Economy puts stay-at-home parents back to work

KUSA - Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor show that the state's unemployment rate rose by two-tenths of a percentage point to land at 5.4 percent in August. The nation's unemployment rate is higher, at 6.1 percent. It has forced some stay-at-home moms to return to work.

"Everything's gone up, from milk to diapers to gas, to our electric bill, and so I needed to go back to work," said Anne Calladonato. "I didn't necessarily want to but it was almost like we didn't have a choice."

After staying home with her children for three years, Calladonato recently returned to work at a Maryland hospital. Her husband had been laid off from his job, and he got another one that paid significantly less.

"Life changes. You just have to accept it," she said.

Experts say one thing stay-at-home moms and dads may not be prepared for if they return to the workplace is the challenges they could face in rejoining the workforce.

"It's hard to get back in," said the Center for Work-Life Policy's Sylvia Ann Hewlitt. "If you're a college grad, you actually lose about 37 percent of your earning power if you take three years out."

Parents returning to work are also challenged with balancing their careers and family lives.

"Perhaps going from part-time to full-time work, or perhaps taking on a kind of moonlighting job at night or on the weekend, is extremely hard on families," said Hewlitt.

Regardless, parents like Anne Calladonato are satisfied with their decision.

"You have to try and make the best of it," she said.