I'm a single mom who has always worked even while married, BUT I managed to do this by only taking jobs that allowed me to schedule around my childs needs. I have a degree and try to gear my work around that, but would rather do something unrelated and for less pay if I can make being a mom the priority. I didn't have children just to leave them in somone elses care all day! It means sacrificing the bigger income, being creative and making do with less. We aren't poor, and my child has everything her friends have, but we live in an apartment, and I drive an older paid off car. I work outside the home while she's in school by taking two part time jobs scheduled around times when she has activities or her dad can be with her (when she was younger). Now that she can stay home alone for a couple of hours at a time (with friends/neighbors keeping an eye out) I can work full time at one job and use my breaks to drop off and pick up from school. She has a cell phone so that I can touch base with her, and I am lucky enough to have a job just around the corner from our home. This requires negotiating in job interviews and making parenting the priority.I have had to put up with criticism from more materialistic parents who resent my decision to make raising my child my main occupation. "Over-protective" they call me, while they pay someone else to raise their children. "Un motivated" they say as they drive off in their expensive cars toward their huge homes in the "good neighborhood" that they have to spend all their time working to make payments on....while I am free to experience the joy of actually parenting the child I brought into this world. Plenty of time after I have helped her get a good start into adulthood for me to go to work all day and amass a fortune and a pile of "stuff" with which to impress the neighbors. Or not.

Things have changed for my husband and I in these last few months. I've gone back to work, although it's not in the field I wanted it brought home the bacon. It's been rough on everyone with me working, we were all used to things the way they were and now we are all adjusting to this change among many others that have happened. This was my third month there and my poor husband is still reeling, especially when he comes home to dinner either thawing in the sink or needing reheating in the oven.

You've said it best, eccentric.

Don't panic, plan ahead, save where you can, and cut spending anywhere that's not essential.

I know some moms from my son's school whose husbands lost their jobs. The moms are now working or looking for work. I think the best plan of action is not to panic, and plan ahead as to how kids will be taken care of.

No changes on our home front yet, but we are in the middle of restructuring our home loan so :::fingers crossed::: we'll see what happens!

He is almost 4 yrs old. We adopted him from the foster care system. He was 2 1/2 when he came into our home. He is not secure yet that this is his forever home.

Any change in routine sets him off. Even minor ones like someone else picking him up from pre-school. Even though I give him the heads up before hand. When he is sick therefore does not have his normal routine of school and his other activities.

I suppose when he goes to school full time maybe I can do something during the day.

My husband and I are both stay-at-home parents by choice. We both work part time from home in different businesses.

Given the economy though, I've picked up a few more jobs than I'd like, just to make sure things are ok because there's always that nagging fear that something will dry up or a client will not pay.

It's been easier for us during this transition mostly because instead of shuttling two kids around, with one at college, there are now two of us focused on the shuttling of only our 7-year-old.

Hey vacekd1001,
Why do you think it won't work out with your son? How old is your son?
I can understand why you are upset about this possibility, but my suggestion would be to start polishing your resume. If you can find something that allows you to work part time or has some flexibility, you might just be able to work out a good balance.

I have not yet. However my days may be numbered. I do not expect that it would work out for my son.

I am very upset about this possibility.