Would you quit working to stay home with your doodles? UPDATE!!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Okay, now I think I have gone over the edge. I am needing some serious therapy! In this economy, I am considering leaving a job so that I can be home with my doods.

Well, that's not the whole story. The job is beyond stressful, I have an hour drive in traffic to and from work everyday. Yes, 2 hours a day in traffic. It's a government job with so many responsibilties that I can't be away from it for more than a day without something needing attention. I have to travel around the state for 1-2 nights at a time and often. DH is retired and wants to go off for the summer and travel in our little toy hauler trailer, I have my only grandson (18 months)moving from Florida to be here in Az with son and DIL in March and they could use some grandma babysitting, and I have sorely neglected my own physical health due to this job. But having said all that, I think missing my doodles so much just puts the last straw on the poor camels back.

Could we afford it? Let's just say we wouldn't starve and the dogs would still get Fromm dog food.

SO what's a doodle mom to do? Any words of wisdom DK'ers?

UPDATE:

Well, with much consideration and re-reading all of your posts and talking to DH and mom and kids, I handed in my resignation yesterday. I will be leaving Feb 18th and it appears it will be considered "Mission Critical" by the Bureau and they will try to fill my position ASAP.  On top of that my son is bringing his family to Arizona a month earlier, which gives me just 3 weeks to get ready for them to move in for a few months and toddler proof my house.  I started the Adventure Bootcamp on Tues and now workout 4 mornings a week and a girlfriend invited me to join her stroller exercise club so I can take my grandson with me too!  I have quilts lined up in my head that I plan to do and some for DK as well !

So, I want to thank everyone for helping me to make a very important decision and I can't tell you how happy you have made Murphy, Bella, DH and ME!!!! Thank you again. You are all the best!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If they won't, I will! JD and I can move out to AZ, it would be great for his allergies!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Wrong : ) You wouldn't want them to have to.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Oh karen, what fun we'd all have! And yes it would be great for his allergies and think NO MORE SNOW!!!  Doodle Romp -a-go-go in Arizona!!!

And yes F. I wouldn't want the to HAVE to, but knowing they'd WANT to if the need arose would feel good. Just like us taking our son and DIL and grandson in for a few months in April for them to get settled and find a place. We want to do it and it's nice knowing they want to stay with us. Altho not forever.

[Carol and Banjo]

Over the past 3 yrs my work week has gone from 40 hrs to 6-10 hrs due to the economic slow down.   We're fortunate that financially this has not been a hardship. Of course, I don't have disposable income anymore....but who needs more shoes or clothes to hang in the closet.   Since bringing Banjo into our little family a year ago I have NO desire to work more.   I've thoroughly enjoyed spending my days with him and finding fun outdoor activities to do together.   Yep, I'd do it!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

That was the word I was looking for Disposable income. And no, I certainly don't need more "STUFF", Now it's about quality of time.

[Lynda Kamrath]

You can also always think that there are many somebodys out there that could use your job.  You are in a highly stressful situation that is not likely to change.  What better reason to stay home than to babysit that grandchild, travel with your husband (and doods) and enjoy yourself.  You don't need the doodles as an excuse to retire, you have plenty of other reasons.  Besides, the cost of gas is unbelievable.  Commuting for two hours a day, you are probably spending more that $100 a week for gas!

We got our first doodle at the same time my husband retired.  He loved spending time with the doodle and rode his bike nearly daily with the two dogs (at that time a poodle and a doodle).  Then the second doodle came around, and now the third and I am also retired.  They do keep you busy.  And what a great reason to stay at home.

[BG and Gavin]

Our social service agency has a "doula fund" which supports the women in our Post Partum Depression Program.  A doula is paid to go to homes and spend time with the baby, maybe makes some muffins and do a bit of light housework while new mom has a rest.  Sometimes a doula also provides companionship and support to moms that are socially isolated or are not lucky enough to have their mom or sister to support them. They basically help with the "over-whelmedness" of having a new baby.  Does your state have similar programs?  I think this would be a great part-time retirement job for you.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Not that I am aware of, and yes it would be a great service. I had thought of becoming a Labor Doula before, but always worked as the Labor RN and it would conflict with work schedules, especially if I was up all night with a labor. It would be a great part time job, and could be something that I could look into. There is always the private Lactation Consultant idea, which I would probably enjoy more. Love baking muffins tho!

[Carol and Banjo]

This sounds like a wonderful program.   I'm going to look around here and see if we have anything similar in our area.    No grandchildren yet....I would love to spend time with a newborn and help out a young mom.   My own mother and sisters were life savers after my twins were born.  They were colicky babies for a few months and having family there to pitch in was the best.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Is this funded through the state? Interesting now that I think about it. We do have some programs that I haven't even tapped into yet at the State level. First things First and Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies to name a few. They might have this type of service that I am just not aware of. You got the wheels spinning. Gee, I haven't even left one job and I am thinking about the next adventure. See. I think I am just a workaholic!

[BG and Gavin]

Our entire agency is funded through provincial dollars from the ministry of community and social services.  The post partum adjustment program has lots of great features - individual counselling, mom's groups, infant massage classes.  These are all funded programs.  However the workers in this division saw the need for more informal support in the home.  Soo.. they began fund-raising to build a fund to use to pay the doulas.  It's not big bucks mind you, but I think the doulas do not rely on this as a big source of income and do it more for the love of the job. 

[Adina P]

Oh yes...you're Canadian.  I would love to live in Canada postpartum with every child!