With your children which did you do?

Contributor: unfulfilled unfulfilled
I know in this day and age it's not always practical to be a stay at home parent. So when you had your children what did you do with them when you with them? I've been fortunate that when I worked and my hubby was going to school our mothers helped watch our oldfes. When my youngest was born I was able to stay-at-home with him. If I didn't have that luxery, I don't know what I would have done.
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
Stay-at-home
P'Gell , padmeamidala , ToyTimeTim , Kitka , Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama , Girly Girl , domsub1993 , wetone123 , Beck , LM , AngelvMaynard , aimtoplease , oldhippy , Yoda , pinkcupcakes , Alan & Michele , Rossie , married with children , Bignuf , Hot'n'Bothered , AndromedaJane , allybee , Pink Jewel
23  (74%)
Had friends/relatives watch them
Princess Zelda
1  (3%)
Hired a babysitter to watch them
Paid for daycare services
karay123 , - Kira - , Sammi , dv8 , Kissaki
5  (16%)
Other
Ghost , Sweet-Justice
2  (6%)
Total votes: 31
Poll is closed
10/20/2011
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Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I don't have kids, but if I remember correctly I was staying home by myself in the afternoons by the time I was eight. Our neighbor usually came home an hour or so before my mom did so there was an adult nearby in the event something happened. By the age of fourteen my mom was going out of town for the weekend and leaving me by myself. I wasn't your average kid, though. I was pretty smart, had a ton of common sense, and had a lot of practical experience at home because we were a single parent family.
10/20/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
I've been home with a home business for most of my kids' childhoods. I've done some part time work, and for a short while did pay for child care or my husband was with them. At one point it was a disaster. The woman I thought I could trust turned out to be a lying Borderline psychotic. I figured, "This isn't doing my kids any good." I worked a few more months, with a friend I really trusted coming in from the City to watch them, part time. Then I have been home, with my kids and my home business, since my little one was born.

The economy destroyed my home business, I haven't made any more than a negligible profit in about 5 or 6 years.

I just got back into a part time job, now that my youngest will be 12. I'm back in my profession; it's going to exhaust me, but retail pays SHIT and it won't even make any profit for my working with retail pay, so it's back to nursing. I can mold my schedule around my youngest child's school hours, with a woman next door (who I know isn't Borderline) to keep an eye on her if need be.

The hours aren't regular, but they are flexible. It's the best I can do right now. (Waiting for that first paycheck to be mailed this week is very exciting!)
10/20/2011
Contributor: padmeamidala padmeamidala
Quote:
Originally posted by unfulfilled
I know in this day and age it's not always practical to be a stay at home parent. So when you had your children what did you do with them when you with them? I've been fortunate that when I worked and my hubby was going to school our ... more
I am a stay at home mom. My mom was until I was in my teen years. I like to be there for my kids and family. It's the best and most challenging job to be a parent and I've glad that I've been able to watch my kids grow up.
10/20/2011
Contributor: karay123 karay123
I work at home for a design agency but I realized quickly that I could not get my work done while watching my kids. I had a nanny for my daughter until she was 18 months. I was OVER how completely unreliable a single provider can be. Now both my kids go to daycare. Costs an arm and a leg but I love them!
10/20/2011
Contributor: Kitka Kitka
I've been staying at home with my little guy since he was born about 7 years ago. No idea what I would have done had I been working, but I'm so glad I have the chance to stay home with him.
10/20/2011
Contributor: Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama
We homeschooled our kids all 12 years and I was mostly a stay at home mom until they hit about 13 and then I worked part-time for a a year and then I moved into mystery shopping and merchandising so I could arrange my own schedule and accept the jobs I wanted.

Being a mom - and specifically a stay at home mom was one of the most rewarding things in my life and my kids and my husband and I are very close.
10/20/2011
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
My son started daycare at three months when my maternity leave ended. My husband and I make about the same income so if I left work we would have never been able to afford our expenses. I love my job and am very career oriented. I don't think I could cut it as a stay at home mom. I love my little man more than anything but 24 hours a day with no adult conversation? I'd lose my mind.

He went to a great daycare with a woman who loved all the children. I was very happy with it. When he grew out of daycare I put him in Montessori for a year and a half until they turned into a glorified daycare center. Now he's in private pre-pre school. He learns a lot and is very social. I don't think I would have been able to teach him as well as they do in school or make him as socially apt. He's happy and I'm happy. He loves his school and is excited to go everyday. Not seeing him all day makes me cherish the moments we have together even more.
10/20/2011
Contributor: domsub1993 domsub1993
I've been really blessed in that I've always been able to stay at home. Up until two years ago, I always worked from home for two different companies.
10/20/2011
Contributor: Beck Beck
I am staying home with my babies right now. I love it.
10/20/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
I don't have kids of my own, but my mother was home most of my childhood life, and let me say, I and my siblings were absolutely miserable. I think it would have been healthier for our whole family if she got a job and worked outside of the house. When she finally did get a job, a lot of the stress I had went away and I could say I was probably a little happier.
10/20/2011
Contributor: AngelvMaynard AngelvMaynard
I helped my husband run our consulting firm and then I started my production company. I've been fortunate that I've been able to be with my babies and work at the same time.
10/20/2011
Contributor: aimtoplease aimtoplease
Quote:
Originally posted by unfulfilled
I know in this day and age it's not always practical to be a stay at home parent. So when you had your children what did you do with them when you with them? I've been fortunate that when I worked and my hubby was going to school our ... more
we feel day care is very very exspenive and would use about 75% of one of ours check. Staying at home also ensures our children grow up the way we want
10/20/2011
Contributor: Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama Hot 'N Sexy TexasMama
Although I was pretty much the traditional "stay at home" mom during the early years, I want to state that I think it is great that our society has expanded its viewpoint to allow (and hopefully encourage) those moms who need to work for whatever reason -whether it is to get out of the house or to keep their career active or whatever.

I've also seen situations where dad was the stay-at-home parent and I think its great that couples can do what works best for them.

I do believe a child does best when it is in a loving and nurturing environment growing up, but I also believe that it is possible to provide that environment in other ways.
10/20/2011
Contributor: oldhippy oldhippy
I was lucky enough to have a job that paid the bills so my wife was able tostay at home the entire time that our children were growing up. She was even able to complete her college degree while our oldest was attending the same college.
10/20/2011
Contributor: Sweet-Justice Sweet-Justice
no kids. other.
10/20/2011
Contributor: Alan & Michele Alan & Michele
I was a stay-at-home mom, but I also worked from a home office.
10/21/2011
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
I used to work, but realized it's impractical to pay both tax and daycare, I've decided to be a stay-at-home mom.
10/21/2011
Contributor: married with children married with children
my wife works when I am home, she moves her schedule around mine. So we do not pay for babysitters. One of us is always watching them. If work ever picks back up, she will go back to being a full time stay at home mom.
10/22/2011
Contributor: Hot'n'Bothered Hot'n'Bothered
I stay home with them. Though it might be becoming less and less likely, so I'll have to find something that works around his schedule. Unless I can book more weddings soon. which would be the ideal solution.
10/22/2011
Contributor: AndromedaJane AndromedaJane
Quote:
Originally posted by unfulfilled
I know in this day and age it's not always practical to be a stay at home parent. So when you had your children what did you do with them when you with them? I've been fortunate that when I worked and my hubby was going to school our ... more
I am home for now, but when my kid starts school I will look for work.
10/22/2011
Contributor: Princess Zelda Princess Zelda
Normally when i go out I have my family or close friends watch my kid.
10/22/2011
Contributor: allybee allybee
cherish the time with them...
10/22/2011