I am considering going back to school and getting a degree in some sort of computer technology, and I was wondering what you did that pays so high. Thank you for answering.

I was a software developer. Why do you ask?

I love your comment about revisiting the decision and that what might work now may not work at some point in the future. My husband has talked about scaling back his hours at some point in the next five to eight years and I often wonder if I will return to work just as he is beginning to make his exit. Interesting that you and your husband have had similar conversations.

I also agree wholeheartedly that it working and staying home is not without its tradeoffs. You miss your child while you are at work, but you also crave the benefits like adult companionship that the workplace provides.

I feel unbelievably blessed to be able to stay home with my son. I know a lot of women do not have that option and it is a shame that there aren’t better solutions for families making less. I never thought that I would stay home, (despite the fact that my mom stayed home with me), but I am so thankful that we saved a butt load of money while I was working so that we could make that choice.

My husband and I revisit the decision a few times a year. While neither one of us has wavered on our original decision I do think it helps to talk about how grateful we are for each other and the role’s we have assumed.

We’re a stay at home family with one toddler. At this point daddy comes home and I feel bad that he had to go to work, but jealous that he got to spend time with adults and could decide to take a break whenever he wants. He comes home and feels bad that I had to put up with tantrums (and that second set of molars) and jealous that I didn’t have to commute and get to play with our daughter all day.

For now it definitely works for us. But it’s not a decision set in stone. I may or may not decide that I want to return to work before or after the little one is in school. He may decide to switch careers and we may need another income. He may decide that he no longer wants to work and we’d have to decide if I should work full time, or if we should both work part time.