- Date : 23/02/2021
- Read: 5 mins
Working women planning to quit and become a stay-at-home mother should ask themselves these 8 questions before resigning from their job.
Motherhood is one of the most fulfilling phases of a woman’s life. She nurtures, moulds, and mentors her children to become responsible adults. However, motherhood can also put working women in a quandary. For various reasons, they feel compelled to quit their job and become full-time mothers.
If you are in the same boat and are planning to quit and be a full-time mother, you may want to consider these 8 things before you resign:
1. Is it just a temporary feeling?
Before resigning, you should ask yourself whether the urge to quit is temporary. Although you might be using motherhood to justify the need to quit, the real reasons may be something else. It could be a bad boss, or hectic working hours, or the need to conform with societal norms.
So, think it over. Figure whether you consistently feel the urge to quit. Evaluate other options – for instance, would you consider working in another company that offers a better work-life balance? The pandemic has forced several companies to offer employees the choice to work from home. Would you rather work for a company that provides such an option?
Compose your resignation email but don’t send it yet. Just save it in the draft folder. Consider all the options at your disposal and be certain that you want to quit before pressing the send button.
Related: 7 Entrepreneur and Celebrity mothers share their secrets to success
2. Will your spouse’s income be enough?
Dual-income couples are no longer an exception today. Thanks to rising prices across the board, it makes sense for both partners to work. It is highly likely that there are ongoing EMIs. You may also not want to change the lifestyle your family is used to. Cutting back could lead to several complications.
Before resigning, you should evaluate whether your spouse’s income would be enough to cover all these. If not, you may want to defer your decision to quit.
3. Will your family’s financial future be impacted?
All parents would want their children to avail of the best possible opportunities in life. They would like to provide the best education and an excellent lifestyle for their children. Apart from this, spouses would also need to create a corpus for major milestones in life, including a nest egg for retirement.
When you aren’t earning an income, it may become difficult to achieve these milestones. Your family may have to either compromise on their aspirations or defer these milestones. Therefore, it is critical that you take these factors into account before planning to put in your papers.
4. Can you cope with being a stay-at-home mom?
A job is much more than an activity that helps us earn money. For many of us, it also helps us to define a purpose in life. We get used to a certain routine. It is not easy for a working professional to suddenly quit and become a stay-at-home parent. As a responsible mother, you are likely to run the household efficiently. But would you be able to deal with your loss of identity as a working professional?
Related: Debunking 7 myths about working moms
5. Are you hoping to re-enter the workforce later?
We live in a dynamic world where employment trends are changing rapidly. We often underestimate the impact a mid-career sabbatical can have on long-term career prospects. So, if you have aspired to build a fulfilling career, taking a long break to raise children can impede your chances of re-entering the workforce. According to an online survey, 70% of women who quit their jobs were unable to get back later.
Therefore, even though you may not be employed as a working professional, it is recommended that you keep in touch with your ex-colleagues and keep building your professional network. You could also pick up certifications or learn new skills to enhance your chances of being recruited whenever you look for a job.
6. Do you intend to pick up any new skills?
Although you might have been a capable employee with substantial experience, there could be instances when your background is considered to be redundant by employers. So, you may have to keep an open mind about either upskilling yourself, or pursuing courses that could equip you with relevant skills. This can help you rejoin after a break and still be an asset to your workplace.
7. Are you open to freelance opportunities?
The freelancing industry, or the ‘gig economy’ as it is popularly known these days, has grown significantly in India over the past decade. Presently there are more than 15 million freelancers in the country. It has been estimated that the freelancing industry in India would be worth a whopping $20 billion by 2025. However, only 20% of these freelancers are women.
If you are planning to quit your job, you could consider exploring freelancing opportunities. You would not only earn money but also be in touch with your skills. In some cases, a freelance opportunity could evolve into a profitable business. If you aren’t adept at acquiring new customers through your network, there are several websites and marketplaces that will enable you to apply or bid for freelance projects.
Related: Managing a child’s financial expenses: A mother’s perspective
8. Are you prepared for the worst?
Nobody gets married imagining that things will go south. Yet, many marriages fall apart and the couple decides to get divorced. Although the concept of alimony does exist in our legal system, there could be instances when you may not receive enough to get by. Or worse, a contested divorce could stretch on for years. In such a case, it’s imperative to remain financially independent. But it might be difficult for you to rejoin the workforce after a long break.
