My last post dealt with the financial costs associated with working while having children.  Now I want to talk about some of the reasons why you might want to return to work after having children.  I don’t think one choice is better than the other.  I’m just making a few statements here for people to think about.

Career path.  Many women have worked long and hard to get where they are today.  A lot of people put off having children until they are older, so women who wait to have children are often pretty strong in their career.  Maybe you’ve worked your way up to a position of authority and you’re proud of what you’ve accomplished professionally.  Giving that up could be giving up part of yourself, and if you give up part of yourself then how good of a parent can you be?

Benefits.  I know some families where the wife works a lower paying job just to get the health benefits offered by the employer.  Many employers have lowered their share of the health care costs and passed them on to employees as a cost saving measure.  Even though the salary might not be the highest, the benefits are too good to give up.

Job security.  Some people like to know that they will have a job in the event their spouse loses a job.  You have a level of comfort in knowing that there will be at least one salary coming into your household in the event that the unthinkable happens – a layoff.

I know that in staying home with my two toddlers I often miss the company of adults.  All my friends work full time jobs so I can’t just pick up the phone to chat in the middle of the day when I’m frustrated with all the child care issues and poopy diapers.  That’s the one thing I miss most about working.  I miss getting up in the morning, primping, getting dressed and going out into the work world where the topics of conversation are not always about children.  I don’t regret my decision to stay home.  I’m merely saying that I do miss the regular company of adults.