Newbie with ?'s for SAH Moms/Dads??
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| Wed, 06-22-2005 - 1:14pm |
Hello Everyone:
I am a newbie to this board and I would like to introduce myself.My name is Winnie, and I have been married for 9 years,I have a DD who will turn 6 years old in August. How do you feel about being a SAH Parent?? Regardless of whether you are a woman or a man,how do people treat you once they find out that you are a SAH parent, do they treat you differently than if you were a working parent?? How does your working spouse or significant other feel about you being a stay at home parent?? Does your working spouse or significant other think that you should have the following duties as a stay at home parent?
1.Housekeeper
2.Nurse
3.Chef
4.Secretary (Do you have to schedule all of the appointments and take the kids to their appointments too?)
5.Grounds Keeper
6.Do you have to do all of the laundry for your family,what if you don't have a washer and dryer and you have to go to the laundry mat?
7.Are you expected to do all of the grocery shopping,banking,and other things for the family too?
8.Are you expected to be a teacher for your child(ren)and help them with any homework or go to their school activities and help them?
The only reason I am asking all of these questions,is because I want to know how you feel about being a stay at home parent? Are you sick and tired of being thought of as,"June Cleaver,"just because you are a stay at home parent? Has anybody said to you,"It must be nice to be a SAH parent so you can sit in front of the T.V.,watch soap operas,and eat bon bons all day!!" EXCUSE ME?? I have had people say that to me and I have loudly informed them that my name isn't Peggy Bundy!! I have also told my DH that I am sick and tired of picking up after everybody and unless he wants to pay me $15-$20.00 an hour to be a maid,then he better start picking up after himself!! My DH works in an office and there is no reason that he can't physically pick up his own clothes, and put them in the dirty clothes hamper!! His attitude is,"Well,I work outside the home for 10 hours a day blah,blah,blah." I remind him that my workday never ends,and I am on call 24/7 with no pay whatsoever!! I am sorry but that really ticks me off,just because I am his wife,doesn't mean that I am his mother and I should be picking up after him!!KWIM??
I really hope nobody thinks that I am a jerk or worse,but I am SICK and TIRED of SOME people thinking that all we do as stay at home parents is paint our finger/toe nails,eat bon bon's and watch Soap Operas all day long!! How do you feel about being a stay at home parent?? Please share your vents about what people have said to you as a stay at home parent that has hit your last nerve?? What do you like about being a stay at home parent? What do you dislike about it?? I look forward to your opinions,thoughts,and responses!! ((((((LOTS and LOTS of HUGS TO EVERYONE)))))))) Winnie *SMILES* and *BLUSHES*

Welcome to the board Winnie, it looked like you needed to get a few things out...:)
Hi Winnie, Welcome to the board. I am Olivia married to Steban for 10 years. SAHM for 1 year and 3 months to Aston (7 months), Lexus (8) and Mercedes (12). We live in Texas. I LOVE being a SAHM. Every once in awhile people ask if I am going to return to work (since I just had Aston 7 months ago), but it doesn't bother me much. I just say, "no I am a SAHM or housewife", usually they will give a face like "oh, ok" and sometimes the women asking reply with "boy, I wish I could stay at home". I just say "I know I am very lucky". Yeah we don't have much or even a house yet, but I love being home with Aston. I missed my girls growing up and I did not want to go through that again with him. Especially knowing he is definitely my last one (hysterectomy this past Jan.)
As far as your questions. I am very lucky to have a husband that helps out with alot of things. We do the laundry together at the laundry mat. He usually helps the girls with their homework and projects. He sometimes cooks dinner when I don't feel like it. He also lets me sleep in and cooks breakfast his days off. As far as cleaning, buying groceries, budgeting and paying bills, I do those things cause I love to take care of that. Plus, I have to know where the money is going and kinda don't trust him with it..lol. I always make the appts and either I take the kids or we both go on his days off. So I usually try to make the appts for his days off so I don't have to haul everything and everybody by myself. So I guess it really helps to have a supportive husband and one that helps with stuff and doesn't expect you to do everything.
The only advice I have to you about what people say is just try to ignore it. I believe they only say those mean things cause they are jealous and don't get to stay at home. I am soooo glad I don't have to wake up early EVERY morning, drop Aston off somewhere, drop the girls off at school and be stuck in traffic to and from work, then just to get home with little time to make dinner, spend time with children, put them to bed and then do it all over again the next day. I don't think so. Well that's all I have to say about that. Good luck to ya and again welcome to the board!
Olivia
&nbs