Returning to work... or not?

It's not that I can't find a childcare space - I can't afford one (and don't want one)

Being able to afford to return to work, to earn money, is a dilemma that many mums have to go through at some point during their maternity leave and before I had a child myself I thought it was simple - returning to work would mean more money for the family. How wrong I was.

[caption id="attachment_1013" align="aligncenter" width="640"]work coins I would be working for pennies if I went back to work[/caption]

I have been looking at the costs to send Molly to nursery to allow me to return to work and it is so expensive. I worked out I would be returning to work to earn about £1.20 an hour after childcare costs. By the time I bought juice and food as well as diesel to get to work I would hardly be taking anything home at all, so what is the point?

The Government is keen to get mum back into work but I fail to see what is so wrong with mums staying at home to do what a mum is there to do - to look after her children.

George Osborne wants to see nearly 500,000 more women in the workplace by the beginning of 2016 by increasing access to childcare across the UK which makes me feel that I am wrong to want to look after my child myself.

They plan to introduce tax-free childcare paying up to 20 per cent if childcare costs up to £2000 a child - great so that 2 months sorted but how do we afford the remaining 10 months?

They are funding more childcare spaces, which is great, but it isn't that I can't get a space it is because I can not AFFORD a space. I am also very happy to be a mum and to look after my child myself. I didn't choose to be a parent just so I could get someone else to look after it.

I know many woman do want to go back to work and I don't think they shouldn't. It is what they want and just because I don't want to doesn't mean it is wrong. I can see the benefits of going back, especially with career prospects, but it just isn't what I think is right for my little family.

Why don't the Government leave it up to the individual families to decide what is best for them rather than pressuring them to go back to work.

Do you enjoy being a SAHM or did you return to work?


Training Mummy



  1. This is a tricky dilemma - I think you are right in that it's whatever suits your own family, which may change over time. I've done it both ways and both have their plus sides and drawbacks. You're obviously enjoying being Molly's mum at the moment so that is the most important thing!

  2. There are defo positives and negatives to both sides. I do love being Molly's mum but feel the Government are trying to take away the joy of being a mum.

  3. I love being a stay at home mum. Had I returned to work, we would have comforably afforded the nursery fee and it would have been very worthwhile for me to go back to work.
    having worked in a Government policy dept before I really resent the drive to outsource childcare. I actually think it is massively damaging to society longer term. But, that's only my opinion.
    Do what works for you xx

  4. Even if I could afford to go back to work I don't know if I would consider returning until I have had all the children I am having and they are all at school. I just don't understand why the Government think that we should give our children to others to look after when we are capable and willing to do it ourselves.
    We will do what we want but like everything I worry about being labelled as lazy etc.