Are at Home moms Considerd not driven?

Question

Hey,
recently during a conversation with a girl friend of mine, who is a mother of a 16yr old and who works and she is also 32yrs old...informed me she could never be an at home mom, because she is "too business driven", I kinda chuckled and responded to her with, well why would you think I am not business driven, just because I care for my kids, and husband? lol...actually it was eye opening..I have worked and stayed home my kids are 6yr, and 4yrs. I just was surprised...The question is are at home moms' not driven or dont we provide a need, that alot of people consider priceless? Any thoughts!??
Thanks.

Answer 1

Well perhaps your friend wasn't passing judgement, but rather stating that for her, the passion to be working or involved in business outweighs her passion to be at home taking care of the kids. I actually think women are weighed down with guilt. We work outside the home, and feel guilty that we can't or aren't staying home being suzie home-maker. We stay at home, and feel guilty that we aren't out in the work force earning money and bringing home some bacon. So because of the guilt, instead of simply saying, "that decision doesn't work for me." we have to say something that involves judgement. For me personally, I don't really know what the point of having kids is if you are going to ship them off to strangers each and every day, and while they are little, staying home makes more sense. Once the kids begin to get older, if one has that need to gain a sense of fulfillment by working, then it is easy to schedule work around school schedules, or perhaps compromise with a part-time job, or just a few days of day care, versus the entire week. Unfortunately, many women don't have that choice, they must work. I know many at home moms who are more driven than women who work outside the home. A person can be driven, it just depends, driven to do what exactly?

Answer 2

Working moms are also suffering with illnesses that used to be known only as men's illnesses years ago, and are all stress related.
Tell her this, I have a friend who stays home for many years to be there for the kids [6-16] and home. She is 44 and she is a medical doctor. I'd say she's quite driven.
The women I know who work outside the home are always complaining of being tired.

Answer 3

My wife stays home all but two days a week and would love to go down to one day. She is driven as you seem to be to provide for your children. That, as the old cliche says, is a full time job.

Why do people have children if they are not willing to raise them? If you are a "Business woman," fine do that. Children have enough problems in life without part time parents.

I am glad my wife feels strongly about our children and her dedication shows in the amount of learning and obedience they show. Even though my younger son has a speech problem he has come along because my wife has done so much.

Finally, I have seen many women that work 40+ hours and they are not driven in the least.

Answer 4

Stay at home moms are driven.... I am a stay at home mom after 20 years in the work force i am 38 and i have a new born she is 11 months old and caring for her and my husband is more time consuming and hard than working any full time job.... My daughter is my joy, my miracle she was born at 6 1/2 months and was only 2 lb 6.6 oz. She is a fighter and is doing wonderfully her dr.s say you cant tell she was a micro-preemie by her development she only looks to be about 7 1/2 months old.

Answer 5

It's unbelievable that people would still down a stay at home mom, but I'm one too and I know where you're coming from. I've also been told that there are "lots of ways to go out and get a job if I really wanted one". Like I'm lazy and just sit on my tushy all day. What a stay at home mom and wife offers is absolutely priceless!!! We raise our own children (gasp...who ever would've thought of such a thing!) and provide a family atmosphere instead of the ever looming deadline at work that also takes away from at home family time. I just try my best to grin and not worry about what anyone else says. I love my family and they love me and respect what I do and that's what really matters.

Answer 6

This is one that has always gotten to me, the knocks against stay at home moms. I'm a mom of 5 that has to work not just cause of the financial situation but also for my sanity! My job outside the home is what i consider my vactation/relaxing time away from my real job at home. To say that a stay at home mom is not driven is so wrong! A stay at home mom actually has 3 full time jobs, babysitter, maid and cook, along with serveral part time jobs, chauffer, seamstress, laundress, nurse and the list goes on. What could be more driven then that?
My hat goes off to stay at home moms!! You guys are super!

Answer 7

My working friend thinks the same thing of me. I have been home for 4 years and I have 2 kids. She has already told me she would be so bored being home with her kids all the time. I say, too bad for her she will never understand the thrill of having the best and most unappreciated job in the world.
I can honestly say, I have never missed a single moment with my kids.
Also, I don't have a boss who gives me a list of things to do. I do everything, all the time. Despite the fact that watching TV or playing on the computer would be way more fun.

Answer 8

Just because you choose to stay at home doesn't mean you're not driven. It just means that you would rather care for your family by being there for them than making money. My mom stays home and it's, well, nice. There's always someone to talk too and help you with stuff, it's just.... NICE. My aunt on the other hand works at a company and owns a restaraunt, my cousins hardly ever see her. If that's "driven," I don't want to be driven, there needs to be a balance. Stay at home moms aren't any less "driven" than buisness people!

Answer 9

Every woman has to chose for herself. Some of us prefer to stay home and raise our children. Some women enjoy the stimulation of interaction in the business world.

I wouldn't say mothers are not driven. The drive is focused in a different direction.

Personally, I prefer regular-road trips to interstate road trips. I like to see the scenery, not just the green signs and mile markers.

Answer 10

I feel that stay at home mom's are more driven then the working mother. It takes a lot more out of you to stay at home taking care of your family then it does working.