My mum was telling me that I should concentrate on being a full-time mom instead of working from home. She has seen how agitated and grouchy I get when work and my 3 kids get into me. She said I should spend some quality time with the kids until my youngest is at least 5 years old. Thereafter I can look around for some management jobs and return to the workforce full-time. But I don’t think I will be marketable by then. I would have been away from the workforce for 7 years. I don’t think any company would want to hire a woman in her early 40s who has lost touch with the corporate world for 7 years. I quite like what I am doing now. I have a business of my own, dealing in things that I am passionate about. I can’t wait for Baby to be 4 years old so that I can send her to pre-school. That’s when I can have some me time for at least 4 hours in the morning, all to myself.
I did the opposite…worked fulltime till the kids were 8 and 11, then took a year off and then went to part-time. I found it was better as I had time to get involved with school and after-school activities. They enjoyed having me in the school. Even after they got to high school, they did not want me to go back to full-time! Guess it works differently for everyone. Maybe try to work part-time just to keep your foot in the door as I know the corporate world can be fickle.
I can’t stop working now, I have mentioned in my blog that my PIL have retired and volunteered to help me in my child care. Some how I wish I can stop working in a few more years. Like Chris said, get in involve in their school activities. I just love that to happen.