Confessions of one sahm

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-09-2009
Confessions of one sahm
3365
Fri, 04-03-2009 - 1:58pm

I've been thinking about this *debate* lately, and I think that many of my

********
Ducky

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2009
Fri, 07-03-2009 - 8:22pm

We bought in 2000. We could still sell our home conservatively for at least twice what we paid for it, but it was once estimated at 4 times priginal purchase price when we refinanced a few years ago. It's a good thing we didn't do a cash out refi, we just got a lower rate on the same mortgage.

My home is where we plan to live while we have children at home and perhaps beyond, it is not our major investment vehicle.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2000
Fri, 07-03-2009 - 8:29pm
My oldest just turned 10. No, we don't really have many friends with teenagers. Most of our friends have kids who are the same ages as our kids or even younger. My dd is the oldest in our part of the neighborhood - most of the kids in our section of the neighborhood are ages 6 and younger.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2000
Fri, 07-03-2009 - 8:31pm

Me too!

Just this evening, dh and I sat outside with our neighbors while the kids all ran back and forth b/w the houses playing.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Fri, 07-03-2009 - 8:35pm

Thanks or the link. I find an article from a high school newspaper to be quite the authority in all things.

We have family time with no background distractions on a regular basis. We make time daily to talk with one another all 3 of us at once, DH and DS, me and DS and me and DH ( bad grammar there) throughout the day. Sometimes it happens at breakfast instead of dinner. Quality family time is not just at dinner time. Sometimes it happens before bed, sometimes in the car, on a hike, while fishing, in the backyard. We do a lot of inexpensive low key family activities that are conducive to talking. Once a month we pick a book to read out loud. Typically three chapters a night (each of us reads 1). It is great family time. We each put much thought into picking out the book when it is our turn.

We have a balance. DS is thriving in karate and thinking of Jr Olympics. He enjoys scouts. I could give that up, but he likes it. We've managed a balance of activities and family time that works for us. I do not think we are doomed. Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2000
Fri, 07-03-2009 - 8:35pm
I live in the same state I grew up in, but I'm hardly sheltered. I have lived in New York City (Manhattan and the Bronx), NJ, Westchester Co, Rome, Italy and Hawaii. I have also spent a great deal of time in No. CA where my in-laws live. I've traveled all over Western Europe and been to several countries in Asia. Just because someone lives in the same state where they grew up hardly makes them sheltered. By those standards, I guess one could say the same about you - don't you live in the house you grew up in? Have you ever lived in a different state or different part of the US or even the world?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2000
Fri, 07-03-2009 - 8:40pm

Isn't your dd older than mine (mine's 10 y/o). Just this summer, she has probably eaten at a friend's house at least once a week or we've had a friend here for dinner at least once a week. Sleepovers here typically include dinner b/c the playdate starts in the afternoon usually. Dd went to one today - she got there around 3pm so she will be having dinner there. Ds went to one also tonight and he's having dinner there too, even though he didn't get there until 6:15.

We don't have as many opportunities during the school year, but in the summer, it happens frequently, either at our house or at someone else's.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2009
Fri, 07-03-2009 - 8:40pm
My house is still worth 3x what I paid for it. It IS my biggest asset.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Fri, 07-03-2009 - 8:43pm

My son 9 loves to go over to his friends homes for dinner. I like having his friends here. Truthfully we eat all organic, very healthy and not always kid friendly. I do try to have something his friends will like. His one friend (also 9) loves to come here because I always have something new. His mom called once and asked me where I buy the bison and how in the world did I get him to eat fancy lettuce salad with cranberries and goat cheese?

I like it because sitting down with his friends DH and I get to know them better. When the kids are playing I see them in action, but having the dinner conversations is what lets us know them as people.

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2009
Fri, 07-03-2009 - 8:44pm

I would like to update my bathroom and someday finish my basement. The backyard also needs to be landscaped as we couldn't do much with the dog so we are doing a little at a time. We just ripped out bushes in our frontyard and put some new, updated ones and they cost alot so the backyard will have to wait.


We don't plan to move anytime soon and even when the kids move out, we could have an extra bedroom and a computer room.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2009
Fri, 07-03-2009 - 8:45pm

That is why I am very fortunate to get my home when I did. I could sell mine for easily 3x what we paid for it. The more updates, close to 4x.

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