What would you give up to stay home?
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| 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.

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Jennie
Jennie
Jennie
Sure I understand that. But she also said she sees no value over her SAH now vs her WOH when she had her other children. There is obviously a reason why she has decided to SAH now, I'm curious as to why she made the choice.
For us, the benefits to the whole family (less stress for DH and I in part) are more significant than any "value" wemay think the children are getting. Maybe she feels the same? I was just asking and dont mean to offend...
Well, using your logic and your research, there is no difference between the kids of SAH and WOH.
So, why do you keep arguing about how much better WOH is than SAH? You are using finances as your main argument, but everyone here has told you that they have considered their finances both now and future before making their decision. (And, finances are only a part of the equation anyway.) But, your real prejudice with SAHMs shows through with the other negative remarks you have made regarding their marriages, etc.
Even buried in this post I'm responding to you had to add: "Another possibility is that SAHM's may have a tendency to have more of their ego invested in their kids and may see the higher performing child as a kind of validation and encourage them more."
So....we have to have "super kids" to validate our decision to SAH? Bull.
Your agenda is clear even though you do contradict yourself now and then.
Actually, no, I have no idea how many men you work with.
I do find it quite interesting that of the "men who want their wives to work to men who don't believe women should work at all," not one of them has anything good to say about their own SAH wife.
Makes good back-up for your arguments, doesn't it?
Good luck with getting your paper published!
josee
I have given up the POTENTIAL to earn a decent income in the field of finanical planning. I'm fully licensed and have a few yrs experience working for my dad, who's been in the business for almost 40 yrs. I walked away from it to be home with my 2 boys. I don't know what my salary would have been, since it's 100% commission, but there was great POTENTIAL. My dad is 64 and I could be learning from him now, but instead, I'm home. It's kind of hard because I want to gain all his knowledge and learn from him while he is still capable and willing to work.
Also, we've given up going on nice, yearly vacations like we used to, before kids. We don't own a boat, 2nd home, designer clothing; aren't a member of a country club (like some of our friends).
I don't have a 401k like many of my working friends. I feel like I've given up a lot! But, it's worth it to me.
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