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Transitioning Home

These articles from our publications offer personal accounts of the sometimes difficult transition from full-time employment to a focus on parenting. Excerpts are provided below, with links to the full articles. Some are reserved for Family Home Network Members only. For more information: Membership.

Transitions by Heidi Brennan

"Like many women expecting their first baby, I spent a lot of time making plans. I practiced with my husband for labor and delivery. I organized my baby's room and purchased clothing and supplies. I prepared for the loss of some of my employment income. I even planned to continue my career at home by leaving my job a few months before my due date in order to develop a possible home-based business. What I simply could not plan for was my emotions." Full Article

For Me? by Linda Elkan.

"The thought of being home full-time stirred up anxious feelings in me. I was worried about the money. Financial security was not something I’d had as a child. A career in law had at least given me the means to support myself. Could I give up my financial freedom and learn to depend on my husband? Could I gracefully accept his offer to be the sole breadwinner?" Full Article

Shhh... Don't Tell the IRS by Catherine Brehn

"Deciding to stay home was a gradual process for me. I was not a mom who felt my unborn child stir within me and knew that I had to quit my job. Nor did I gaze into my newborn's eyes and realize that I wanted to be with him every moment. I took pride in the fact that my income equaled my husband's. I enjoyed my job and defined much of myself through my work." Full Article

Erasable Me by Nancy Vazquez This article can only be accessed by Members.

"Some days I think motherhood has erased me. In two-and-a-half years of mothering my son, I've lost so much. My career, or at least my pretense of a career, disappeared first as I realized no one else could care for my son the way I could. As a result of my decision to stay home, my career wardrobe soon worked its way to the back of my closet. For a while I made an effort to wear something other than Jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes, but I learned better. The last time I put on my expensive suede flats, my son promptly threw up on them. I've also stopped trying to zip up my once-favorite skirt; I mourn the loss of my waistline. I gave up necklaces and dangling earrings when my son, Carlos, reached the grabbing stage, and I abandoned trying to watch adult TV when he discovered Sesame Street." Full Article

Problems & Solutions

These "Problems" and their solutions appeared in our award-winning journal Welcome Home (currently publication is suspended).

How to Respond to the Question, "...and what do you do, Mrs. _____?"

Husband is Not Supportive of Wife Staying at Home

Economic Survival: Getting By on Family Income of $21,000 or Less

The solutions to the following problems are only available to Members of Family and Home Network.

Coping With Pressures to Return to Work Outside the Home

"My children are all in school now and, although I know how important my continued presence at home is, and although I very much want to continue to stay at home, I'm feeling pressures, both internal and external, to go back to work. I'm tired of having my working friends ask politely what I do all day. What can I do?"

Preparing for a Cut in Income

"I am the mother of three children ages five, three, and seven months. I work full-time as a nurse at a hospital from seven p.m. to seven a.m. I am so tired! Having always worked outside the home we are accustomed to my income, but I want, and need, to focus on my most important job now -- mothering these three wonderful young ones of mine. My question to your readers is, "How did you prepare a few months in advance for a substantial change in income, and once you became an at-home mother, what budgeting and lifestyle changes made the most impact in terms of saving money?"

How to Stay Home when Your Husband Wants You to Return to Work

"How have other mothers continued to stay at home, even when their husbands would like them to return to work? My guilt is weighing heavy. I'm feeling like a burden to him, but I am not ready to leave my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter."

Finding Ways to Refresh Yourself

"I need a break! When I chose to become an at-home mom, I left a career I loved with no hesitation. My work was intense, stressful and required lots of energy, but when I needed a break I could leave my work “at work” and come home. Now that my work is my home, I am finding it very difficult to set aside a day of rest for me and my family. It seems impossible to take a break from the never-ending list of “urgent” needs such as cooking, laundry and baby care. I’m sure this will only get more complicated as our family grows! I’m not looking for ways to take a break by escaping (a Mom’s night/day/weekend out). While I agree that escaping for a bit is valuable, I want to learn ways to refresh myself and my family while I’m with them."

Books and "Best of" Collections Published by Family and Home Network

Discovering Motherhood

Essence of At-Home Mothering. Here find collections of articles (for purchase - as low as $2) addressing the challenges and rewards of choosing home.

See Books to Look For and Links to other web sites for additional resources for parents transitioning from full-time employment to full-time parenting.