Returning to work v working from home.

[ZuzuandZara]

Not sure I'm doing the right thing. Sorry this may be long!...

I've been in my career for 13 or so years, in a variety of roles, the most recent for 4 years. I trained hard for this position. I love my job in theory, but on a daily basis I moan about it an awful lot. My employers are pretty crap and I don't like them. I can't really go anywhere in my company, no where I'd like to go anyway! I work unsociable hours, and do lots of overtime in order to do a good job. I put everything in to my job and work my arse off.

I've been on maternity for 8 months with twins, following IVF. I'm 38. I adore being with my babies.

I could apply to go back to work part time. My mum would have the babies sometimes, and I would have to use a childminder/nursery sometimes.

I have decided to quit my job and start a business from home. I'm actually in the process of starting this already, although I haven't handed in my notice. I'm fairly sure I could make this business successful, my mum would look after the babies in my home part time while I worked. She is really happy to do this.

The business is in my line of work, but is very tame compared to what I do now which is a pretty full on job. I'm not sure I could do my current job as well as I have in the past, with the commitment of the babies at home.

It could be a new start for my family, potentially I could make more money, for far less hours. My current job isn't something I could go back to if I left.

For so many reasons it's the right thing to do, all my friends say go for it!

But I'm just struggling to give up my career. That's my problem. I'm making a sacrifice for my family, but I'm really not finding this decision easy.

Any opinions or anyone been in a similar situation?

Sorry so long.

Do you have a business plan with best and worst scenarios and cashflows? I guess the biggy is how does this affect family finances?

Thanks for quick reply!

Yes, we do have a business plan. This new business also involves moving house, things will be really tight, probably for a year at least.

It's not really the finance thing that's bothering me too much, it's the giving up career bit.

Without going into details it's hard to say; This is not Dragon's Den lol.

OK, in my life, my dh got offer of promotion that involved moving abroad. I gave up MY job, and sold MY house. He is doing really well and has been promoted again.

On the otherside, we are still renting and I hate my job. We are much better off in some ways but not in others. At the end of the day what do I say and what should anyone advise you? What suits you?

Fair point. It is my life and only I know should know what I want.

Are you glad you made the move in overall picture?

I'm self employed and work from home and am so much happier being my own boss and working the hours that suit me. But I could never work at home if my DD was also at home - I would always hear her and want to be with her. So she is looked after outside the home with a childminder. It means I can concentrate 100% on my work in peace and quiet (never underestimate how noisy toddlers can be!). Can your mother look after the DC in her own home?

Yes, mum could take girls to her own house or out for walk or whatever.
However, without going into too much detail I would be working outside in an outbuilding, pysical work, not trying to sit concentrating infront of a computer say.
Did you change career to work from home? And how old is your DD if you don't mind me asking?

I did this. I gave up a traditional career in HR to set up my own consultancy from home. It's something I started setting up long before I actually gave up 'proper' jobs because I knew once I had children I wouldn't want to be doing the whole commuting into London working thing, and would want to be flexible and work from home if possible.

I do have odd twinges of regret occasionally about things I'm missing out on. I work with small businesses which is great but obviously I don't get a chance to develop and implement wide-ranging HR strategies and all that. It's all about everyday advice, often at a high level and obviously a lot of the same issues and the buck stopping with me, plus responsibility for running a business, but there is no doubt that there are parts of HR I'd get to do in a senior HR role in a medium/large organisation that are just never going to apply to small businesses. I can't implement wide-ranging benefits schemes, conduct major consultation exercises or anything like that any more.

But I love what I do, I love being my own boss, I love the variety I get from working with lots of businesses with different people and issues rather than one business. I love the flexibility and working at home. So it was definitely the right decision for me.

Your situation sounds similar to mine flowery. Although I'm going from a kick arse job into a really, really gentle job, whereas yours still sounds pretty stimulating. Will have very little mental stimualation apart from the fact that I'll be running my own business and all that goes with that, rather than the actual work iyswim.

There is a big part of me that feels like I'll be happy to be a 'housewife' too. I would like to be able to get all chores, cooking etc done in the day (if I am able with twins causing chaos!) so when DH is home we can spend good family time together. My new job will be couple of hours every morning, hour or so early evening.

