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At present, I have chosen to go back to work after being a stay-at-home mom for almost three years. Being an arts teacher by trade, it's impossible to just decide' to go back to work. There's that technicality of, there actually has to be a job opening somewhere within driving distance'. So, the opportunity knocked, and I'm a substitute teacher for the remainder of this school year, with the hope of a full time salaried position for next year.

I used to drive approximately fifty miles to work each way. I loved my job enough endure the turnpike every school day for eight years, and I rarely missed work. I had finally had enough when my son was a year and a half old. My dad watched the children. He either stayed at our house Sunday night through Friday afternoon, or he would drive back and forth every day. I never had to pay him a dime. I could see it wearing on him though, just as the commute was wearing on me, not to mention the price of gas going through the roof. And so, I resigned tearfully at the end of the school year.

The desire to provide more opportunities for my children has led me to the decision to go back to work. The last three years I've spent at home were wonderful, and I'm very fortunate to have had that opportunity. I spent countless hours doing fun activities and going on day trips with my children. My oldest is 7 years old now and active in gymnastics, which is not a free activity. My 4-year-old will be playing soccer this spring, which is also not a free activity. Now that the children are getting older, I am getting a much more accurate picture of just how much children do cost, and I am not seeing any signs of the cost going down anytime in the near future.

Now that the oldest is in school and the baby is old enough to travel with relatively little aggravation, my dad is back to helping with the kids. He takes my son to his to watch trains at the railroad yard and also to the occasional meeting or two. It's nice for the two of them to have some guy time'.

I've been back to work for three weeks now. Last week I got my first paycheck. I wanted to cry. After taxes and gas, I take home about $350 a week. If I had to pay for childcare, I would lose another $200 a week. Although I am happy to be back to work and use the skills and knowledge that I have, I can't help but wonder if I made the best decision for the rest of my family. At any rate, I'll continue on until June, provided my dad can watch my son for another three months.

Learn more about this author, F.M. Leith.
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