What do you think is harder - SAHM or working mum?

Cookie_monster_7

I'm a SAHM with 2 lo's under age 3. It can be really hard sometimes but most of the time I love it and feel very fortunate. My friend who has one son (7mo) works full time and I was saying to her that I don't know how she copes because at the end of a hard days work (she does have a career she loves) she still has to cook and clean and do the laundry and take care of a baby but she insists I have it harder!

What is your opinion?

LJM

i have been both and i have to say i didnt enjoy working full time as i missed my babies but a stay at home mum to me is a more rewarding job

savingmummy

Working mums i would say.
I am a SAHM and if i had returned to work as a nurse i dont think i could cope tbh!
I used to come home from work absolutely knackered out so would be a walking zombie looking after my two.

I suppose it also depends on what and how people do in their jobs and at home, i know a lot of sahm`s who dont do a thing all day - quite literally!
I was shocked to learn the other day that my neighbour leaves housework and cooking for her working husband!! Baffled me as her children are not babies so she isnt run off her feet!

midnightraven3

working mothers have it harder

i was a SAHM when my 3 were small
in fact till youngest was 10

being a sahm meant i could do it all regarding home & childcare
i was organised and it went well

once i went back to work, i felt i had 2 sides to keep perfectly
home life & work

it was a battle to keep on an even keel let alone excel at either

one night i was ironing at half 11
i stood there and thought "what on earth am i doing?"

fortunatley OH supported my decision to leave my job
and i have never looked back

you cant have it all
some will say you can
but as unpopular as my beliefs are probably going to be

you cant
something has to suffer

gratefulforhelp_2

Neither has it harder. Have been a SAHM (on maternity leave) but work full time with two LOs. They have good and bad things about them. Unless the pot of spending money for the family is large, then being a SAHM can limit your financial options. Working full time limits your social options.

Both are hard!

thatgirlsam

personally i find being a working mum harder

being a single working mum even harder than that

although i find i am much more organised when i work

when i was at home one day drifted into the next and i didn't get a lot done as there was 'always tomorrow'

my kids get more quality time now too as i am very aware that i need to make the most of my time off

Person_one

Do no working mums have partners to take on 50% of the baby care and housework?

thatgirlsam

Person_one wrote: »

Do no working mums have partners to take on 50% of the baby care and housework?

personally i don't

but most of my married mates seem to be the ones who take charge of the house and kids even though they work as hard as their husbands

not really fair but the children seem to be the mothers responsibilty by default!

not all men are like that though, my brother does more than his fair share at home

galvanizersbaby

savingmummy wrote: »

Working mums i would say.
I am a SAHM and if i had returned to work as a nurse i dont think i could cope tbh!
I used to come home from work absolutely knackered out so would be a walking zombie looking after my two.

I suppose it also depends on what and how people do in their jobs and at home, i know a lot of sahm`s who dont do a thing all day - quite literally!
I was shocked to learn the other day that my neighbour leaves housework and cooking for her working husband!! Baffled me as her children are not babies so she isnt run off her feet!

Yes I would agree with this really - in addition I would say it also depends on age of children - i.e. young children are usually harder work

Gingham_Ribbon

Depends on what you want.

Women who want to be with their children but have to work have it harder than women who go to work because they want to. Women who want to be at work but feel trapped looking after their children have it harder than women who are at home by choice.

galvanizersbaby

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Depends on what you want.

Women who want to be with their children but have to work have it harder than women who go to work because they want to. Women who want to be at work but feel trapped looking after their children have it harder than women who are at home by choice.

Yes I agree - I think it depends on individual mum's and their circumstances