If you hadn't had kids...

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-23-2004
If you hadn't had kids...
1649
Thu, 05-20-2004 - 10:34pm
And your dh made enough $$ to support both of you comfortably, do you think you would be working?

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2004
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:07pm
I totally agree that for many retirement could mean equal or even more work than "work" in the traditional sense. For me, as a sahm, I hope the mundane child-rearing work (feeding, potty training) will gradually dissipate so I could assume the old housework and yardwork I used to believe were my responsibility as a homeowner - now we pay for house and yardwork, but it still makes me uneasy. You're right, it will really be a new "career."
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2004
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:11pm
No, we didn't discuss who was going to clean, cook, mow the yard. I do it because I have the time, I enjoy it, I'm home, especially w/dh being in real estate & working all odd hours. But he doesn't expect me to clean because I'm the woman, I'm the wife, I'm a sahw.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2004
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:14pm
It's nice to have financial freedom like that.

I was only addressing those who really "look forward to retirement." It sounds like your dad would have been just as happy working.

I've always wanted to be a docent, not just for the enjoyment of the activities, but for the prestige in saying, "I'm a docent." So, I'm little-minded at times. Sue me!


Edited 5/25/2004 12:18 pm ET ET by luvthebabes

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:18pm
Gee, I sew too, but I also work outside the home, as does my husband. He'll be 62 this year, with no plans to retire, ever. He gets paid to do something he loves, why should he? I'm not sure I'll ever fully retire, either.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:19pm

Being a Methodist.... Have you ever been on one of those committees to decide if

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:20pm
The fact that you are on this message board is enough evidence for me that you COULD volunteer. Help edit some organization's newsletter (during naptime, when your child is playing quietly, at night.) Enter data or type in recipes for the church fundraiser. Be the baseball team's email liaison. And so forth. Then there are plenty of opportunities that include your child. Bring your kid to visit at the nursing home. Bring your kid along to deliver meals to the sick and elderly. Bring your kid to help at the food pantry or soup kitchen or school carnival or Special Olympics. Bring your kid with to school while you put up a new bulletin board for the teachers or help deliver appreciation baskets. There are plenty of ways to volunteer with small children and no babysitting. Assuming you want to volunteer.

But you don't want to so it doesn't really matter, right?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:24pm
Your last line summed it up.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:25pm
I've done, literally, hundreds of hours of volunteer work for the schools at night in my home. Teacher always have projects that can be done at home--like putting together project folders, organizing supplies for various lessons and project. I've sewn more choir robes, band uniforms, play costumes and marching band flags than you could shake a stick at. I've stuffed thousands of envelopes, collated hundreds of exams and other handout materials...and every last one of those projects I've done at home while my son was sleeping and never took a single day of leave to do it.

I still do the occasional project for certain teachers I know from John's elementary school days and he graduated high school 4 years ago.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:27pm
I don't ever plan to volunteer.

Why give you a list? Is it required to dismiss me from volunteering when I really don't care what you think about the nonvolunteering population in America today?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-25-2004 - 12:28pm
LOL...oh my goodness YES!! And "But we've never done it that way before" (and it's twin, "But we've ALWAYS done it that way!") are on sacremental par with "The Lord Be With You" "And also with you"

Pages