So I have been a stay at home mom to my son so far who is know 18 months old. I was feeling like I wanted to get a part time job so I applied at some places. Ended up getting and interview and I got the job. Then last night I came home and after thinking about it the idea just makes me sick. My husband supports whatever decision I make. Im just torn. Extra money would be nice, but Im just not sure Im ready. All next week I have training so I thought I would just go and try it and if after 2-3 days Im just not comfortable with it I just won't take the job. Any advice or ideas?

One important thing to remember is that you are not only going to be working to maintain this job but also your home; a lot of stress will be alleviated if you and your husband talk about what he will do to make things easier for you if you do work. I know that when I have been out of the home working since having kids, it's been hard for me because I have been so tired and feel too in-demand. When I'm at work, I know I have a hundred things waiting on me at home, plus I feel guilty not being with my kids. When I'm home, I feel like I could be doing more in the way of finances. If you don't need the money and you're not comfortable, you could always wait a little while until he's old enough to start pre-school, and work part-time when he's already out of the home anyway. Or, you could do what I am doing; I am going to college online through my state university, and I will be able to stay home with my kids while they are growing up, but I am also being productive. By the time I graduate, my youngest will be starting kindergarten. So we avoid daycare and by the time they won't be home all day anyway, I am prepared for a good job.

AbstractEyes - honestly Im glad to hear I'm not the only person who has struggled with this. A few hours after knowing I got the job I already started to come up with reasons that I shouldn't and didn't want to. I could come up with more bad things than good, and I was thinking maybe I should just accept that it is a sign. We don't have to have the cash, but extra money would always be nice. My husband is 100% supportive of whichever I choose, but he doesn't understand why I thought I wanted to work in the first place. I guess I was just feeling like it was the right thing, that I should help since I am able. Honestly, I wish I could call them right now and just tell them Ive changed my mind, but I feel like I should at least go in and say I attempted it. Although I already know that I am like 99% probably not going to take the job. I'm not really embarrassed about it because I don't really care what people I hardly know think. I do feel guilty for wasting their time and money though.

The fact that you're so unsure about it sends a red flag for me. Do you really WANT/NEED a job right now or do you just feel like getting one is the right thing to do? If you absolutely need the cash, then getting a job would be a good idea. But if you're already so unsure of the job you have, don't go into it with high expectations (which it sounds liek you're not anyway, lol). My daugher just turned a year and Im on my third job since she was born. I quit the first one b/c I couldn't stand the way I was treated and coming home from work, grumpy as hell, with a child to look after was just not working for me. My fiancee was able to look after our daughter during the 2 months I worked there so that was helpful (and I was only part time so that was good too). Then a few months later I got another job but the hours didn't work with my daycare so I had to quit. And now I have a full time Mon - Fri job and while I don't hate it as much as my first job, I still don't like it. If we didn't need all the cash we can get (and if I wasn't so embarassed about quitting another job in such a short time span), I'd be quitting. But, I'm lucky it's just a term job and I'm done in June!

I've got no advice for you about the stay-at-home or go to work part of your post because I am not a mother and I can not relate in the slightest.But, I do work as a salesperson and my main point of contact is mainly via telephone. Sure, what I do most people could PROBABLY classify as telemarketing. But I don't think of it that way, which is what helps me a lot when I'm talking to people. The best sales people don't need to pressure people. :) I'd say give it a try.I didn't think I'd be any good at sales, but I'm one of the top sales people at my company now. I've been there for a year and a half.

Thanks for your advice. I do have family members who are willing to watch my son, so that does help to ease my mind. The only thing Im not sure about is that the job is a telemarketing job, so Im not even sure if the job is going to work out for me. I have had many people tell me that they could not do it because they did not feel comfortable pressuring people. I am just going to go at least a few days next week and see how it goes. If I feel alright about it Im going to keep it up, but otherwise Im just gonna tell them its not for me.

It's a very hard decision to make. I stayed home with my daughter for 2 years. Although I did volunteer and I took one small job...it was a 2 day job and I knew that going in to.If it's only part time, I would do the training and see how it goes. If you have a good care giver, family or someone else, you might end up really enjoying being back at work. When I went back I was so nervous about being miserable, but I really enjoyed having people to talk to, and although it took a few months for my daughter to ajust, but there were a lot of underlying issues, once we got the right fit and ironed out those issues it really was great for both of us!Best of luck to the three of you!!

I was a stay at home mom too after having my daughter,but I went to school that first year and got so many grants and stuff,that they were giving me money back. So my $300-$400 check every 2 months kinda helped,but then I had to work and I didnt find it a problem. I have a grandmother who loves me and my daughter and she's always been there for me when I needed her and I had no problem leaving my child with her,because my grandmother helped raise me and watched me a lot when I was younger.I think if you had someone you trusted to watch your son, you wouldnt have too much of a problem. It's leaving your child with complete strangers and trusting them to properly care for your child, thats the problem. Going back to work after so long can be scary,but just think, its to help continue to make a life for your son. A little extra money is always good. Especially with Thanksgiving and Xmas coming very soon.