Can’t Believe I Am Saying No... Maybe?

[melilley]

Sounds like you've already made your decision. Would you look back in 10 years when the kids are much older and regret that you weren't home for them like you wanted to be?

If you financially don't need the job then refuse the position in such a way that the doors are still open should you change your mind down the road.

There will always be job opportunities and time to make money when the kids are grown. They are only little for a very short time and they will remember that you were there for them and that can't be replaced

[daycarediva]

I though about the money a bit more myself.. they are offering more than I would make with 4 kids enrolled, but after my expenses are added up to take the job.. someone to watch my kids, get them on the bus, gas for my van etc.. I would now only have left an amount less than what I would make with 2 kids enrolled. Plus to pick up and drop off my kids every day would have me leaving at 630 am and getting home at 530 pm. Now that the shock of being offered this opportunity has settled down, my decision to turn it down is making lots more sense.

I think it's the right decision, as well.

It makes sense to stay home and 'earn less' (actually net more, since you have fewer expenses) and spend more time with your children.

My husband is self employed, and my kids LOVE LOVE LOVE when he doesn't have work for a few weeks and is a stay at home Dad. The flexibility it allows our family is PRICELESS. He just turned down a full time/regular job to continue to pursue his company.

I am the breadwinner this year. It hasn't affected our relationship one bit.

[TwinKristi]

The only option that would be worth going back is if you could afford a personal nanny that was able to get kids off to school, take youngest places during the day, get kids at school, to sports, etc. but would that benefit you financially? And do you want to do that? Sounds like no!
The only reason this would really help you is if you weren't able to stay empty for a period of time. The reason I got my license was because I was being asked to watch more than one family's child per day and needed a license to do so. I wasn't advertising or "trying" to get work. Then the kids fizzled out (1 started Kindy, 1 started PT preschool, one mom quit to be a SAHM...) so I was working very little and started advertising. I filled one spot quickly and then the others followed in the next year. For me to work outside the home and make money I would have to make a LOT of money! We have 6 kids, 3 need after school and summer care and 1 would need FT care. Add sick days, holidays, sports... It's just not possible for ME to make that much now aside from doing this but my dh's income alone doesn't allow for many extras that we enjoy with me working from home. At this point I basically pay for rent and either all the food or all the utilities. So now dh's income isn't as necessary and he's been able to lighten his work load and be home more as well. It works out well and I'm not even at capacity.

[Margarete]

You can always let them know you could do the job temporarily on your terms if they are really in a bind, and can't get someone in, and trained as fast as they would like. Well if it can't go out the door till you approve it, then they will just have to wait to go out the door. Tell them this is when I could come in, and this is when I would have to leave. I can help to train the new person who will be able to meet the hours you need someone to be there. Then you get some 'training experience' on your resume, you update your personal references, and move on.
If they pass on your offer, then that's fine too.
That is IF putting your youngest in someone elses care temporarily is something you are willing to do.

[Crazy8]

honestly, it sounds like you are happiest being a SAHD and not in much of a rush to even start your daycare. Like a previous post said, taking on daycare children will probably put a damper on some of the flexibility in the things you mention as the reasons you don't want to take the outside the home job. I can't get my children to their 4:30-5:00pm practices - I need to rely on others to do it for me. So when weighing pros and cons I think I'd come up with a different answer weighing as SAHP vs. the job offer than I would weighing it as full time DC Provider vs. the job offer, especially once my children are all in school full days (which I assume yours will be since youngest is 5 now).