To want to be a SAHM

[frenchlavenderandlemon]

I know, not very feminist to admit to it but hear me out before you vote YABU (then by all means … )

DH has worked in his company for nearly twenty years, and he has a lot of benefits but it isn’t close by. The office is a good hour and a half away on a good run. Then he sometimes has to work away. This week he is in Northern Ireland (we’re in England.) Changing jobs isn’t simple or easy because he does have some flexibility which allows him to WFH two days a week when he’s not away and plus he isn’t trained for anything else and there’s absolutely no way he could get the equivalent salary elsewhere.

So as a result pretty much all the childcare and house stuff falls on me. I can’t honestly say I mind exactly but I find balancing it with my own work almost impossible. I’m a teacher and I work three days a week but I can feel all the other stuff I have to do on top of actually teaching piling up and it is so stressful.

I don’t think there’s an answer here as we do need my salary and I recognise the usual arguments re pensions and if DH left. It’s just so stressful at the moment and next year will only be worse in some ways!

I'm a primary teacher with three kids of my own - I work 2.5 days a week. Hubby earns about £1,600 per month so only slightly more than me. We get by (just!)
I can't even begin to imagine a household income of £95k!!

I was also a PT teacher working 2 days a week.

I now tutor primary aged children from home and my salary is the same.

Sorry, just realised your DCs are too young to be left to their own devices but maybe it's something to think about for the future.

Working, FT, PT, being a SAHM, WFH...being a Mum and the possible choices/dilemmas involved are complex and stressful.

I hope you find the contentment you're looking for.

I’d say go for it OP! I’m an ex-teacher, I loved the job pre-children, but I love being a SAHM even more! 😊 I found it a really natural transition having been a teacher, and I am really grateful I had that experience, as I have utilised a lot of the skills I learnt at work at home with my own children. I am pleased I still get to do lots of the creative, outdoor learning activities I used to enjoy at school 😊

However, if you really would still prefer to maintain your teaching, is there anything you could outsource to help you? Or anyone else who can help? Could you drop to 2 days? I have a friend who teaches 1 day even, it was really important to her to ‘keep her hand in’.

I wish you well whatever you decide 😊

Similar situation here OP. I work at a college but office based and I dropped down to 2 days and one of those is working from home with flexibility on the other day if needed. It works for us and my DH schedule is all over and he travels alot. Have you thought about doing supply and working around your availability from week to week?