New life- need career.

I have to say I agree with Liz, I'm not sure there are many WAH jobs that would pay enough. I do know that they have been encouraging military wives to become medical transcriptionist, because it is something you can do from home. When I did research on it though, it looked like most companies prefered you to have done some office work in the field before they would allow you to work from home.

As for schooling... Nursing is always a good career if your interested in it, Dental Hygeniest I believe is a two year degree that brings in good money. I'm majoring in Human Resource Management, because it seems to be a growing field... None of those jobs are WAH jobs though.

I agree... it's going to be hard to find a WAH job that brings in enough...

Heather is right about this. I have a friend who has been doing medical transcription for about 18 years. I considered doing this after I had Emily, and Sunni told me that it would be nearly impossible, if not just plain impossible, to find work at home as a medical transcriptionist without having done transcription in an office. It's a fairly competitive field, so having that office experience is the key, she said.
I think Heather made some good suggestions. Nursing is hard work, but nurses are in high demand. I know my mom's oncologist office was offering a huge signing bonus and all kinds of incentives for new-hire nurses last year. You could also be fairly flexible, working weekends or nights instead of regular doctor's office hours. But again, you'll work your butt off.
My cousin is a dental hygienist, and though she has a four year degree, some schools offer a two year degree, and you do make good money doing it. My dental hygienist is a single mom.
A lot of it depends on what you like to do and what you are good at.
I know you want to avoid day care if at all possible, but the thing is, we are talking about a lifetime career here and lots of money and time invested into a degree. The best choice would be what you will enjoy doing that will at the same time bring in enough money to give you and the kids a good life.

Nursing would give you the option of working nights and will support a family. I personally am looking in to becoming an Ocupational Therapy Assistant. Less of an option of working nights, but it's another 2 yr degree that will pay the bills and has job stability.

Nursing is hard work, but nurses are in high demand. I know my mom's oncologist office was offering a huge signing bonus and all kinds of incentives for new-hire nurses last year. You could also be fairly flexible, working weekends or nights instead of regular doctor's office hours. But again, you'll work your butt off.

**** Just some insights on considering nursing.... sorry if it's a little off topic. Just general statement... nothing meant towards anyone in this post/thread. ************

Nursing is EXTREMELY hard work. There are a lot of people that think, oh it's a GREAT paycheck. Only go into nursing if it's something you really want to do, not b/c it's a "good paycheck" because it's not. Sign on bonuses are a one-time deal and the hourly rate we are paid for the amount of work required really is nowhere near enough. There are some days that I just want to find something less stressful, for sure. Nurses today are much more than "bedpan" placers. We pretty much have to think like a physician and be a patient advocate. We train new grads, orient new RN"s and do a lot of education with ancillary services and their students. We have clinical time for RN students, CNA students, Med Students & Residents - student MD's can be a REAL pain, EMT's, etc....... You have to be there b/c you want to be..... you are there for your patients.... If you are there just for the paycheck, don't even bother.

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As for dental hygiene - mine really seems to love her job. She's amazingly gentle and is very positive about it. You can help patients, be an educator and advocate for dental health.

Kim, I agree with you totally. It's the same with becoming a teacher. People go into it because of summers off, being on the same schedule with their kids, etc. They think it's an easy job with set hours and all this time off, but it's so much more than that, and it's just like nursing, if your heart is not in it, you should not do it. Okay, Tonya, sorry we hijacked your thread!

Exactly Tammy.

Sorry Tonya!!!!

Complete agree... Nursing is something someone should do ONLY if they want to, because it's what they want to do.

I have a friend who lives in Tx who does ebay, but it's for fun money. She's like LIz, she makes good money at it but doesn't do it full time. It is hard work too!

Pretty much most things that you would make enough to support your family will require schooling/training. My friend's an athletic trainer. She had a hard time finding a decent job - might just be b/c where she's at, but if you have an investment in AT or PT, I'd finish out being a PT. It seems like it would be an interesting, fulfilling job with very good job placement. The PT's I work with seem to like their jobs & there is always some sort of job opening available.

I'm thinking about going back to school. I was going to go for my Nurse Practitioner, but I'm thinking I might look into Pharmacy school or something in law.