Life after being a SAHM

[BekZ]

I have found the thread Life before being a SAHM really interesting...but I am also interested to read about peoples intentions/aspirations/palns for returning to work/study/ or just regaining some personal identity back.

I am constantly thinking about life after being a SAHM and to date I am still stumped as to what I REALLY want to do and which is the best option for me.

[Tinks]

When my youngest went to school I felt exactly like I did at the end of year 12. I had no idea what to do with my new found freedom. I applied for jobs which I didn't get so ended up going to uni. Now I've got myself a job and love it, I had a semester off uni, I've enrolled for next semester. I can't wait!

[AnyDream]

I found a couple of baaaaaad poorly paying jobs and it was just the incentive i needed to take myself off to TAFE for 2 years and get myself a new career in a well-paying sector that appreciates my innate talents! I SAHM'd for > 4 years and the thing that kept me sane during that time was exploring a whole lot of things I was interested in via night classes and short courses. Did things like photography, pottery, Auslan, writing poetry, candlemaking, bellydancing, etc. Also made a point of going out to info sessions and short talks at the public library (lots of different topics).

[BekZ]

Tinkerbell - How did you decide "what" you wanted to study?

MD - I am planning on doing some small courses next year. My first one is learning how to sew. I also need to do some sort of self discovery and learn about being just being me.

[Anila]

Hmm, interesting, life after being a sahm, to be honest i have no idea what im going to do once i no longer am needed for this job.

I used to work in childcare, but i really dont want to go back there, i thought about studying, but not sure what carer takes my fancy, i did think about midwifery, as i have given birth so many times, i could see myself helping others to give birth, but i have lost my own identity atm, that trying to find a carer path now is kinda pointless for me.
So i will just continue to be a sahm, and hope that once it is over i will have a life to call my own.
(Dont get me wrong, i love being a sahm.)

[Just Me]

I think about this a lot too. I didn't realise that there were other people out there that had no idea what they want to do after they aren't a SAHM anymore. I have absolutely no idea. I was a teacher before I became a SAHM and I don't think I want to teach anymore. I did it for five years and that was enough for me.

I am thinking of going back to uni once my youngest starts kindy (which will still be about 4 years away) but I have no idea what I want to study. I have looked at a few different options but really don't know.

My DH is a business manager for the Townsville branch of an international company and he does all the hiring of his own staff. I will probably work a couple of days a week for him while I study. He already employs me 15 hours a week to do data entry stuff that I can do from home. He thinks it is funny that he is my boss

I am interested to see what other people want to do as I have no idea.

Great thread!

[danniellabella]

I was lucky enough to find a full-time job within about 15 mins of home when DD was 4.5 months old. I didn't mind the being home part, but didn't like the constant un-predictableness of having an infant. I felt out of control. I am a fairly structured person who likes to know what the day will bring and likes to plan ahead which is fairly hard with an infant. Also DH had quit his job due to stress so I had to work.

I've worked in admin for the past 5 years so I found it easy to get a job. However, when I tried on the clothes that I was going to wear for my interview I felt out of my depth and like I was "faking it" as I didn't feel capable or confident to have a career anymore. But, once I had the suit on for the interview and got out of the house, I suddenly got my confidence back and excelled in the interview. I started working 4 days later and even though it was a brand new job, the part of being at work was great and I felt like myself again. I think the experience will hopefully better prepare me for when I have my next bub.

[Tinks]

Tinkerbell - How did you decide "what" you wanted to study?

I tossed up between nursing and teaching. In the end I went for teaching purely for the working hours and holidays. Fickle I know but I live an hour away from a hospital so the hours I'd be away from home would be less if I was a teacher.

[BekZ]

I tossed up between nursing and teaching. In the end I went for teaching purely for the working hours and holidays. Fickle I know but I live an hour away from a hospital so the hours I'd be away from home would be less if I was a teacher.

I am tossing up between these 2 options too. Although I am thinking of doing a teacher aid course initially to test the waters. I like the idea of having school holidays off.On the other hand I love babies so midwifery is a real interest for me...