If the idea of having a child later in life appeals to you while still keeping your career going, can you handle the two?
Yes, doing both is attainable for many women out there.
In a joint 2020 study from SoFi and Modern Fertility, some 60% of women stated they’d hold off on having a baby. That is until later due to money. Meantime, a little more than 50% said having a high salary before raising a child is critical to them.
So, if having a career and child later in life is something you are going after, how best to achieve this?
You Can Successfully Do Both
When being an older Mom is your goal while still having your career, here are some things to think about:
1. Making it all work out financially – With all the expenses that go into having a child, be sure that money is not an issue. Depending on the type of job you have, you may or may not be in a good financial position now. The hope is not only do you have your income to rely on, but you also have a partner in the picture. Sit down and think about projected costs for having a child and if you can meet them. Not only is there the cost of having the baby, but also the care after they are born. You also have to think about if you will go back to work at some point or be a full-time mother as your main job. By thinking all the financial things through, you will be in a better place to make it all happen.
2. What type of job do you have? – Depending on the type of job you have, you may well be able to make it all work out. For example, if you work from home permanently, it can make it easier on raising a child. Even though you still may look for some help such as a nanny, you can be at home with your baby the bulk of the time. There is no need to worry about a daily commute to and from work and so on. If you run your own business from home, this can be an even better situation. That is you are not reliant on an employer to sign off on all your requests to be at home with your child and still working. Think about your job situation and how having a newborn will impact it now and moving ahead.
3. Getting help from others – Don’t hesitate to seek help from those around you. That is when having a child and career later in life. From your partner who is hopefully in the picture to other family and friends let them help you out when needed. Having such a support system to lean on can make a real difference in your life. When it comes to your job, if you have co-workers in the picture, see what help they can offer too at times.
When deciding to balance a child and career later in life, you can make it work if you put your mind to it.
