Any old style 'stay at home' mums on here?

I desperately want to be a SAHM - but OH hasn't proposed yet so babies and not working are a while away yet! :rolleyes: :rotfl:

I have worked on and off in p/t jobs since my DS1 was born but the jobs always had to fit around DH work and then school hours, my friend helped out in hols/illness.

When my friend moved recently so I didn't have the backup for illness and school hols we decided for me to be home at least until DS2 is at secondary school, which although only 18 months away could be doable then as he could be left for a few hours in the hols etc.

Ideally though I wouldn't work unitl DS2 had left fulltime schooling and had moved on to college.

This is the main reason I am on this board and a few of the challenges as DH works any overtime poss, so my way of helping is by cooking etc from scratch and making every penny work.

We did have debt which luckily we re-mortgaged to pay off and still have some equity in the house. Mortgage payment has gotten bigger but not as big as debt repayments were.

I volunteer at DS2 school and will be running the after school cooking club one day a week after the Easter hols.

As said it is nice to be there for the sports days, open afternoons, sports fixtures, fun days etc. without having to worry about getting time off from work.

At DS1 school usually I am one of only a handful who go to watch the sporting fixtures, but DS1 does appreciate me being there.

At DS1 school there are alot of SAHM so we are not a dying breed.

I am a SAHM. Until recently I was combining this with working weekends so DH and I were shift parenting and one of us was always with the boys. This didn't work though as we never got any family time so I have now left work until I can find something which does not impact so much on everybody's time together. I did initially get comments about my being a lady of leisure but sometimes I look at my friends all stressed out about dropping kids off and getting to work on time and then arriving in time to pick them up and then having to sort something out for holidays and I know its the right thing for us as a family. I finished work at the beginning of March and already everybody is much happier and we all get to spend time together as a family.

I agree, it is good to know that I will always be able to attend sports days etc and be there to cover for unexpected days off school due to illness or school suddenly having to close

Sally

I am a SAHM .. Hubby works full time (thank goodness!! If he was ont he jamroll he would be dead by now!!)

We have 7 school age children and one in nursery 3 hours 5 days a week.. BLiss!!

That gives me time to get a quiet shower and have a quick run through te hosue and we actually have better quality time together when tehy get home as before she went to nursery I would be still trying to undo her devastation from during the day between entertaining her and keeping her occupied.. nigh on impossible.

My house is looking much nicer for the 15 hours on my own time in the house.

I love it.. and have no intention of going to work for a few years yet.. though I am considering college for a PT course after summer.. but we shall see.

I would rather chew off my own limbs than child mind...

kippers wrote: »

Are any of you Old Style housewifes (with children that are school age)?..and do you love it and what are the advantages/disadvantages?

Do you think your family is happier because you are there for them and how do you cope money wise? Do you get people passing comments that you are lazy and how do you cope with this?

I've been a SAHM for about 4 years now and I flippin' love it. :j

Like you I found my job very stressful. Apart from the fact I was working in a foreign language I didn't speak very well I was the boss's 'whipping boy' if anything at all went wrong (especially if it was outside of my jurisdiction ). The kids hated the after school childcare and holiday clubs and the constant stress about my job was having an effect on my health.

Things came to a head one day and I [strike]basically told my boss to go swivel[/strike] left. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Sooooo liberating :j

Fortunately money wasn't really an issue as OH had just had a pay increase that more than covered my lost salary. The kids actually cheered when I said I'd be staying at home instead of going to work. :rolleyes:

The only downside I find is the lack of stimulating conversation during the day.

We eat better as almost all meals are made from scratch and therefore cheaper than 'shop bought'. I'm a much nicer person to know apparently as I'm no longer "a right stress 'ead".

And to anyone who calls you lazy for staying at home :mad: [strike]send them round to my house - I'll soon put them straight [/strike]just tell them that you are still working as a housekeeper, cook, cleaner, laundry person, personal shopper, gardener, dog walker, taxi driver, homework consultant, painter and decorator, childcare worker etc etc etc, just you're doing all that work for 15 hours a day without drawing a salary.