Quit my job to be a SAHM?

[AleenaM]

Quitting job for last year of preschool & to make a happier home 🏡 Looking for input & experience of doing the same.

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I have two children, one is going to school next summer and the other one after 2 years.

They're in nursery 4days a week and I work 5days over 4.5days. My husband is pretty much doing the same. We struggle to keep on top of the house, I never manage to work enough, and I feel like the kids don't like nursery and it's reflecting in their behaviour.

I'm in an average paid job with average satisfaction, and things got more unfriendly the past one year at work, which is also tipping me over in my decisions.

Looking to reduce my hours to 2.5days a week with children at nursery 2.5 or 3 days a week, this would leave me with the same income and presumably more time. I feel guilty already for not doing it earlier. My kids have been in nursery for the past 2 years, my job leaves me with 800pounds tops, no satisfaction and nearly no time for a happy family.

What I really want to do and don't have courage to, is quit altogether. I need opinions from anyone who's quit to spend more time with kids before school & to keep on top of the house better & better mental health. My husband also has a side husttle and in my mind if I take care of the home mostly myself, this might leave him more time to develop his side business more and make us a happier family. I have some savings so I am not scared financially to quit and I would hope that once I have a break I would get into a side hustle too. Both of us have family abroad so I would use the free year to also go and stay abroad with family(grandparents) for longer than I would on annual leave- say one month at a time.

The other option is to request a 1y career break, although my work don't offer this (no HR guidance on it). I work in a Local Gov Auth (non teaching)

If you've done this, how does it work? Do you regret it? I feel I woulf regret more if I don't and this time in my oldest s life passes. Any input welcome 🙏

We have done this. I didn't go back to work after dc3, and won't until in full time school. I have 2 primary age children and 1 2 year old.
My husband earns more than enough to support us and my job at the moment is here at home.

I would say go for it, without hesitation. Lots will tell you not to but they secretly wish they could. Do it OP.

I stayed at home with my daughter until she was 8 and I've got no regrets at all. Financially, it was a real struggle, and we only had a couple of holidays during that time, very little money to go out, and no money to buy anything. But it was really worth it. I was able to spend all my time with my daughter, and I think having the early years together gave her such a good start in life and I was able to teach her so much more and help with her development than any nursery or childminder could have done. Being at home meant that we could spend hours playing every day, going to the park etc. when she was four, I sent her to nursery for just two afternoons a week for two terms to get her used to being in a formal school setting, and she was a very happy, well rounded and sociable child when she started school. She was reading fluently when she started, knew her 2 and 5 x tables, and could write basic sentences and had developed a love of learning which she still has now in her early 30s.

I was a local government officer, and I went back to work part time when she was settled in junior school. I was able to find term time only work, with regular evening meetings, when my husband was there to look after her, and it wasn't very long before I was back to a similar level to before I left work. Staying at home was the best thing I could have done for my daughter and for me.

I gave up my full time job for 7 years, to get both kids to 5 and 7. Then I worked part time 2 days a week term time. Not once regretted it. If you and your dh want it and are happy, don’t hesitate.

I understand the pension implications mentioned here. My decision was solely based on wanting to be at home with the children, so the pension implications didn’t come into it. I don’t think you should think ‘I really want and need to be home for my kids and myself, but hang on best not do what we all need and want right now as I’ll have less pension when I’m 65’ that doesn’t make sense to me.

If you feel forced into giving up work, you really love and are fulfilled by your work, or your dh is not supportive financially then of course the decision would be different. But you sound like you really want to do it, so I would.