What Next? The Practical Side to Transitioning Home
Last time I was here, I talked about how I began my journey to homemaking. Once I came to the decision to be a homemaker full time, what was I to do? Obviously, I couldn’t just jump up from my desk chair shouting, “God is sending me home now! Nice knowing y’all!” I have the sort of job where others depend upon me, so just deciding to go home one night and never coming back would hurt others in my office as well as hurt clients.
What I needed next was a plan. Today I am going to share that plan with you in the hope that it might aid someone else wondering “What’s next?” in their journey home.
1.) Pray – I cannot say this enough. Making the change from office to home has been (and continues to be) a huge transition and bringing it to the Lord daily has made all the difference for us. There are so many things to pray over- focusing my heart on the home, strength to accept God’s leading in the financial changes that come with a transition home, prayers for discernment in knowing how God would have me use my talents at home, and so on.
2.) Consult Your Husband at All Times – Obviously, it should go without saying that I wouldn’t just drop everything and decide to come home on my own without my husband’s involvement, consent and support. This is a decision to be made with one’s husband as well as one to bring to God in prayer.
3.) Consider What a Change of Income Will Look Like – Before I even started transitioning home, my husband and I had to prayerfully consider the finances of such a move. If only one of us is working, that is a significant loss of household income. I have skills that may very well be of use to generate income while working in the home, but that still takes time to establish and cannot be guaranteed. On the plus side, if I am working in the home, I do not need lots of suits, dress shoes and all the other accoutrements of a professional worker. I also would no longer be spending quite so much on gas as I would not need to drive all over town for work anymore.
Even before transitioning home, it is important to sit down with your spouse, go over the bills and bank accounts, and set up a realistic financial plan. Going through books such as 1/2 Price Living by Ellie Kay or The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn and talking to a trusted financial planner helped us to come up with ways to cut costs and put a budget in place even before I started cutting my work hours. While this has meant lifestyle changes, I have to admit that I feel more at peace simplifying my life than I did when I worked full-time and felt like my husband and I were pulling in different directions.
4.) Break the News at Work – This was a huge practical hurdle to transitioning home that caused me lots of stress in the beginning. How was I going to tell my boss what I planned to do? There’s really no one-size-fits-all solution on how to do this. I would simply advise setting up a private meeting with your supervisor(s) and explaining the news clearly and honestly, being sure to let them know that you do not plan to leave the office in the lurch and offering to put together a plan for your exit. Be prepared to hear from your boss that the office may simply want to have you leave in 2-4 weeks and that’s it, so keep that in mind when timing your meeting with the boss.
Other workplaces will be more willing to work with you on a gradual transition; This is particularly true in professions where you may have specialized skills and be needed to train a new employee. In my case, I have some ongoing projects that are in the process of being finished as I transition out. My boss and I have set up a plan to gradually let me go from 4 days a week, to 3, to 2 and then 1. I’ve been on this track for 7 months and should be fully home sometime in 2012.
5.) Utilize Your Support Network – This is another practical consideration. Going it alone, particularly in this type of transition, would be very daunting. I highly recommend being open about your plan to family and close friends as they can be a great source of emotional support. The older women in your life can often be a helpful source of homemaking advice as well!
6.) Schedule Your Time! – Just as you need a financial plan to transition home smoothly, you’ll need an action plan for your homemaking as well. Prayerfully consider how God will have you serve from home. It can be very easy to find yourself overscheduled in church groups and volunteer work if you are not mindful of how you will spend your time. If you have children, obviously their needs will dictate much of how your time will be spent. However, even if you do not have children, I can tell you from esperience that it is extremely easy to underestimate how much time it will take you to care for the home and minister to your spouse. Again, setting up the schedule before the actual move home makes the whole process go much more smoothly and it also helps you set goals for the work of ministering in the home.
If you’re contemplating a move from office to home, I hope you find this helpful. I would be thrilled to hear from you; if you have any other questions about the practical side of this transition, please let me know in the comments and I’ll answer as best I can.
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These are all very wise and practical steps to take. And yay for you getting to stay home
Thank you, Hollie! It’s been an adventure, but a very good one so far.
This is excellent advice Amy. I particularly like the gradual decline in days, something that is very important to consider. Also the financial issues. You need to be practical in mKing this decision. Did you find your work colleagues understanding in your decision? Did some say “I wish I could do the same”? I have heard the later quite a few times. You should write an e-book on this topic. Many women would find it so useful:) and inspiring.
Jo – Some of my work colleagues were extremely supportive. There are several women in my office who mentioned that they wished they could do likewise. However, there are a couple of women who are outspoken feminists and they made it very clear that they thought I was setting a bad example and “wasting my degree”. That was difficult, but it didn’t shake my conviction that I have made the right choice for me and my husband.
I like your ebook idea! I am by no means a wise and seasoned expert, though.
Perhaps someday….
I am so glad you have written this post. I just believe that there is not enough information out there about making the transition from work to home. I have read 1/2 Price Living, but a book that really helped me was: You Can Afford to Stay at Home with Your Kids. Thanks to that book and some other life changes, my last day of work will be in two weeks. I am a little nervous about making the transition but I cannot think of a better way to spend my time than investing in my home, my marriage and my children. Finances may be tighter than usual, but we have already been taking some money-saving steps and I am excited to learn even more about how to make my husband’s salary go farther. I hope things go well in your endeavors.