Parents Council: Doing more with less

Did you or your spouse leave the workforce for a while to spend more time with the kids? How did you make ends meet? What did you give up? What did you gain from the experience?

“My four-month maternity leave stretched into 16 years. I had an inkling I may not want to rush back to work with my first son, so as soon as I found out I was expecting we started banking my paycheck and living off my husband’s. Halfway through my pregnancy I went to part time and we continued to save my paychecks. It was still a shock to live on one income with two adults and a newborn … What we did without: eating out; going to movies, plays and concerts; expensive vacations …

“There’s simply no way to measure what I gained. I, too, remember the days seeming to pass so slowly, but now I know better. It was all a blur. A whirlwind of pregnancies, birthings, playdates and pediatric appointments. Little arms around my neck, sticky kisses, the first sleepy smile of the morning.

“It wasn’t all good. Many times I felt consumed by my sons. I felt devalued by society (the whole ‘do you work?’question).

“That said. I wouldn’t change a day. Not a minute. I know I was exhausted. I know I didn’t take good care of myself, but I can do all that now. What I can’t do now is curl up on the couch with a toddler or bake cookies in the middle of the day with a preschooler.”

– Posted by Cindy H.

“As soon as my wife and I found out we were pregnant with our first child, we immediately began paying down as much debt as we could and saving as much as possible. When our daughter was born, my wife knew she wanted to stay home. It’s been incredibly difficult eliminating a very good salary, but we work hard to eliminate ‘unecessary expenses’ from our budget. It’s a sacrifice, to be sure. But, it’s been worth it!”

– Posted by KB

Join the conversation at spokesmanreview.com/ blogs/parents.