Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5546 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 89
Thanked:31
Babies/career Posted: 08-15-07 12:51pm
How do you all feel about balancing babies
and career??
I'm torn- I'm going into grad school now
and obviously I've always imagined myself
having an important career and using my
education to help people. And I went and
got married young (that's not a problem- I
love being married and would marry him
again) but I've been enjoying these last
few years just being married, enjoying
life, trying to finish school and get
somewhere in life......
So now that I'm a little older I keep
thinking about having kids, and I kind've
want to, but when will I ever have time to
do it? Grad school, then career, by then
I'll be a dried up old maid.....
::::sigh:::::
How do you guys feel?
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sillyakchick
Supporter
Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2688
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Posted: 08-15-07 13:00pm
I have two babies (one is now five), a
bachelor's degree and a career. I got
married young as well, and waited to have
kiddos. It can be done, but if I had it
to do over again, i would have done grad
schol first before the children. I find
myself wanting to go back to school, but I
just don't have the time.
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Georgia59
Supporter
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5546 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 89
Thanked:31
Posted: 08-15-07 13:30pm
If you don't mind me asking, How long did
you take off to have the babies? Was going
back to work a problem?
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ladylee70
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1912 Location: Boise, Idaho,
Thanks: 1
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Posted: 08-15-07 13:32pm
I really didn't think about kids when I
was in college. I spent nine years in
college and am in a field I love. After a
few years in my field, I got married and
had a baby a year later. I wanted to work
part time or not at all after my little
one was born but couldn't due to my
husband's work situation, health
insurance, etc... I am glad I went to
school and am able to do what I love. The
biggest drawback for me is school debt -
major. I will be paying it back forever. I
am now able to work part time, two days a
week and make pretty good money. I don't
just break even after daycare expenses and
travel. Of course, that money is going
toward debt. I plan to work part time for
a very long time if everything continues
the way it is. I don't want to go back
full time. Oh...I just had baby #2 at age
33. What age do you consider an old hag???
Are you going into a field where you can
work part time or one that is flexible if
you choose to or if you have to work?
How old are you and what are you going to
school for??
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sillyakchick
Supporter
Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2688
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Posted: 08-15-07 13:37pm
Georgia59
wrote:
If you don't mind me asking,
How long did you take off to have the
babies? Was going back to work a
problem?
I took 3 months off withboth of them.
going back to work was no problem for me.
some people have trouble with that, but
some don't others have no choice, and they
make do.
Are you asking if you can have it all?
You can, but you have to be prepared to
make some sacrifices at both ends.
I guess I could be wrong, too. Maybe i
should wait and see what hapens to me over
the next ten years. I could have a
comlete and total breakdown, in which case
I would have to apologize for giving you
bogus advice!
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Georgia59
Supporter
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5546 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 89
Thanked:31
Posted: 08-15-07 14:07pm
Lol don't worry about it potential bad
advice, I won't hold you accountable.
I'm going into grad school this year for
school psychology (ie right out of my
undergrad years because it's a required
graduate degree for licensure), so I'll be
working in a school, and part time
wouldn't really be an option (as most
schools only employ 1 psychologist). I'm
not thinking of having kids right now,
because I am still young and am willing to
wait, but when I think about the time I'll
be spending in grad school and then
getting settled in my career enough... I
don't know it just seems overwhelming.
Oh, and I don't consider 33 an old hag....
Part of the problem is that both my mother
and my mother in law never worked, but
stayed home with their kids all the way
through the end of high school. So I've
never really had experience with how you
work out that situation. We're fairly
stable because my husband is pretty
settled in his career, but I totally
understand the debt from college .
Thanks for your input, gals. I really
appreciate it.
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sillyakchick
Supporter
Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2688
Thanks: 5
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Posted: 08-15-07 14:10pm
You know that show Wifeswap? I wish they
had one called Lifeswap, so you could see
what your life would be like if....fill in
the blank.
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ladylee70
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1912 Location: Boise, Idaho,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 08-15-07 16:56pm
I am a school psychologist!!! Lets talk! I
first went into school counseling and then
transferred to school psychology.
Part time is an option as I am doing it.
As for school districts only employing one
psychologist, that really depends on where
you live. Out in rural districts, that
could be true but most school districts
have several psychs. I have worked in
suburban areas in three different states
and have worked with at least five other
psychs.
Where are you going to attend school?
Karin
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Jude-Love
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jun 2007 Posts: 727 Location: Williamstown, Kentucky USA
Posted: 08-15-07 22:49pm
In my opinion, children should always come
first. You can't be in two places at
once, so I think women can balance a
career and children, but it's a very
uneven balance. I don't believe in using
daycare in most situations and I think
babies should be in their parent's care
until they reach a certain age.
