Work/life balance is so much easier said then done, I get that completely... I just got back from my 5th trip since jan 1 and turn around and leave again may 10 for 12 days, so clearly I have let myself slip back into my old habits. There will be good weeks and bad weeks, some times you will kick a$$ at both the mommy thing and the job thing and sometimes both will have you crying in the shower. It is okay to be upset / frustrated when it seems like nothing is working in any direction. What works best for me is to prep a priorities list and the sit with my boss and tell her which items I will accomplish by which dates and then tell her what I will not be able to get done by the requested date. I let her move things to align with her own list and revisit with her at least every 2 weeks. This way she understands and is in control of the things I accomplish. I know my limits and I know when things are really critical in the business and I have to work outside of my 40 hours. Those days I just make it clear that I will be offline from 5pm to 10pm to take care of my child first. It means I sacrifice sleep, but it doesn't last forever.

Whatever you decide, I hope it gets easier for you!

Part time is an option and would help financially, I am just worried about losing all of my benefits and still working more than 20 hors a week (since I work so much now). I would lose vacation (I get a month now), my 401K matching, my medical, paid federal holidays, etc.

I just wonder if it would be worth it and STILL have to work.

I do agree I need a better work/life balance if I continue to work. It's just always so demanding. Things have been super stressful lately too because we lost a few people on our team so my work load has been crazy! We tried hiring a maid to come every other week but we haven't had good luck so I need to find another maid or service.

My mom watches my DD 3 days a week and the other 2 days my DH works later so we don't have high childcare costs (I do pay my mom, but nothing compared to what a daycare would cost).

I would quit in a heartbeat.

That's a tough one. If I had a job that was paying well I would be scared to quit and have a gap of employment in this economy. I would probably keep working so I could contribute to savings and the future like retirement and college for kids. Sounds like it would be difficult for you to stay home financially though and that could eventually turn into more issues. Is there a way for you to go part time? That would seem like the best of both worlds.

I'd do Anything to stay home with my kids

I've been in this position before... It is all about balancing work and home, which I know is easier said then done. Several times I have wanted to quit and stay home but for us it is impossible since I make more money and I also have a career with exponentially more $$ possible in the future.

My husband works 50-60 hours a week and I have an extremely demanding job. The hardest thing for me is that I travel between 15 and 50% of the time (may I will be gone for 12 days). I felt like even when I was home I was working in some capacity. I had to sit down and really think about what needed to get done vs what can wait. I don't clean every day, and if that means my house is messy then it's messy. I clean on sat / sun and get my laundry done this day as well. I prep meals on Sunday and I have meal time down to about 45 min start to finish at the most. My son "helps" me cook so I'm spending time with him there. I also make sure that I say no to things that require me to put in more hours (within reason). You have to learn to be okay with things taking a back seat. Maybe look into getting a housekeeper once a week. I am actually looking into that now, just to take some stress off of me.

I really try to make the time I am home with my baby count. He is happy and well adjusted and it doesn't even seem to affect him when I travel, we skype and talk on the phone. I almost never miss my step sons sports events (unless I'm traveling, but that is only 1 or 2 a season).

I don't feel guilty or like he is suffering, because my son will see that mama worked very hard to provide him the best life possible. My career is important to me and I want to climb higher in the company. I am making sacrifices now while he is young so that I can get to a point when he is older where I am around more often.

I would quit. Maybe look into a less demanding, part time position in a similar field? Just to help financially, but still give you lots of time to devote to the kids.

You would prob save a lot if you didn't work Bc you wouldn't have to pay for child care.

It depends on the lifestyle y'all want to live. If money will be so tight that you are unable to go on a vacation, or splurge on a zoo day or shopping day or whatever kind of days your kids enjoy. Can you give those things up? Would money be that tight? It really just comes down to how tight would money be and will you be able to live the lifestyle you want.

I am going to be a SAHM, that's why when we went house hunting we never included my income.

It's not that I just don't feel like working anymore, I actually really enjoy it and am successful in what I do. However, I feel like it's putting a strain on our lives and that my kids are suffering for it. I'm constantly working late, it's hard to stay on top of every day tasks, cooking, etc. By the end of the day, I feel like I haven't spent any quality time with my kids. My husband works full time out of the house so he doesn't either. I just don't think it's fair to them.

I've told him he could quit and he can stay home. We both can't continue working like we are since we have 2, soon to be 3, children who rely on us. He said he wouldn't feel right not working and would go insane. LOL! I would LOVE it!! :-)

I would look into going part time instead, with a strict, no more than x amount of hours a week.

We did it. It's tough, but worth it.

That's what we did. When I was pregnant w #1 (I'm preggers w #3 now ) we made the decision for me to stay home. I made significantly more than DH but I also worked 16 hr days. DH travels a great deal for work and it was important to us to have the consistently of at least one parent at home. I had a wonderful career and I really miss work but this was the right call for us. We gave up a lot financially but we have everything we need. It was an adjustment on many levels but it was right for us. Feel free to pm me if you have more questions or need support :)

One is in school, we have a two year old and #3 is on the way.

Honestly, yes.

I'd honestly work till I had a GOOD savings built up, then if you both agree on you quitting and moving, then I'd go for it

I feel like because we both work, my kids always come second and it's just not fair to them. :-/

I guess I should add that I work from home full time. Everyone thinks I'm crazy when I tell them I'd rather be a SAHM. The thing is, my job is as sooo stressful, I work well over 40 hours a week, it's never ending, sometimes I feel like I can't even breathe. I don't even know how I'll be able to handle this with 3 kids.

I'm in a similar situation right now. I'm absolutely miserable at my job. I'm still in between on what I'm going to do. ?