Affording to Stay at Home

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2007
Affording to Stay at Home
1968
Wed, 12-12-2007 - 12:20am

Ever notice that those moms that SAH are usually (although not always) more well off than mothers who WOH? It seems to me, based on what I have seen, that while most women enjoy working their jobs and having a professional life outside of the home, some women prefer to stay home with their kids for a certain amount of time - whether it be 1 year or 10 years - and those women have the option to do so, while other women wouldn't even consider the option because they feel they can't afford it.

Well, it has been my experience that most women who do stay at home have

1) husbands who support the idea

2) Husbands who probably earn enough (or almost enough) to support the family.

3) Enough money to support themselves without working.

**Now I am not talking about people who get help from government agencies, I am speaking about women who do it with no outside help - just seems like most women can't because of financial reasons. So, is being a SAH mom now an "upper class" phenomenon - in general? Of course there are many SAH moms that are middle class, but if they chose to have paying jobs, they'd probably move right back up into that higher income bracket.

Blythe

http://beaworkathomemom.blogspot.com/

Working on being...Supermom!

Blythe http://beaworkathomemom.blogspot.com/ Working on being...Supermom!

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Thu, 12-27-2007 - 4:47pm
No, my dh went into the city when he was a kid and goes there for work a couple of times a week. I guess when you live here and are able to do it whenever you want, there is nothing spectacular about it. There are many things I would like to see but it is hard with the kids being younger and it is a long day for them.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2005
Thu, 12-27-2007 - 4:48pm
There is no way to make up what is missed I don't think. But does it cause harm, I think not. But does being together more create a stronger bond, I think it does. JMO
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Thu, 12-27-2007 - 4:51pm
No, if they are doing something in school or see something on TV, they let us know they are interested in that certain thing. Parents usually take and do things with kids that they are interested in doing. We are not into museums and things of that nature. Not saying we don't like cultural things like art or history as we do.
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 12-27-2007 - 4:53pm

Well, I

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Thu, 12-27-2007 - 4:54pm
I grew up right near Washington DC until I was nine, and the only time we went into the city as a family is when we had out of town guests, so I know what you mean about taking what is nearby for granted. I think a lot of people miss what is special about their own back yard. But it's kind of sad, I think, growing up without exploring your own back yard. Besides, your kids really are NOT that young anymore. They are what, nine and five? That is the age where a lot of their lasting childhood memories will be made. They will always remember exploring the city with you if you start now.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Thu, 12-27-2007 - 4:55pm
But we have. My dd just went to the Empire State Building this past summer. They have gone to the Bronx Zoo. I never said they didn't do anything but we don't just jump on the train and go to the city on any given day as it is expensive as that would not be something we would do on a normal basis.
There are so many other things outside of NY that I find more interesting. We are taking them to Bermuda this summer and that itself will be an adventure for them.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Thu, 12-27-2007 - 4:55pm
There are tons and tons of ways to experience art and history in the city. But what have you got against museums?
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Thu, 12-27-2007 - 4:57pm
But as I have explained to Lois, my children, mostly my dd as she is older has gone into the city and experienced things. She was just their this past summer. We have taken her to the Bronx Zoo. We can't afford to do the city as a regular thing as the train or parking alone is expensive.
We do take them out of state and will be going to Bermuda this summer and I feel that is an adventure in itself to them as they can go to the city anytime they want when they get older.
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 12-27-2007 - 4:59pm

That still leaves out a whole lot of things they wouldn't necessarily know about or appreciate without seeing them.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Thu, 12-27-2007 - 4:59pm
But living here and being able to do it whenever you want, there is not that excitement of someone coming here once or twice. We have driven into the city and taken the train and seen different things but it is not something we would do anytime as like I said, it is expensive and we CAN do it whenever we want.

Pages