Stay at home parents...?

Question

What do you feel are the pros and cons of being a stay at home mom or dad? My husband and I have a 19month old daughter, and my husband is the working one. The hours arent too demanding, so he still has a good ammount of time with us. I also work from home when I have the down time, because I enjoy it, and it help build a retirement income for us. We really love the situation, and cant fathom having to pay someone to raise our child for us. I know other choose differently, and thats ok. What have your experiences with stay at home parenthood been? Pros cons? How did you make the choice? Was your own mom or dad a stay at home parent, and did you appreciate it? Just wanting to hear from others in a similar situation as me. Thanks and god bless you all!

Rachele Burke
email and IM: [e-mail]
profile: www.myspace.com/rachelemonique

Answer 1

I was a stay at home mom until 4 months ago. After thinking long and hard I made my decision for 2 reasons. I want to do something with my life. Being a mom is the most important thing but I there's more that I want. I'm working now partly to save for school and partly because things happen. I'm going back to school next year to be a registered nurse. I plan on working in a birthing center. 3 days on, 3 days off will be my worl schedule. I'd still be with my kids most of the time. The other reason is because, like I said, things happen. Husbands leave, die, can become disabled, etc. What will you do then? I personally don't ever want to end up on welfare. I'm too proud to go that route. I just want to make sure my kdis can be taken care of if the unexpected happens.

Answer 2

First of my mom was a stay at home mom... she was lazy and a control freak... didn't work for me as a child... the thing was my dad wasn't aware of half of what went on once he left for work... I'm over all that now... I was able to stay home with my kids the first 6 years... I think those are the years when you bond... they learn your values and the values of the family... after being raised and treated badly as a child... I swore I would never forget what it was like to be battered or drug around the house by my hair and slam into wall... it's funny the pattern I lived with didn't even reflect how I raised my kids... I know there are mothers that have to work... there are some good day cares out there... the benefits of learning social behaviors that will help them when they start school are priceless... teachers say they can tell the difference between day care kids and one that have been home with mom... day care kids have already learned to follow rules and are accustom to the stricter routine in school... than if they were at home... your situation seems perfect... the only thing I would add is one or two days a week... maybe not even all day... having your child in an enviriment with other children... without you present... this will teach him independence and build self-esteem... thanks for a great question!!!

Answer 3

I am a stay at home mom. I get so busy that I don't even watch TV. I tivo any shows that I like and watch it with leisure later in the evenings. In the day time I spend some time on Y!A and do some chores. I maintain my house so I don't have to do a lot at once. Still there is always something to be done. I am a clean freak.

Answer 4

I am a stay at home mom. I have been for 1 year now. I have two sons and my first son, I missed everything when he was growing up. My ex quit his job two weeks after I had him and never went back to work so I was forced to go to work. I could not pump enough milk to keep my breast milk so he ended up drinking goats milk. It broke my heart. I met my husband and we had a son and he works alot and I stay at home. We have alot of bills so at times I am stressed because money is stretched so thin. But being with my son is priceless. I have worked since I was thirteen so it is difficult to let someone else do it. I never have spending money and sometimes food barely lasts untill the next paycheck but I still love being at home. I am thinking of watching 1 kid just to balnce things out. My husband does not ever know how stressed I get about having enough food. I try not to let him know he is working so hard for our family. So I usually go without food so that everyone else can eat and the food will last until the next check. It keeps me skinny but emotional, sometimes I have to hide in the bathroom and cry so no one has to see how stressed I am. I think things will get better once our bills are caught up.

Answer 5

I solely work from home. I am a contractor.

It has it's benefits because I can set my own hours and all that stuff people dream of would be nice.

However, as a new adoptive mom, it is OVERWHELMING at times because the children haven't yet realized they don't need to be with me every second of every day, and it takes away from my work.

It's getting much better, though.

BTW: My dad was the one who worked the 40+ hours, mom had a part time, 3 night a week job.

Answer 6

I stayed home with my son until I got deployed to Iraq (I'm a reservist). I'm grateful for the time I had with my little guy and wouldn't trade it for the world. But I see nothing wrong with both parents working outside the home (as I will when I return home, my son will be in school full-time). Child-rearing is a personal endeavor. Whatever course you and your partner choose must be the right one for you. We shouldn't judge the choices of others in that realm. Every family is different. My mom raised us by herself and worked full time and I never felt shortchanged in any way. I respect and admire her choices and sacrifices. Being a parent is one of the most challenging things in my life, but it has also been the most rewarding.

Answer 7

I am a single parent and chose to move in with my parents so that I could stay at home with my son. There is only so much time that he will want me around, life with your children is too short to let someone else raise them. I can't imagine not having been there for his first steps or words. Yes, money is tight but sometimes there are more important things in life than money. I also don't have alot of trust in daycares or dayhomes, I have heard too many horror stories. I think my son is better off for it because I am there for him and in the long run he won't be a wild child.

Answer 8

In some ways it is good but the draw back is your child never gets to interact with other people and kids. Your child is going to grow up and be so dependent on mom and dad that going to school by her self will be a trama. Someday she will want a life of her own and will have no social skills. You should let her experience other people because it is a big hard world out there.

Answer 9

I have been a sahm for almost 8 years, I love it, I was raised by a sahm and it shaped me into a great person. I am now going to school while my kids are in school, so when I graduate they will be in school while I am at work. I plan on being home when they get home. I thin working moms are great too because they provide for their family and work just as hard as sahm moms do, as long as we raise our kids right with morals and everything then that is all that is important

Answer 10

I went back to work part time with my first son. And I remember my mom calling me at work and told me he rolled over. I was crushed. Then I had to work his first christmas eve and christmas day. I felt like I missed out on everthing. Now with my second child I able to stay home. I love it the only thing I miss is interacting with adults and my money I brought in but nothing compares to see my son first rollover and ect. My husband works 12 hours a day now and says I dont have to go back to work untill i am ready but being a stay home mom is more work then working outside the home but to me it worth it