Resigning from a full-time job for being a full-time mother is an intensely personal decision. Therefore, you must consider these factors and maybe even discuss them with your spouse, friends, or close family members before you ultimately take a decision. A mother’s guide to raising financially responsible children
Motherhood is one of the most fulfilling phases of a woman’s life. She nurtures, moulds, and mentors her children to become responsible adults. However, motherhood can also put working women in a quandary. For various reasons, they feel compelled to quit their job and become full-time mothers.
If you are in the same boat and are planning to quit and be a full-time mother, you may want to consider these 8 things before you resign:
1. Is it just a temporary feeling?
Before resigning, you should ask yourself whether the urge to quit is temporary. Although you might be using motherhood to justify the need to quit, the real reasons may be something else. It could be a bad boss, or hectic working hours, or the need to conform with societal norms.
So, think it over. Figure whether you consistently feel the urge to quit. Evaluate other options – for instance, would you consider working in another company that offers a better work-life balance? The pandemic has forced several companies to offer employees the choice to work from home. Would you rather work for a company that provides such an option?
Compose your resignation email but don’t send it yet. Just save it in the draft folder. Consider all the options at your disposal and be certain that you want to quit before pressing the send button.
Related: 7 Entrepreneur and Celebrity mothers share their secrets to success
2. Will your spouse’s income be enough?
Dual-income couples are no longer an exception today. Thanks to rising prices across the board, it makes sense for both partners to work. It is highly likely that there are ongoing EMIs. You may also not want to change the lifestyle your family is used to. Cutting back could lead to several complications.
Before resigning, you should evaluate whether your spouse’s income would be enough to cover all these. If not, you may want to defer your decision to quit.
3. Will your family’s financial future be impacted?
All parents would want their children to avail of the best possible opportunities in life. They would like to provide the best education and an excellent lifestyle for their children. Apart from this, spouses would also need to create a corpus for major milestones in life, including a nest egg for retirement.
When you aren’t earning an income, it may become difficult to achieve these milestones. Your family may have to either compromise on their aspirations or defer these milestones. Therefore, it is critical that you take these factors into account before planning to put in your papers.
4. Can you cope with being a stay-at-home mom?
A job is much more than an activity that helps us earn money. For many of us, it also helps us to define a purpose in life. We get used to a certain routine. It is not easy for a working professional to suddenly quit and become a stay-at-home parent. As a responsible mother, you are likely to run the household efficiently. But would you be able to deal with your loss of identity as a working professional?
Related: Debunking 7 myths about working moms
5. Are you hoping to re-enter the workforce later?
We live in a dynamic world where employment trends are changing rapidly. We often underestimate the impact a mid-career sabbatical can have on long-term career prospects. So, if you have aspired to build a fulfilling career, taking a long break to raise children can impede your chances of re-entering the workforce. According to an online survey, 70% of women who quit their jobs were unable to get back later.
Therefore, even though you may not be employed as a working professional, it is recommended that you keep in touch with your ex-colleagues and keep building your professional network. You could also pick up certifications or learn new skills to enhance your chances of being recruited whenever you look for a job.
6. Do you intend to pick up any new skills?
Although you might have been a capable employee with substantial experience, there could be instances when your background is considered to be redundant by employers. So, you may have to keep an open mind about either upskilling yourself, or pursuing courses that could equip you with relevant skills. This can help you rejoin after a break and still be an asset to your workplace.
7. Are you open to freelance opportunities?
The freelancing industry, or the ‘gig economy’ as it is popularly known these days, has grown significantly in India over the past decade. Presently there are more than 15 million freelancers in the country. It has been estimated that the freelancing industry in India would be worth a whopping $20 billion by 2025. However, only 20% of these freelancers are women.
If you are planning to quit your job, you could consider exploring freelancing opportunities. You would not only earn money but also be in touch with your skills. In some cases, a freelance opportunity could evolve into a profitable business. If you aren’t adept at acquiring new customers through your network, there are several websites and marketplaces that will enable you to apply or bid for freelance projects.
Related: Managing a child’s financial expenses: A mother’s perspective
8. Are you prepared for the worst?
Nobody gets married imagining that things will go south. Yet, many marriages fall apart and the couple decides to get divorced. Although the concept of alimony does exist in our legal system, there could be instances when you may not receive enough to get by. Or worse, a contested divorce could stretch on for years. In such a case, it’s imperative to remain financially independent. But it might be difficult for you to rejoin the workforce after a long break.
Resigning from a full-time job for being a full-time mother is an intensely personal decision. Therefore, you must consider these factors and maybe even discuss them with your spouse, friends, or close family members before you ultimately take a decision. A mother’s guide to raising financially responsible children
