Ladies, would you work if you didn't have to?

Question

Ladies, pick one please...

If your family's income was such that you could choose from one of these situations, which would you choose?

A) You will stay at home and take care of the family.
B) You will work and your husband will take care of the family.
C) You and your husband will work and a stranger will take care of the family.


Keep in mind that I mean during the entire time that the children are living at home. Teenagers need at home guidance just as much as 2 year olds. That's why there is no D) Work and leave the teenagers unsupervised. That's not a healthy option. This is about healthy options.

Oh, I'd like to add that your income level allows you to choose ANY of the 3. If you choose C then you are doing it for extra money, or because you are a go-getter who likes to stay active, or some other reason but it's not because you NEED to.

Answer 1

As a wife and mother, you do work....all of the time. Your payment is not a weekly paycheck but you help run the household and believe me, I have lots of respect for women wo stay at home to care for the family. You are a housekeeper, accountant, professional shopper (for food, clothes, furniture, etc.), doctor's assistant, party planner, event planner, etc.. When you work outside of the house, you still come home to many of these same duties and still must teach children to compensate for the education that they are getting in school.

If those were my only options, I would work and have my husband care for the kids depending on who makes the most money with the better benefits.

Answer 2

Interesting question. Given only the three, I would choose A, and I'll tell you why. I adore my child, she's a gift, and I would not trust her upbringing to a stranger. Given the choice to work for selfish reasons or stay home and nurture her, she would (and does) come before work.

However, I hesitate to commit to this answer, because it is limiting. I expect that with as much money as you have hypothetically granted me, I could still work part-time (during school hours) for a non-profit agency, donating my labor and efforts for the cause. I don't think there are many good, honest people in the world who would choose to sit on their a**, and never work at all.

Answer 3

if i had had the option i would have grabbed the chance to stay home with my kids and take care of the house and family. since i was a single mom and had to work, i found a very good care provider for my kids, one who had the same beliefs and ideals as i do. she took care of my sons until they were in their early teens. luckily, my work schedule was such that by the time they were that age i was usually home about the same time as they got home from school. now my kids are grown up and i have a grandbaby on the way, and i would still jump at the chance to be able to stay home and just take care of my husband and home... unfortunately we both have to work to make ends meet.

Answer 4

B) because that's the way it is for me now. My husband works and we decided I'd stay home and homeschool our daughter. My husband was raised by his grandparents and firmly believes that the man should take care of the family. Who am I to argue with that. I worked hard enough working two jobs to put myself through school, its time I had a break.

Answer 5

i would chose A, and i have. we are lucky enough to be in a position that allows me to. my oldest is 20 and the youngest is 9. you're right about teens needing as much, if not more, guidance than the younger ones. if i hadn't been home while they were in highschool, i'd have lost my job anyway.lol. some would argue that is isn't fair to my husband but it works for us. my husband wouldn't feel good about himself if he wasn't providing for his family. i know, some find it old fashioned or an outdated way of thinking but, like i said, it's worked for us for 20 yrs. good q by the way.

Answer 6

A. That's what we are doing now, even though it has us in a cheaper house and car than we like. I get frustrated at times because I know we could have more if I worked outside the house, but realize raising children right is more important than a nice house and car. I'm also homeschooling so the schools don't raise our kids either.

Answer 7

If I could have I would have stayed home with the children and gone to school part time and when they were old enough I would they were old enough I would have had my PHD. Or if I had already the credentials I would have continued to work part time when my husband was home to keep my skills up to date and to help others.

Answer 8

What about option D) both husband and wife work part-time, taking it in turns to stay home, so each parent is able to spend quality time with the children.

HTH : )

Answer 9

do i have to pick only one?!
i'd pick A & B if i could. i like working sometimes and i hate being at home everyday all day, day after day after day after day... soooooooo boring....
plus i like my independence. i was a housewife for a while, to an abusive husband, and i had a hard time getting out without a job of my own. never again!! also, my mom was left by my dad after she chose option A for 30 yrs, and she now has no insurance, no retirement, no job skills, no income, NOTHING, and she doesn't know how to take care of herself. i don't want that. nor do i want my children to have to worry about me when i get older, if i couldn't take care of myself.

Answer 10

I stay at home with my two young children. When they are old enough to go to school, then I will work while they are there. They will not be left at home alone. Not because I don't trust them, but because I don't trust pedophiles. Women have plenty of options now days.