Just what is a SAHM?
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Just what is a SAHM?
| Mon, 02-18-2008 - 1:38pm |
I was taking a class recently from a well known designer--she is on the design team for a couple of companies, she teaches classes, writes articles, and sells her own creations from time to time online.
She started her introduction by saying "I'm a stay at home mom who also....." and then went on to describe what she does professionally.


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Well, if we're considering the definition to mean "just what it says," why are moms that clearly do not "stay at home" (playgroups, shopping, activities, gym, etc.) all day considered SAHMs? Why does the "W" in WOHP not include volunteer work? Why can a mom who works an hour a week and gets paid for it still call herself a SAHM, but one who works 5 hours a week cannot? Where should that line be drawn? I don't think it is nearly as objective as you make it out to be.
I mean even among the posters here who are disagreeing with me, there are differences. You believe that a mom who volunteers full time is still a SAHP and a mom who works a couple hours a month for pay can still call herself a SAHP. Texigan would consider someone who does not have a paid job, but volunteers 20+ hours a week a "volunteer"-- a category separate from WOH/SAH and cannot really still call herself a SAHP. A mom who volunteers less than 20 hours/week is still allowed to call herself a SAHM. Pumpkinangel belives strictly in the SAHP=no paying job/ WOHP= paying job definition. In her view, even if I work 1 hour a month for pay, I must call myself a ptWOHP or pt WAHP. But if I do volunteer work full time, I should still call myself a SAHP.
I think it can become a cycle too, certainly in my mum's generation there were people who were probably SAHMs/housewives more out of habit than because it was best for them or would make them happiest, and probably still now.
well I think sometimes it's hard to step outside yourself and reign in anxieties.
Yes. We. Did.
ouch. that's extreme -- poor kid.
One of my friends is like that with her oldest who is Liza's age and she's always talkinga bout how 'brave ' Liza is (BAHAHAHAHA) but it's more that her son never leaves her side b/c she never leaves his. When he went to kindergarten she fell apart so badly she got a volunteer position at the school so she could go to school with him every day -- she still does and he's in 3rd grade..!
- Jeane "Dear Abby" Phillips, in an interview with Lisa Leff.
Yes. We. Did.
"I guess there was one day that I was gone for 5-6 hours, and it was torture for me!"
If it was torture for you, and not your son, it seems as if your "need" to stay at home is is more of a decision that has benefit for you.
&nbs
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