Putting on my flame proof pants here...

Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Putting on my flame proof pants here...
665
Mon, 09-19-2005 - 10:31pm

but have to say...that I've definetly noticed that its not just quality time, but also quantity of time one spends with their children.

I've been struggling with the SAH/WOH and in betweens since my children were born 26 months ago. I've decided, mostly, that I'll leave my intense full on/full time career to work from home in January. Part of the reason to be blunt is I can. And I recognize that many, if not most, WOHP's don't have that option. The other part though is the reality that I've seen with my kids. The reality is...spend lots of time away, and they start to disconnect a little bit from you and gravitate toward the parent, or care giver, who is with them most. With us that's been DH.

So....having been on all sides of the debate now. From SAHM for 7 ms, to part time SAH for the next 6, to full time 60+ hours a week of work...I can honestly say that time with the kids *does* matter. It just does. And I've gotten my head around needing that time with them, vs work (which I also love) as, for lack of a better cliche, time just flies!

Anyway, somewhat just venting as I'm away from home till Wed. And somewhat realizing that I've finally got my priorities right. And that means working part time till the kids are at least in kindegarten. Life is just too short.

DISCLAIMER: I'm not making a judgement on WOH parents who have to; or on parents who'd rather be at work. I think both are fine. I just think its obvious that time invested *does* matter. We just have to determine what that time is worth.

MM

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-11-2005
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 9:38am

ita with you and pnj........i'm thinking of my own cozy neighborhood where our homes are ordinary ranches and two stories, similar charming styles yet original in our own rites. i can't imagine tearing down 4 of these homes to build one large(r) one.......even if it was one of those popular texas tuscany (million dollar) styles or something. the million dollar one would stick out like a sore thumb next to our ordinary 200-300,000. ones.

Avatar for laurenmom2boys
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 10:12am
<> And carries that debt on more than one CC. I've heard of people having multiple VISAs and MCs, all with limits of several thousand dollars.
Avatar for laurenmom2boys
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 10:19am
That's what happened next door to my MIL. She lives in a neighborhood of 50s era cape cod style homes. Some have had dormers put on, some have not. Her next door neighbor passed away. His home had never been improved upon. Sold for $300k. It was knocked down and a huge 5BR, 3 story house was built. Sold for $920k. It looks very out of place. My MIL's house has a dormer and a large FR extension. The new house next door makes hers look like a doll house. Hers is worth around $500k.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2005
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 10:20am

The rich and affluent have all kinds of credit and know how to use it to their benefit. Unlike the less fiancially adorned, who more often tend to use it out of some perceived necessity.

Responding to junk mail solicitations does not achieve increased credit limits. It achieves refusals, unless you happen to have the financial situation that would make you an appealing customer.

People with 75K credit limits have much less writing all over them than do the people with 5K limits.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2005
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 10:22am
The limit spells it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 10:47am
Credit card companies prefer for people to be in somewhat over their heads- not so far that they declare bankruptcy (which is just about to get harder) but enough so that the credit card companies make profit by collecting interest from people too foolish to pay off the principal. The higher the limit, the more likely people are to get themselves in a position where they are paying little more than interest every month and never touching the principal. They become beholden to the credit card company and will not be set free.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-11-2005
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 10:47am
oh i have one..........my uncle passed away about a year ago. my aunt, his wife, has been deceased for about 15 years so their home was on the market as an estate in cincinnati. beautiful older home with pond, about 5 acres. my sister said it sold for about 700K and the home was torn down and replaced with condos. bleh!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-10-2003
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 10:50am
No, it doesn't. Believe me when I say one can make just over 50,000 a year and be over 70,000 in debt.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 11:17am

I like the way you assumed the four houses were cozy ones. What if they were ugly eyesores?

My neighborhood is pretty ecletic with a wide variety of homes. There is already one mammoth house down the street--it's actually an estate with a front gate and a few outbuildings-- so it isn't as though this new house is all alone in its size and majesty.

I don't know whether it is a good thing to turn four houses into one. I don't think it is the worst thing in the world, at least not in my neighborhood. I'm glad they got rid of the house nearest to me as it had been unoccupied the entire time I've lived here and the yard was poorly cared for and there was a rotting dock sitting up at the road's edge where woodchucks liked to hide. I think what will help me make the decision will be how I like the new neighbors. If they are friendly and approachable, I don't suppose I will really mind that four houses became one.

Maybe someday they will want to buy my house to be their garden shed?

Avatar for laurenmom2boys
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 09-29-2005 - 11:19am
Where did MW say they had a $75k CC limit?

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