Parents have only one chance to raise their children. If they squander that chance, most will regret it the rest of their lives. As a financial counselor, my purpose is to help working mothers who want to stay home examine the decisions they must make, prepare for the inevitable changes that will come, and anticipate some of the problems that may result from their decision.' Outside influences are wreaking havoc on family values. Now is the time for mothers to find a way to spend more time with their children. Two-income families outweigh single-income families three to one. Home-based businesses are becoming the trend. Larry Burkett gives insightful, practical counsel on how to survive the cutback from two incomes to one.Larry thoughtfully deals with a wide range of topics. - Preparing to live on one income - Developing and living on a budget - Dealing with the lack of self-esteem - Coping with an unsupportive spouse - Creating income while staying at home - Being willing to make sacrifices - Reentering the workforceWomen who have made the transition from marketplace to home share honest, personal accounts of victories, setbacks, fears, and joys. If you desire to be a stay-at-home mom but fear financial disaster, Women Leaving the Workplace will help guide you in the right direction.

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the Workplace. Another thing I found disappointing was a few of his "inspirational" stories. One woman writes how she wanted to stay home so bad that she quit her job at a time when her husband also had no job ( he was a student at the time). I find this irresponsible not "inspirational." Another woman writes "There isn't a day that he (her husband) isn't in extreme back pain,...." ( from him working so hard to support the family). This is "inspirational? " The women also writes that their kitchen is "overflowing with food from our church." I believe there is a place for charity but I do not see depending on charity so I can stay home with my family as an option for me. That is why I am reading books like this, to try an avoid this! The chapter titled "Are You Wasting Your Education?" caught my attention (I have a Civil Engineering degree), he writes "... an extended education can be very useful after the children have left home." Not really practical in many professions. Also he is saying it is useful AFTER the children have left, what about while the children are at home? I read Larry Burkett's "Financial Guide for Young Couples" and I found this to be a much better book for dealing with at least the financial aspect of living on one income.

10 of 10 found the following review helpful:

Good PerspectiveNov 07, 2003

I read this book while pregnant with my first child and it was helpful. Larry Burkett gives a good perspective on the pros/cons of being a stay-at-home parent. Initially, I wondered why a man would write this book since most stay-at-home parents are women. But once I began reading, I realized that he includes many true family stories as examples. Stories about faith AND practicality make this book authentic. He also includes information about personalities, including a personality test for both Mom and Dad. The budget section is gives a good basis for evaluating finances as well. Overall, a great read for parents/soon-to-be parents who are considering staying at home.

15 of 17 found the following review helpful:

A How-To GuideFeb 01, 2000

A good how-to guide on leaving the workplace to be with your children. The author is a conservative Christian and can get a little annoying with some of his views. Still, he helped me organize my thoughts about how it can be done and still manage financially. There are no miraculous insights for someone who has already thought about the options, and like one of the other reviewers said, some of the stories are extreme. On the whole, though, I found it to be inspiring. Some of the topics he deals with are: living on one income, planning the move, organizing your time, keeping yourself stimulated, homeschooling, and enlisting the support of your husband.

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:

Excellent and eye-openingAug 16, 2001

This book helped us join the millions of other families who realized that Mom at home could not only be good for the family, but econommically viable. The worksheets really helped us see the costs of working (travel, car, clothing, daycare) which can be added back to the budget, which adds balance to the obvious loss of income. We've never been happier. The book also helps you focus your priorities. What IS important to you? Highly recommended. ST, JT

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:

This book literally changed my lifeMar 02, 1999

After having my 3rd child at age 38, I wanted more than anything to stay home with that baby. Although it seemed unthinkable for the family to be able to get along without my paycheck, I read this book looking for some hope (I was still on maternity leave).

Larry Burkett offered very practical advice on preparing to leave your job, and avoid having to return more in-debt a year or so later. He also polled several women that had done it, and the book is sprinkled with their heartwarming stories. It gave me the courage to follow his step-by-step instructions, and leave my full-time management job within a year of reading the book.

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