If you could afford to be a SAHM , look after the kids and house, and not work outside of the home , would you

Answer 1

Absolutely. Of course, I might decide I hated it, but then I would at least know I hated it and wouldn't idealize it.

Answer 2

We can, and I do, afford to stay at home with our 2year old daughter.

I'll admit that I get stir crazy sometimes, but I wouldn't trade it for getting to work with my daughter and see all the changes and things she learns how to do. She is very well behaved, and though she doesn't talk a LOT, when she DOES, she speaks pretty clearly. Many people think she's older than she is BECAUSE she's so well behaved. I also have her help me around the house, and she's able to follow directions better than my 3 year old nephew does (my sister works outside of the home and he's ALWAYS at the babysitter's).

The only "problem" (if you will) that we've run into is that some parents come up and ask often if she's the only child.....they say it's noticeable because she's quieter around other kids. My counter to this, however, is that she doesn't cut in line on the slide, push others out of the way, bite, kick, or hit, and she doesn't scream at the top of her lungs while running around like a chicken with her head cut off. She might be quiet, but at 2 she's already learned to wait her turn in line for the slide, she's starting to learn 'please' and 'thank you', she shares toys readily, and she involves both younger AND older children in her play.

From seeing how SHE acts compared to how other kids act, I've personally seen that the benefits of not having that second income really DO outweigh the need FOR the second income.

Answer 3

Yes. I have been a SAHM for several years now.

My kids are now in school full-time, and I'm looking for work outside the home. It's daunting. I don't look good on paper anymore!

I would recommend those wanting to stay at home keep a very, very part time job during that period. It will make them much more employable later when they want to go back to work!

Answer 4

Re.: "By the way SAHM's better have genius kids because they definitely aren't doing anything else!"

Well, my mother did; four of them. Gifted-program victims all of us.

Yes, I'd stay home -- er, will stay home. I wasn't doing much after university anyway...

SAHMing shouldn't be an ill-educated, low-skill job. I think that's where the problems lie. I'm a little weary of impassioned defences of staying at home that involve a tonne of spelling errors. It does suck that so many of the better-educated mothers tend to be the ones that 'have' to work -- it's one thing to quit a job as a clerk in a store; quite another to drop a professional career for several years.

My mother got a degree and stayed home; I think she made an interesting career out of it, and it certainly worked to my (and my siblings') benefit.

That said, I expect I'd feel differently if she'd abandoned a job she loved and was made miserable by it.

Answer 5

Yes, and I am. Although I do part time work now that my kids are older. (Which I'm supposed to be doing right now, instead of doing this!)
I found it too stressful having to work and bring up children. I was short changing my kids - always tired and stressed.
Now my house is cleaner, my husband is free from doing the housework, my kids are better looked after.
It's an individual choice.
I have a lot of occupy me, am never bored and no, I don't ever watch tv during the day. I sometimes do get lonely, but you soon find other people who have the same viewpoint as you and it means you can have company and stimulating conversation.

Answer 6

I am one, we cut back on a lot of expenses, we don't go out to eat, we don't travel as much if at all, we don't go to movies and do all those things we could do if we had a second paycheck. Only one car, no house phone, just cell phones, stuff like that. I have raised all 3 of my boys and will raise the twins also. I love my kids, and as much as I miss adult contact sometimes, I step back and look at how lucky I am. Some women don't have the choice, they have to work.

Answer 7

that's what I do and it is a true blessing for me and my kids, I think that for my family it is what's best... I know that not all families can afford to do so, but it was really important for me to be home and spend as much time with my children as I can and be as involved with their daily lives as possible, I feel that it helps to make my children trust me more because they know I will always be there for them, and I beleive that it build confidence in them.. my youngest son is 3 and when he is ready to go to school I think that I will look for a part time job to help with the finances and my own feelings of self worth,

Answer 8

I don't think I could ever be a stay-at-home-mom. I mean, to each his own, you know? But to me, and it's not to sound selfish, my intellectual and professional growth should always have an important spot in my life. Sure, my kids would have top priority, but that doesn't necessarily mean I would have to flush my career goals down the drain.

Answer 9

No, I would still like to work part time if I could. I'm used to working, and supporting myself and now my daughter too, and it would be hard for me not to do that. Plus working part time would get me out of the house for some "me" time, but it would still be benefitting and contributing to the family.

Answer 10

Maybe for the first few years but I would need other things to stimulate my mind, and as soon as the kiddies are gone I would go back to the workforce! There's nothing like a stimulating conversation with another adult!

Answer 11

No, personally, I wouldn't; I really like my career. My mom, his nana, looks after my son and I know he is safe and happy with her. When I get home from work, my son is so excited to see me and I love spending the evenings with him. I would ideally like to work part-time, but I am an accountant and my position doesn't allow that. I love my career and my family dearly; ladies we can do it all - career woman, mom and wife. I do it and I love it!