A family member of mine came over to visit today.  We’ve been home for about three weeks with our children, two boys adopted from Russia.  This is the start of my second full week of being home alone with them – my husband returned to work last week.  She asked me if I was going to go back to work or not and I said I don’t know.  I didn’t quit my job, I took a “maternity” leave for a few months so I left the door open for my return.  We started talking about it and I began to realize the financial implications of returning to work.

First there’s daycare.  Two infants, five days a week is going to be at least $250 a week (or more).  Then there’s finding a good daycare.  The one facility I would use is a 15 minute drive from my house.  My employer is less than five minutes away.  I’d be adding on a half hour of driving every day.  I don’t know how I’d get these two boys up, fed, washed, dressed, and out of the house by 7:15 am so I could get to work by 8:00 am.  They take their time getting up and moving in the morning and sometimes breakfast can last a half hour!  Finally, how much extra money would I REALLY be bringing in to the house after you add up these expenses?

I’m not so sure what the right answer is at this time.  I don’t judge anyone who stays home or who goes back to work.  Each person needs to do what’s best for her and her family.  I’m only beginning to understand the emotional struggle a mother has to go through in deciding whether to stay home or to go back to work.