Thanks for input so far, it's so helpful to find out what others in similar situations think, keep 'em coming.....

Off out shortly, back this evening.

I did similar, dh and I both had very demanding jobs and while I went back 4 days per week with dd1, with dd2 I felt we were going to be a breaking point so I sacrificed my career for us to be a happier family.

I hadn't really thought I was sacrificing my career forever and totally underestimated how difficult it is for women who've had time at home to get a proper career going again on their terms.

But DH and I started a business two years ago which was mostly him to start with, but is growing enough for me to expand my role as it suits us. Best move we ever made in our case.

Still here...one baby still asleep!

Madrush - hurrah! Just what I wanted to hear

No-one has advised me not to do it. A couple of colleagues are worried I'll be bored but don't think they quite understand how much I want to be with my daughters.

So why am I finding the actual handing in of my notce so hard......

I gave up my job to work from home. TBH it was a no brainer - kept having to take time off when DD was sick, i then caught it and off sick again. Pre-school closed for 10 days cos of snow - found it very hard to hold down a job and maintain credibility. Having said that if your mum is nearby maybe you wouldn't have these problems. Working from home - agree impossible if DD is in the house. Can't make phone calls etc - she just interrupts. It's a little bit lonely. But it's great to be out of office politics and the constant stress. And you can say no to any work that you don't want to do!

i did it,
it worked brilliantly in every way except financially.
don't underestimate the cost of running your own business! Are you selling your house to enable you to do this? Is your business plan REALLY solid? Who has seen it?

My business did really well in terms of growth, turnover and gross profit but the fixed costs just racked up and up and up, whilst retail pricing came down if anything. It grew to a point where i had outgrown the original infrastructure, needed an assistant, new systems etc... i just couldn't make the additional investment required stack up.

bob2, thanks, lots of points I hadn't thought of, which strenghthen my case to leave. I have thought about the little bit lonely bit. Lots of my colleagues would pop in as they are driving about a lot, they pop in now for a cuppa if nearby. Got my mum and lots of friends so hope won't be too bad. I work on my own at the moment so I'm already a bit lonely!

Amidaiwish, you've scared me! We are selling our house, buying my folks house as it happens. DH wages enough to cover mortgage and bills, just. I think our business plan is solid! Have a business meeting with bank next week which will help. At the moment only DH and I have seen it, although have been talking to anyone who will listen! Have also talked to people in same line of work and it is a fairly solid way of making an income, as solid as anything is iykwim! What was the outcome for you?

Thanks for income everyone, given me lots to think about, but not scared me off doing it!

well i am currently winding down my business, voluntarily, it was still profitable. just not profitable enough for the effort required and risks involved.
plus as i said it grew to a point where expansion was required, so investment, and i couldn't make it stack up.
plus kids entering new phase (both will be ft school from Jan) so opportunity cost too as i'll be free to do other things.

if it is anything to do with retail/e-commerce then do CAT me and i will give you my 2p worth!

Amidaiwish, it's not but thanks very much for the offer. Good luck with your next phase!

Zuzu, my DD is 2.4years. She's been in fulltime chidlcare outside the home since she was 10 months. Yes, I gave up my office job to work from home for myself and don't ever want to go back :-)

One thing to consider - even if you work in an outbuilding, when better weather comes along won't your twins be playing outside and then you may get disturbed?

Thanks Orissiah, yes twins will probably be outside but it's just not the sort of business where it matters really. It would probably be so much easier if I just said what the business is, I don't know why I feel the need for secrecy! It's a cattery. So I'll be cleaning, feeding etc in morning while mum has girls, have the rest of the day to myself then feed and check early evening. All calls from public I can take if I am free, or they can go to an answerphone and I can call back at my convenience. Lots of enquiries will come via email, and hopefully one day they can book via website. Whadya think?

I've just read this out to DH, and he says 'it's not the end of a career, it's the start of a new career'. Just because the business you'll run involves animals rather than widgets, doesn't mean it isn't a career in business.

Thank you GrendelsMums DH! Lovely comment. I've always worked with animals, for the last 13 years anyway. This is just a new branch of an old career, but my first opportunity to run my own business. Exciting