way out too Sounds horrific - so sorry for your loss.
Please take just 10 minutes out of every day to stop and relax... That might sound like nothing but I bet you are not getting it...

Please take care of yourself - I hope things ease a little soon xxx

Hi NCFail

I employ people for about an hour and a half a day, to walk other people's dogs. I appreciate this may not work for you, and quite clearly it's not commensurate with your original professional skill base, but it might be the sort of thing that keeps you sane and slightly more solvent?

I've already got something similar going with one of my own dsis's who has an adorable but difficult ASD son, whose issues are making her choices limited.

And Shelley mahoosive hugs xxx

NCFail- I'm really pleasedfor you. Maybe one day your son will appreciate what you are doing for him. Maybe he won't. Either way, you will know that you're doing exactly the right thing by him. The fact that you had a positive evening speaks volumes. Take care

Shelley- hope you can find yourself a similar solution some time in the future.

YAtotallyNBU my DS has ASD and i feel so lucky DH can earn enough that I can be there for DS (and DD of course). I work from home freelance but if i'm honest it is pocket money for extras not vital income and I dip in and out around what the DCs need. If I were a single parent I would make the same choice as you.