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When to quit?

FortunateGuy
Posts: 9
 Joined: 2006-12-27
 Dad Points: 29

The research continues...

We are completing an estimated timeline on projects, etc. The question came up on when should I quit my job? I was wondering when other at home dads quit their jobs.

Did you stop working.....

Toward the end of your wife's pregnancy - right before she gave birth to your child?

Right before she went back to work when the maternity leave ended?

Right after the baby was born?

I was thinking I would go on FMLA right before my wife maternity leave ended. Once my FMLA ended - I would then quit. This would maximize the income coming in.

I know she will need help during this time, however, we are very fortunate to have a lot of family close.

Mark


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Submitted by FortunateGuy on Mon, 02/05/2007 - 9:59pm.

KevH
Posts: 365
 Joined: 2006-11-16
 Dad Points: 540
When to quit

I took FMLA right before the birth for a month to be home with the wife (she got 2 months off) then went back to work for a month to wrap things up before I quit.

I'm Not a Slacker


Tue, 02/06/2007 - 9:22am

brianc
brianc's picture
Posts: 311
 Joined: 2006-11-02
 Dad Points: 402
When To Quit

I quit my job at the ad agency I worked at about a month or so before my first child was born. I had enough of working on "the Evil Empire" of a big tobacco brand (no, I'm not bitter!-anymore), knowing well I was going to be an at-home dad for our baby. I was then asked to come back and work freelance until the baby was born, with more flexible hours until my wife went back to work. (with a bout a week off when baby was born) It worked out really well for us. I was on my wife's insurance plan all along because it was better than what I had and now I was getting paid a LOT more than I used to be with the felixibe hours you just don't find in the ad business. It was a nice segue to the best job I've ever had!


Tue, 02/06/2007 - 11:36am

shuaevan
shuaevan's picture
Posts: 197
 Joined: 2006-11-13
 Dad Points: 508
FMLA

My wife and I had two very flexible (although it is law) employers who let us both take our twelve weeks over 6 months. I took a week right after then I worked 4 days a week, then 3, then 2, then finally one day/week while my wife did the reverse (1 day, 2, 3, etc). This gave us 6 months with one of us at home at least...plus we received full money because one the days we worked we continued to accumulate sick, vacation, and personal days.

I stayed at home after the 6 months...seemed to work well on the adjustment on our end and, as you mentioned, kept us in two incomes as long as possible...with two parents working in the non-profit field it seemed a good idea.

best of luck,

Josh

SAHD Since August 2005


Tue, 02/06/2007 - 12:53pm

trophyhusband
Posts: 178
 Joined: 2006-11-27
 Dad Points: 335
The earliest you can swing it.

I'd say the earliest you can swing it. In an ideal world, I'd highly recommend starting your new job about 2 weeks before your wife is due, that way you're sure to be around, rested, and ready to roll. I'd do this even if there is going to be other family around for a while after the baby is born. If $$$ is a challenge, try to start as soon as you possibly can after delivery...it'll make for a MUCH MUCH easier transition for all 3 of you when your wife does go back to work.

I was an erstwhile grad student working remote at the time, so I was already at home for the birth of DD1...the first few weeks are gonzo crazy, but it was very VERY valuable time as a new family: valuable for my wife to have the extra support, valuable for me to start figuring out how the hell to deal with a baby, valuable for the baby since she had the opportunity to really bond with both of us. I think all 3 of us came through that initial haze better for it since it made for more "free" (=nap) time for the grown-ups...my wife and I were both able to stay better rested since we could tag-team from the outset.

Keep us posted...

- Andy
____________________________________________

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kcdad/


Tue, 02/06/2007 - 10:30pm

KevH
Posts: 365
 Joined: 2006-11-16
 Dad Points: 540
paycheck

Once we decided that I was going to stay at home (about the 4 month mark) I started putting my checks right into savings. It helped it many ways. Not only did it prove that we could survive without the income, but we also added to the savings that we probably wouldn't have done.

I'm Not a Slacker


Wed, 02/07/2007 - 1:55am

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