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

maypole

Angelina-M wrote: »

I don't work and my youngest is sixteen!

I lost my darling daughter to a teenage cancer after a four year battle. I now do exactly as I please. Life is too short for regret.

I gave up my job when the kids were young and did other stuff to 'earn back' my wages. I'm so grateful I did this now so I could spend all my time with my kids, of course I didnt know what was around the corner.

I didn't have time for my brain to turn to mush as I was always dreaming up new recipes for the things I found in the reduced counter or making soaps and body care for the family. When the kids started school I did a computer degree.

People should do whatever is right for them and stuff all the 'lady of leisure' comments.

Don't lie on your bed when you are ninety five and wish you had done things differently. Gosh I'm being deep today

Condolences to you, that must be the hardest thing to cope with.
I agree, people always say the lady of leisure thing and it grates sometimes. I was never ambitious career wise but I have had some good jobs in my time. I love being at home best.

dlb

I am a SAHM of 4 kids aged 5,10,11,+12.
I love staying at home and getting everything sorted ready for when the kids and DH get home.
Since dd started full time last Sept, i have been asked loads when i will get a job, or go to college.
I am perfectly happy being at home, making sure there are lots of goodies baked for the kids, and homecooked meals on the table every night, and a nice clean and tidy house (although it doesnt stay like that for long once the tribe get home!!).
It may sound old fashioned but im a 31 year old happy married housewife and mother...the best and most rewarding job in the world.

kippers

Thanks for all your replies:

.....Kate if you need someone to talk to we are all here for you

.....Angelina-M...you put it all in perspective for me.

Life is too short and i want to be here for my children after school and when they are poorly. I shouldn't be snapping at my wonderful precious children and i certainly shouldn't be grumpy around them.

I so look forward to being a home-maker (is that the new word for housewife). I love oldstyle living and money saving and its about time i spent more time pampering my DH.

Thanks again everyone. I need to work out now when exactly i can give my horrid job up.

:T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

code-a-holic

Lilmisskitkat - i fully understand what you are going through. I have Fibromyalgia too and am a SAHM to my 3 children, 5,3 and 2.
Moneywise we manage, but as for childcare and home keeping i do feel like i really struggle with the pain and there is no way i could bring a job in to the situation!
The lady of leisure thing gets on my nerves. I enjoy being a SAHM, no other thing id want to do, i love caring for my family. It makes me boil that some think of it as the easy option, when im in pain to walk and have limited upper body movement it really isnt easy!
SAHM's dont really get a pat on the back to they?

Curv

After 17 years of working full time I've given it all up to be a SAHM. I'm another one who hates the 'lady of leisure' tag! When I hear it I feel like offering the person who said it the opportunity to try meal planning, shopping, cooking from scratch, making their own yogurt and bread, doing the school run and chasing all the fluff bunnies currently escaping from our new rug*, all with two toddlers in tow. The 5.30am starts would floor most of them for starters!

Like Angelina, I lost my 17 year old son to cancer - but it was very sudden. It's true that no one knows what's around the corner. There's not a cat in hell's chance that I'd swap one single moment of time with my husband and kids for any amount of money. I love my life - the only thing that could possibly improve it would be to have my son back, but since that's impossible, I might as well make the very best of everything else and live my life to it's fullest - kind of in honour of the life he can't live, IYSWIM?

*It's a lovely rug but is severely testing my patience.

maypole

Curv wrote: »

After 17 years of working full time I've given it all up to be a SAHM. I'm another one who hates the 'lady of leisure' tag! When I hear it I feel like offering the person who said it the opportunity to try meal planning, shopping, cooking from scratch, making their own yogurt and bread, doing the school run and chasing all the fluff bunnies currently escaping from our new rug*, all with two toddlers in tow. The 5.30am starts would floor most of them for starters!

Like Angelina, I lost my 17 year old son to cancer - but it was very sudden. It's true that no one knows what's around the corner. There's not a cat in hell's chance that I'd swap one single moment of time with my husband and kids for any amount of money. I love my life - the only thing that could possibly improve it would be to have my son back, but since that's impossible, I might as well make the very best of everything else and live my life to it's fullest - kind of in honour of the life he can't live, IYSWIM?

*It's a lovely rug but is severely testing my patience.

Can't imagine anything harder to cope with than that. And what a great philosophy, to live your life to its fullest in honour of your son.

Gingham_Ribbon

Another teacher turned housewife here.

My oldest starts school in September and we have a 13 month old too. People have been asking me since I got pregnant with my oldest about when I'd go back to work. I like what I do. I want to find a way to increase our family income when they're both at school but it will likely be helping my husband with his home business. That way I can dip in when I want/need to and we can both be there for the boys as much or little as we're needed as they're growing up.

Jack's_mummy

dlb wrote: »

It may sound old fashioned but im a 31 year old happy married housewife and mother...the best and most rewarding job in the world.

That's me that is

serena

I've been a SAHM for nearly 18 years - and returned to teaching in February!! (With huge support and encouragement from my children and OH)

I did go back to work part time after I had DS1 but I really resented being away from him. I was 31 when he was born, and I really wanted to bring him up myself. I never regretted leaving.

I also took on an allotment and grow most of our vegetables. I did years of voluntary work for The National Childbirth trust, then worked during school terms as a gardener after DS2 started school.

I feel very lucky that wiht a bit of crafty budgeting, we were able to manage for me to be home with the children. I really feel strongly that children need their parents, and I hate seeing little ones left in nursery from half eight in the morning until six in the evening as both parents are working. (I also recognise that often parents simply have no other choice.)

I remember reading an article by Germaine Greer a while ago, in which she said one of the striking features of the 20th Century was the devaluation of mothering. I was very struck by that. It's also very sad that successive Governments have also failed to value the contribution that SAHM's make.

bertiebots

I am a SAHM to 3 kids(ds7,dd9,ds11),2 smelly dogs and 2 mad cats! I always tried to work part time around my husbands shift pattern but we never spent time together and I was miserable. I spent some time at home after ds2 was born simply because child care for 3 children would cost far more than I can earn but constantly had to suffer the "when are you going back to work then?" questions. I finally gave in to pressure and took a part time (but physically exhausting) job on a farm and ended up there for 4 years. Then last November my back said thats enough ...and so did my brain, life is just too short to cripple yourself for minimum wage!
I havent looked back, money is tight but I save a fortune being os! I love being able to keep up with all my jobs,not the rushing around at weekends to get them done. I make all our food from scratch and am looking forward to finally getting my garden sorted this summer if we have one. Now when someone asks me when I am going back to work I just ignore it ...I know I have my priorities right!:D