If you had to choose...
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| Mon, 07-14-2008 - 11:00pm |
between being a full-time WOHM and a full-time SAHM (and both were feasible for you), which would you prefer, and why?
Given my job and my personality, I would prefer WOH. I don't find my job difficult or stressful. I very much enjoy it and feel energized by it. At the same time, I am lousy about domestic chores, so I would like to have the extra income for someone to help out with that. I'm also lousy at making my own routines and paying enough attention to DS, so although I love being around him, I don't have the energy to be a SAHM, and I feel that DS would actually have a better and more fun time in quality othercare.
How about you? If your choices were full-time WOHM or full-time SAHM, which would you prefer, and why?
Just so everyone knows, I'm more interested in the "why" part of the question. I've intentionally oversimplified the issue by making it an either/or choice between two options. What personality traits, desires, etc do you think would make you personally more suited to one or the other if you had to go all-or-none?
Edited 7/15/2008 9:59 am ET by finally.me
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" I guess what bothers me most is the assumption that just because I work, I didn't plan. You know, I did just that. I planned, all along, to continue working. I am not stupid."
ITA. Part of my plan was to go back to school to increase my earning potential to ensure that my kids had two parents, either of whom could support them. The assumption that people who plan to have kids plan to have a SAHP is a bit narrow.
Oh no, Dr. Laura!
I don't think this is one that can be simplfied - let me explain -
I am currently working full-time plus being a home care provider so essentially two full time jobs oh and Grad school part time. When my boys were little I stayed home I could not have earned enough to pay for childcare and everything else that goes with having a job - like a decent car.
Given what I know now I think I would have done school earlier and worked because in my field of choice - when I eventually get there - it is a job I will want to do even when I win the lottery.
I really look forward the day when this debate is no longer waged because we have realized jobs can be done at home and we can have the best of both worlds.
I like the collegiality of working and accomplishing something and having it actually BE done. Somthing about the never ending pile of laundry is just not enjoyable. The parenting piece is long term but really - if we want them to be all they can be don't we have to be all we can be? Have a houseful of teenagers has really shown me that kids learn more from who WE are than who we want them to be. I see too many parents who revolve their life around their children and that is just not healthy for either side. So I think if I had my degree earlier I would indeed work a schedule that fit my life.
Courtney
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope some day you'll join us....
Courtney
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day... there's a great big beautiful tom
Yowza! Two full time jobs and graduate school to boot! That certainly is stressful.
Keep in mind that my question is entirely based on purely fictional scenario.
Let's say all mothers everywhere, including you and me, had two preschool-aged children and could afford the bare basics on DH's income, and for some reason there is no such thing as part-time jobs or WAH jobs. Based on your personality, would you prefer to stay home with the kids, or would you prefer to work 35-40 hours (nor more or less) outside the home?
Repeat scenario but with school-aged children (elementary and middle school).
Repeat scenario with teenage children.
Personally, I think that while they are very young or much older, I'd prefer to WOH. While they're school-age, though, I'd prefer to SAH.
Yeah, I agree.
what does a pre-paid gym membership mean?
We paid for three years in advance.
I guess it really depends on the company.
Do you think the only way a person can "be all they can be" is through working for pay?
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