“Do I go back to work full-time or do I stay home with my kids?” This is a popular topic in my house these days. I have pretty much decided and I feel so thankful to have options and be able to make a choice. We have decided that for our family the best thing to do is for me to stay home until my girls are at school full-time. It will take a lot of sacrifices financially as we will have to live on a teacher’s salary, but with good money management and planning before hand I am sure we can do it. Not to say it will be easy but we feel it’s the best decision.
I feel guilty about leaving my job as my current employer has been so understanding and so supportive. But the pregnancy happened and I had no idea we would have twins. The reality in Toronto, Canada is that daycare for our two girls full-time will cost a whopping $24,000 a year. My salary after taxes is only $4,000 more. I would have to pay for transit $1,200/year, work clothes $700/year, lunches and the odd beverage. When you add it all up the decision becomes really easy to make. Also when the kids get sick, which they inevitably will, I will have to take time off and still pay for the day. Then during the summer while Sean is home and can be with them we still have to pay for the 2 months to ensure we have our spot for the following September.
You may be thinking, “why don’t you find a higher paying job?” The answer is very simple-because I really want to stay home and raise my girls. However, when they go to school full-time I plan on going back to work and starting my career at 35. I want to be a good role model for my girls and I think it’s important for them to see their mom go to work and really enjoy what she does on a daily basis. I’ve already found a job I really love – being a mom, but now I’ve got five years to figure out what it is I’ll love to do after the girls start school . My focus and goal for now, is to enjoy everyday that I have to spend with my girls.
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