Before a couple sets in and decides who is and who is not going to stay at home with the children. There are some things that they should consider. This is especially true before the wife puts it upon the husband to stay home and be the caregiver.
In a previous article, I discussed the coming trend of men staying at home. However, before you call your husband’s boss and say that he quits, there are some issues to ponder.
First, is it reasonable? Can either of you afford to quit your job? Pull out the calculator and do the math. Can the one salary pay all of the bills plus the extras? Be sure to calculate those surprises that also pop up during the month.
Second, will there be any benefits that are lost? Insurance can be very expensive. It may be worth keeping a job just to keep the coverage. So consider who has the insurance and the benefits before deciding who is going to quit.
Third, weigh the cost. Calculate the cost of childcare and determine if it is worth anyone quitting (other than just wanting one of you to be there with your child).
Fourth, what about retirement? Make sure that you are still saving for a retirement plan.
Fifth, can you as the mom handle your husband staying at home? Make sure that you can let go and let him take over while you are not there. You will have to give your husband a lot of responsibility and realize that he will be making a lot of decisions when the children are concerned. Are you ready to let him do that?
Whichever one of you decides to stay at home, the most important thing is to be supportive of each other and never take each other for granted. You must always work as a team and remember that each of you is an essential part of the relationship and both partners are important contributors.
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