41 year old dad

[Anonymous]

Howdy,
I am brand new to this site - and I would like some viewpoints from all who wil lshare - usually not a problem, right?
I am remarried - I have a 15 year old daughter from my first marriage- I was able to split work shifts with her mom for the first three years so my daughter did not have to attend "day care".
I am now happily remarried - and we are now expecting, by decision, our first. We are also mcu older - I will be 41 when our baby arives, my wife will be 38.
Mom makes 60+ in the insurance business (underwriter) with room to grow (small fish, big pond) and I make 70+ in the social services, with less room to grow (big fish in a smal pond). We live n a rather small town area - North Georgia.
We are trying to think of all of our options,
Though things may change - and this is mot a value judgment or anything like that BUT mom an dI agree, I am probably more "maternal" than mom - mom is 38 and this is her first baby.
There are many things I can do - teach - public schools or college (I have an Ed.D.), work part time - I have held executive positions, but I have NO shame in rolling up my shirt sleeves for my family.
I do need to generate some income for my family.
We are looking at what genuine work-at-home options exist - it may or may not seem high, but I would desire something in the range of 40k-60K+.
Any input? Thanks -Scott

[tt3]

Welcome to the site, glad you found us.
No input for your work at home situation though, except if you find something that lucrative, let us know!
Good luck

[Don-Dad]

Welcome Scott.

I know a few of us work at home but mostly either a part time gig or in ripsaw's case, he builds custom motorcycles.

I have yet to find a work at home job that is legitimate that would pay the kind of money your seeking. Unless you happen to be a computer programmer, I think you could find contract work as a programmer.

[Weston]

Congratulations on considering being a SAHD.
That is a very beautiful area you live in.

Hope everything works out all right!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback and pardon the typos...

I still don't have the answers, but I will keep asking the questions...

thanks again.

Scott

[Richard of Chelmsford]

Don't worry about your age.

I was 47 when my son was born. I'm now 56.

And I raised him from 6 months on.

[Jackson's Dad]

Ugh, I'm 37 with the new little one, and man is my body complaining. Mentally, I am glad I waited until I was older, but physically -- whooo -- I wish I had done this YEARS ago!

[Richard of Chelmsford]

Ugh, I'm 37 with the new little one, and man is my body complaining. Mentally, I am glad I waited until I was older, but physically -- whooo -- I wish I had done this YEARS ago!

So you can imagine how I felt!!

[dad305]

Hello Scott and welcome! The decision you and your wife are contemplating does not come without sacrifice. I think that understanding this is the first and most important step since your decision will impact your life condiderably.

Generally finances suffer the most and sometimes one has to make considerable adjustments. The rewards however, and I think all of us SAHDS will agree, are great.

For example after I quit my VP position in banking to take care of Gabriella, now 6, I tried to get back into banking and I once I explained the "gap in my resume" I could not get them to hire me even as a teller.
I understood their position What if his wife gets pregnant again? and guess what happened...

I decided to go into the Mortgage Business and it worked very well. I guess the best thing is a line of work with a lot of flexibility as far as working schedule goes, like Real Estate or Mortgage.

I would hate to day trade online with a loose monkey running around trying to press the keys of the laptop or dropping a sippy cup on the laptop.

Best of luck in making your decision

Dad in Miami

[Jackson's Dad]

I tried to get back into banking and I once I explained the "gap in my resume" I could not get them to hire me even as a teller.

What losers! And you coming from so much experience? Man! Companies who fret about "gaps in resumes" are so out of touch with reality. These days, everyone has some gap for some reason. If they complain about something like that, it's usually a good sign they are uptight about many other things.

Sounds like you found a better situation though. A friend in the investment business switched from a big firm to running his own investment business, in preparation for having their first child. He's working from home, and so much happier now.

[dad305]

Yup! Their loss was my gain.

[Anonymous]

Again, I appreciate the replies.

I am familar with sacrifice (financially) as I work in the not-for-profit social service sector.

My sister worked in the home mortage business and was able to do some from home - but when her husband had to close his business she had to go back to the office to make enough to support their family.

I am glad I am working on this now, as it gives me a few months to contemplate. This weekend I will visit my dear old dad and get some insight from him. He is a bit more traditional in his thinking, but not without an open mind either.

An option might by a reduced schedule at my current employer - ex. 32 hours - and then working 2 days at home and 2 days in a local office...are there any part-timer SAHD's here?

It is not the most desirable for me...but...
With my first child, her mom and I worked opposite schedules, good for my daughter, not for the marriage. I am confident that opposing schedules would not work well in my marriage now....

I will keep exploring the options though...

also this weekend is my daughters birthday - she will be 15 - and I will be telling her that she is getting a sibling! I have the sonogram pictures to share with her - they are "gender neutral", but our baby is visible none-the-less....

I am a little nervous about her feeling "replaced" or something like that...since she lives primarily with her mom (she is here about once a month and for half the summer and holidays, etc).

I am sure all will go well, but a little nervous none-the-less. Perhaps a couple rounds of golf (will be in Orlando) beforehand will tire me out and relax me a bit.

wish me well.

[Anonymous]

Hey Scott, golf sure sounds like good therapy (...if I only knew how to play...). I did the part-time thing for about a while for a local Credit Union but in my case it did not work out.

When we sat down and figured out expenses including, but not limited to child care, transportation and dry cleaning, the impact of my income in our finances was not that great so here I am. I guess it depends on the part time.

By the way, I am 42 and I still don't have all the answers...I don't think I ever will...

Well is wished from Dad in Miami!

[dad305]

Sorry I failed to log in before sending the previous message.

Dad in Miami

[Jackson's Dad]

are there any part-timer SAHD's here?

I work from home, so I am a part-timer. My wife is still on maternity leave (she scored with an awesome plan), so she takes on the bulk of the daytime stuff, while I get mornings and we share the evenings. Luckily my work is flexible enough that I can break at any time, and fit the work into whateever cracks in the schedule I have.

[jeffus]

I wonder how many companies who outsource their labor could benefit from the talented pool of people we have on this site.

We're not looking for full time jobs, benefits, etc. A couple of hours of work a night for a couple extra bucks would be great for all of us. Don't need to go to India - we're all over the place.

Stay tuned for DadNeeds(PartTime)Work.com...!