Moms: How long did you stay home with your baby/babies?

Question

I am a junior in college and had a baby in May, who I have been staying home with while my spouse works. I took the summer off and am enrolled in 2 courses this semester. I am having a hard time getting into the courses and feel like I don't belong there. I sometimes wonder if I should stay home with our baby for another semester.

How long did you stay home with your baby/babies and were you satisfied with your decision?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

had my first baby 8 yrs ago had my 3rd 1 yr ago been at home 8 yrs i want to bring my kids up myself i know its old fasioned but its what i belive in!!! Will go to work when youngest starts school.

I love my decision i have seen everything my kids have done for the first time and i have loved spending time with them!!!

Answer 2

guys dont have babys

Answer 3

I can understand you want to be near your baby but don't drop out education is important. I stayed home for 6 months after my daughter was born because she is adopted and I really wanted to bond with her.

Answer 4

2.5 years later and I am still home.

Frankly my college degree isn't doing me much good.  If you plan to stay home for a few years finish your education when you plan to go back so it will be "up to date"

Answer 5

you really should keep going to class... it'll be more difficult later as the baby is growing since it will take up all yor energy... and you will regret not going back in the future...  

Answer 6

I got preggers in college, dropped out, had baby, got married and had another baby!  I've been home since the day my first was born and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  If YOU feel like you should stay home then by all means do it if you can.  Do try to get into a play group/moms group if you can so you have touch with other big people!!

This spring I'll be taking online classes to work towards my degree and I plan on finishing up around the time the kids start school so I can start looking for a part time job.

You also said its two courses?  How much time is that away from your babe?  Maybe you could do just one course so its only 3/4hours a week?  It wouldn't be bad to have a little bit of time from the babe, even if its school.

Answer 7

I have three children:  My oldest who is 10yrs stayed home with her dad until she was 1yr.  My second who is 8yrs went to daycare when he was 6 wks old. Finally my youngest who is almost 4 months went to daycare at 3 months.

All of them have turned out great and nothing is emotionally or mentally wrong with them.

You should stay home as long as possible but like in my case I had to go back to work.

Answer 8

With my first, I was able to stay home for 5 months (thank you tax return).  With my second, I'm only able to stay home for 6 weeks.  I'm going to have a hard time going back to work!!

Answer 9

no, dont drop out even for a semester, your in there and you are doing the work, its harder to do the school work with a older baby in tote, and if you do drop out you might make the mistake of never returning. Just do whats best for yourself and get an education regardless of if you fit in or not.

Answer 10

personally, i would do my best to get through school; you will be more marketable if you ever have to go to work, or work to support your daughter if the worst  happens , and you would be setting a great exampl for her....see if mommy can do it with a young baby, you can def do it right out of high school....that sort of thing; plus, i just think it makes you a more rounded person, guess it is that whole expanding brain thing, LOL...gl--and i do think it would be easier now than when she gets old enough to DEMAND ur time..:)

Answer 11

Hun thats ur decision. If your not comfortable staying away from your son then go home to your baby. If your financially able to.. I went back to work when my son was 6 weeks..just bc i am a single mother so i had to. I did a DETAILED search for a sitter..and was very satisfied with her..i still am:) 18 months later. I currently go to school full time and work full tijme..so you can do it:) how about online courses? im taking 4 online..so i can spend more time with my son..if thats an option for you then go for it:)

Answer 12

see both equally your need now depend on your convinces how you can manage, in this time you  must have to live in home with your baby  but if you are financially power full so give your time to your bebe if not than better to manage...or ask help to some one like your mom or any other relative.

Answer 13

Unfortionally I could only stay home for 6 weeks before I had to go back to work.  I wanted to stay home longer but could not afford to. If you can stay home longer then I would do it, it is so rewarding.

Answer 14

I quit college when I got married and pregnant. I wish I had finished. Stick with it if you can.

Answer 15

I stayed home with my daughter for 8 weeks (thanks to my awesome employer's maternity leave) and then I began to take her to work with me for a half a day (thanks again to my awesome employer)

I wish I could have had more time at home, who doesn't but I also feel it was more than most get, and because I can take her to work with me I don't regret a thing

Answer 16

My son (first born) was 5 months old when I started college and at first it was rough leaving him at daycare. I felt I couldn't concentrate on my school work bc all I could think about was him. I finished 2 whole years and then my husband, son and I moved to another state. I took a year off and then got pregnant with our second child. I went to college for one semester, took one off so I could have my daughter and be with her for the first few months and then finished one more semester. So after completing 3 years of college, I decided I just did not feel right with some daycare raising my kids so I quit college and have been a stay at home mom ever since. That was 3 years ago. For me, I know I made the right personal choice. There were days that I thought, dang I only have one  more year til I complete my degree, but I then cannot put past the thought of not being with my kids. My husband has a great job so financially I do  not need to work. If it ever comes a time I need tha degree, I know I can finish. Really everyone will have didfferent opinions on this. You should decide what YOU want to do and do it because you feel strongly about it. And not let the opinions or experiences of others persuade you.