What would you give up to stay home?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2004
What would you give up to stay home?
1422
Sat, 08-05-2006 - 8:36am

Hi everyone.

I have always said that staying home is so important to me that I would give up many things to be able to do that. We live in a very small home, I have no jewelry and we buy all our clothes at Walmart. I know that if I went back to work, we could afford more. But I would never trade being at home for a larger house or more luxuries.

However, after reading this board I have started to suspect that there are things I would not want to give up. If I couldn't send my kids to preschool a couple of hours a day, if I couldn't afford any after school activities like ballet lessons or if I could'nt afford any kind of summer program for them, I think I would have to find a way to go back to work. So basically, I'm perfectly happy to deny myself "things." But I would not want to take much away from the kids.

Of course I would probably have to find a new career becuase I could never work the 80 hours a week my old career entailed.

Lilypie Baby Ticker

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 10:25pm

(I said something similar in a previous post).

agree

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 10:28pm
Yes, Census data. It's online.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 10:29pm
I am very interested to see what she says. I know a woman that went to college and went into advertising. Her mother is a lifelong SAHM. Both women annoy me beyond belief but that is another story. The woman I know has had 3 children. She literally retired when she was in her first trimester. Bottom line, she hated working. That was her first reason for quitting BUT she really wanted to be a SAHM. She has since had 3 children in less than 5 years, and is a big old PITA. Her mother every chance she gets slams her for *wasting* her education on being a mother. It is very hurtful to her and really strains their relationship. Ironic enough said woman plans on being a lifelong SAHM. She never plans on returning to work. I wonder if the trend will continue when her girls are mothers?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 10:29pm

If that is the choice, there really isn't an issue. However, for many, they've never even calculated what they'll need to save in the future to have a comfortable life instead of a rich one. They just run an on line calculator that tells them they can afford to SAH and run with it.

The stats for older women living in poverty are so sad.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 10:31pm
No one is being asked to be either. We're discussing normal situations here not the extraordinary. And yes, adults should be big enough to figure out how to handle what they need to if you are talking about a normal situation. Balancing a job and kids is not rocket science.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2003
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 10:32pm
So, why do you think men leave their WOH wives?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 10:33pm

Not quite what I said is it? I'll take it you can't actually debate my points so you resort to trying to belittle them. Great debate tactic there.

Please don't twist what I say.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 10:33pm
Please do share.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 10:36pm

Please tell me what a normal situation is?

<<>>

Why don't you mention this to your friend that has the ailing mother? Why is there a double standard here?

<<>>

Maybe not for YOU and for myself and most mothers. However some parents can't do it. I find it sad that you have little compassion for some mothers. Look at the other thread. The mother is sending her 4 month old twins to DC and she SAH. What would you say to her?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 10:39pm

It was a joke, (hence the LOL). Sorry you found it soo offensive.

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