Working Mom to 2 Beautiful Kids

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2004
Working Mom to 2 Beautiful Kids
1070
Thu, 07-06-2006 - 3:13pm

In reading the other posts here, I feel the need to give my opinion (my mother-in-law's phrase - opinions are like rear-ends -- everyone has one and some stink worse than others - LOL!).

I'm an accountant. Granted, my job isn't physically demanding, but at times it is mentally challenging. There are days that I go home and I don't want to cook supper - I'd rather get a bucket of chicken or grab the family to go to the Mexican restaurant down the road to eat. I work 40 hours a week.

As for family's suffering because I work, I think it's give-and-take. Because of my income, we can afford things we wouldn't otherwise be able to have. My kids are able to take piano lessons (yes, they want to - it was their idea), one is in the band at school (who knew a clarinet costs $1,300???) and plays softball and basketball, her little brother is playing football (again, I had to fork out $65 up front - there's no telling how much more I'll have to fork out once practices start!). We drive a minivan with an entertainment system, we get to go to the beach for a week each year. My kids are flying to Dallas next week (we live in Alabama) to visit my sister for the next week. Plane tickets are expensive. All of these things we couldn't do without my income. Since both of my kids are school age, the only time I don't see them that I would if I were a SAHM is 1 1/2 hours in the afternoon during the schoolyear and during the day in the summers. I take them to school - I pick them up at 4:30.

The sacrifices we make because I work - my house isn't as clean as I would like for it to be, my house is a zoo every morning, I have a MOUNTAIN of laundry to do on Saturday, I have to wait for vacation days or holidays to repaint bedrooms or rearrange furniture.

My sister and 4 sisters-in-law all have the luxury (yes, LUXURY) of not having to work. I can't call them before 9 am because most times they aren't out of the bed yet. They call me all day long while I'm at work - "whatcha doin'?" Duh, I'm working!! One of them is on the computer on and off all day long - I know cause I'm sitting here in front of mine and I can see when she logs on and off the messenger program. They wonder why I don't have time to hit this sale or that one. Well, after working all day, shlepping the kids to 14 different activities, I really would rather not go shopping.

One other thing I don't think SAHMs realize - we working mothers aren't shirking our household responsibilities. I still have the house sitting there, waiting for me to come home to clean it. Dinner still has to get to the table. Laundry still has to be washed. Kids still have to be attended to.

I think to each his own - I was a SAHM while my 2 were babies - I couldn't imagine another woman receiving those yummy baby kisses or catching those toddler falls. But that was my preference -- as tired as I am each evening, I can't imagine coming home and taking care of a baby!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 2:15pm
Why? I work fine with a 4-door sedan and 2 seats. I will getting an SUV next year when my lease is up.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 2:19pm
Why not? Didn't you have kids? That is one of the more important things when you move someplace and you have or will have kids.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 2:21pm
If you would have worked 1 week with my old boss, you would have definately said that SAH is a luxury after that!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 2:30pm

Or healthcare.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 2:32pm
No minivan or SUV for me either.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 2:33pm
Just wait ten years and then tell us how you feel....

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2004
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 3:09pm

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Maybe this has been asked already - how do you know the sister that you woke up at 9:00 wasn't up all night with a sick child? or a child that had a nightmare? or had to strip the sheets, start a load of laundry with dirty sheets, remake the bed, change the clothes of said child all after a child wet the bed? of course the ONLY reason she was still in bed at 9:00 is that she is lazy and neglectful of her children. of course.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2004
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 3:18pm
n/t


Edited 7/9/2006 3:25 pm ET by lvmnlvm
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2006
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 3:42pm
I stated in another post that where they moved was over an hour away from her job. They downsized so that she could SAH. I also stated that part of that debt that they went into was because my brother started a business that is doing quite well at this time.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2006
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 3:44pm

Please explain to me how saving for college is a necessity. No one has done it yet maybe you can tell me how that is.

As for the insurance...I think having insurance is a priority not a necessity.

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