SAH/WOH - Why?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2005
SAH/WOH - Why?
3166
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 7:41am

I am sure this has been done before but I was wondering this in light of recent posts lately.

Why did you decide to sah/woh?

Was it a choice or something expected of you?

Was your plan to sah/woh though out or impulsive? Long-term or short-term?

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Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 03-09-2006 - 8:42pm
The kids did ask, and it wasn't that easy to explain. But it really wasn't a hard call for me. My dd is in 3d grade, and at that age, the kids really are exploring crushes, etc. The parents of the other two girls were in complete agreement that it wasn't appropriate.
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 03-09-2006 - 8:48pm

I've given you several reasons why new cars for teens doesn't fit with my values. So have several other parents. I realize it is not a value issue for you, but it is for many people. It's not about whether parents can afford it or not, so I don't understand why you keep coming back to that. I can afford to buy my kids cars; I just choose not to.

What negative value would other kids pick up from seeing my family going camping?

Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 03-09-2006 - 8:52pm

According to my insurance statement, which I received in the mail from State Farm today, it's 12K.

So clocking 35K/year is not less than average, it's considerably more.

You said the extra driving you would do during the time your kids are teen drivers if they didn't have their own cars would require you to buy a new car. That would be 120-140K for two kids over two years, or 60-70K each.

The poor couple might not be able to afford anything different. You can.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2006
Thu, 03-09-2006 - 8:52pm

Again what negative value is it to buy my kids a car?

***What negative value would other kids pick up from seeing my family going camping?***

Like I said...Other kids might feel bad that they can't go on vacation like your kids can. Their parents may not be able to afford to take them on vacation. Do you only take your kids camping for vacation?

 

Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 03-09-2006 - 8:54pm
How is she supposed to get four kids in the back of a sedan?
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2003
Thu, 03-09-2006 - 8:56pm
Well, on behalf of State Farm, thanks for being our good neighbor ;)
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2006
Thu, 03-09-2006 - 8:59pm

***So clocking 35K/year is not less than average, it's considerably more.***

Yes 35K is a lot more than average. Did I say it wasn't? I don't drive 35K miles a year.

***You said the extra driving you would do during the time your kids are teen drivers if they didn't have their own cars would require you to buy a new car. That would be 120-140K for two kids over two years, or 60-70K each.***

I don't really understand how you drew that conclusion. I said the ADDITIONAL driving that I would do would require me to buy a new car FASTER than I would if I didn't have to drive them places. So no it would not be 60-70K each.

***The poor couple might not be able to afford anything different. You can.***

That doesn't change the environmental factor one bit.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2006
Thu, 03-09-2006 - 9:01pm
The 2 sedans I mentioned (Honda Accord and Honda Civic) both seat 5.

 

Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 03-09-2006 - 9:03pm

Camping is our most common vacation. Sometimes we'll do something nicer, but we don't do a lot of fancy vacations. We enjoy simpler things.

Again, I'm not worried about my kids feeling bad because they don't get new cars. I'm worried about my kids picking up values I don't agree with from their friends who get new cars. I don't see what that has to do with vacations, unless you're saying you think kids pick up materialistic values from travel.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2005
Thu, 03-09-2006 - 9:03pm
So, just like I said, how do you fit 4-5 kids and a driver in a sedan?

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