Anchorage Daily News

After the birth of a baby comes the big decision of whether you should return to work. Economic conditions generally dictate how much income a family needs, thus raising crucial considerations such as whether a parent should work outside the home, work home-based or not work at all. Many mothers feel like they do not have a choice except to return to work after the birth of their baby. However, others have the opinion that after they pay the extravagant costs of full-time child care, they will not be bringing home enough income to validate the expense.

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It’s an undeniable fact that two incomes are necessary in most households. However, moms and dads are seeking alternatives to traditional work situations and getting creative with how they manage their homes, children and finances. To avoid paying for child care, many parents are finding ways to stagger their work shifts so one parent is always with the children. They still reap the benefits of two incomes, their children enjoy always being with a parent and they don’t pay for child care. The downside is that spouses may not see each other often and the family may rarely be all together at once, but many people view these as temporary disadvantages.

Another solution is to have one parent quit his or her job outside the home and start an in-home business. Although it can be time- consuming to find the right kind of home-based work and to avoid scam operations, this can be a successful financial plan. There are many resources that list hundreds of jobs that can be performed from home. The old adage, “Where there is a will, there is a way,” rings true. Many parents tap into the Web as a conduit for cash while others start brick-and-mortar businesses using the skills that they already possess.

Whatever job you choose to do, your rate of success is usually highest when you are pursuing something that you are passionate about. When you are fulfilling an internal desire or accomplishing work that you can take pride in, you will ultimately find success. Needless to say, this method takes a self-motivated person who will meet the learning curve head on and not give up.

Personally, I have experienced both ends of the spectrum. To be sure, there were benefits to returning to work outside the home. For instance, I had time to occasionally drink a hot cup of tea and to focus on matters outside the home. It was also good to be in the professional environment that starkly contrasts with the routine of infant care in the home. The problem that I encountered was that it began to feel like I was on a hamster wheel. I was spending so much time dropping my son off and picking him up, I worried that I was losing the connection with him that I desired to have. Eventually, I realized that perhaps it was time to try a different approach to acquiring income.

Working from home was a transition that took time and adjustment for our whole family. There are, of course, challenges; but overall I have found it to be very rewarding. I love that my spouse and I are the primary caregivers in our child’s small world. I also enjoy the fact that I can still accomplish goals and have professional interactions while not having to sacrifice time with my family. With determination and a strong team effort, we have found that working from home has been a positive solution for our family.

Whatever plan you settle on, make sure it is right for you and your children. I have seen just about every model of work situations displayed successfully in families. There are stay-at-home dads and moms. There are parents who work just three or four days a week so that they will have more time with their children. Some parents use on-site child care at their work and they can check on their infant throughout the course of the day.

Often, one parent will simply not work for several years while their children are young, then will jump back into the career field later. Not only is every financial situation different, but the needs of each child are unique as well. When processing these options for your family, be sure to approach the situation from every angle and settle on what truly will work for you.

Laura Tolman is a local certified childbirth educator and labor support professional. She writes the Birth & Beginnings: Childbirth Conversations blog at adn.com/childbirthblog.

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