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

AussieLass

I was never just any SAHM. (Stay at Home Mum)

I was a Sexy And Hot Momma

Go for it girls.

SAVVYMUMMY_2

Hi there AussieLass, You`ve just mad me laugh. I think i`ll go for that as well.

culpepper

SAHM here too.
My son is 19 and DD will be 18 in may. I worked 10 years before we had them and I did miss the friendly banter from the men at work but I am very glad I stayed home. We did the homeschooling thing too for 9 years and that is very handy to keep things interesting.
When I was a girl hardly anybody's mum worked outside of the home and I think life for kids was far more relaxed back then.

arlybarly

hi all
im not a sahm but have felt like it this week with a week off from work and ds 15 and dd 13 off school. its been absolutely fantastic, im dead jealous of you all who stay at home. ive cooked proper meals ect and the house is clean and tidy and i hjave no ironing pile!!!!!!!!!!!

i worked as a childminder when kids were small which was good and went back ot work when they were both at school. dh was self employed at the time so wages were never consistent. some weeks wed be well off and some weeks really poor so thats the real reason i went back.

what this week has really taught me though is kids are getting older and my time with them is becoming less so i am going to cut some of my hours down and start os a lot more to make up for the shortfall.

Mrs._Irwin

I'm a SAHM to a bump at the moment, otherwise known as being on maternity leave. Except I don't have a job to go back to, as I was on a short-term contract. So I guess I'm just unemployed? Call me a housewife!

I do think that the housewife aspect of the role is very important. My main mantra at the moment is "A penny saved is a penny earned", and by getting the bulk of the housekeeping done in the day, I can spend the precious time with my husband, and children in the future, rather than trying to get everything done in a couple of hours, and ending up pulling a ready-meal out of the freezer.
Housekeeping isn't just about the cleaning and cooking. It's about getting value for money, planning ahead and keeping the household accounts. It's a materialistic world we live in that doesn't value those tasks.

Mrs. Irwin
xx

Aril

I have been both a SAHM, a part time working Mum and now a full time working Mum. I've enjoyed all the different experiences but for me personally [and this is only my circumstances and is not meant as a criticism of anybody else's choices]I'm better when working. I found being home all the time greatly exacerbated my depression. When I went full time though OH became a SAHD [he runs his miniatures business from home in school time and has taken over the cooking for me] so the small person hasn't lost out really and it's been lovely for OH to have an opportunity to spend more time with his son.
Aril

rippedoff3

Aril wrote: »

I have been both a SAHM, a part time working Mum and now a full time working Mum. I've enjoyed all the different experiences but for me personally [and this is only my circumstances and is not meant as a criticism of anybody else's choices]I'm better when working. I found being home all the time greatly exacerbated my depression. When I went full time though OH became a SAHD [he runs his miniatures business from home in school time and has taken over the cooking for me] so the small person hasn't lost out really and it's been lovely for OH to have an opportunity to spend more time with his son.
Aril

I think its good that the children get to spend time with their dads too, in fact my OH is so stressed at work and doesn't see his kids during the week due to long hours, i wish he would get a easier job even if it meant me doing some hours to help things, its about balance and whats best for everyone, its good that you have something that works for you:o

the_cat

I was a SAHM when I had my kids and stayed at home until they were both at school. Once youngest DS was 5, I started working again, firstly part-time but later on full time. I suppose I though I would be bored without them around in the day and also that I should contribute financially.

In reality I was as OP described. Always stressed, never enjoyed life properly as I was always worrying about all the stuff I had to do. So eventually last year I gave it up, even though both kids are now at senior school.

It was the best thing I ever did. We eat better, both me and OH now have time to exercise, the kids are free to have friends round, go to sports activities etc (which I often attend to watch). The kids have both said they prefer me to be at home and have both mentioned how much calmer I am and how I have more time for them. I see my extended family much more too. Me and OH now have time to pursue hobbies at the weekends instead of endlessly catching up on jobs before the slog began on Monday each week.

The most surprising effect however is that both boys have improved with their school work. They both took SAT exams last year and due to the extra work I did with them at home, they both had better than expected results in every subject! I would have wanted to do this while still working but realistically could not have fitted it in to my schedule.

Having tried all the options, for me and my family SAHM is best. People ask if I get bored at home. I tell them honestly that yes occasionally I do. However I got bored AT LEAST as often with menial tasks at work!

honey

Hi everyone,

My job sounds very similar to yours kippers and I'm leaving next Friday .. yay! I'm 21 weeks pregnant and as my contract was due for renewal in April I more than happily decided to finish then.

I've always helped out at the school and then when my daughter started in reception they needed more help - one thing led to another and I ended up working in the office 20 hours a week. Sounds perfect but I really, really hate it. I feel like I've lost control at home and I'm soooo unorganised at the moment.

I really don't like the "lady of leisure" comments either - I'm getting them already because I've still got quite a while to go until the baby is born. As soon as my youngest had started school people were asking when I was going to start work etc. and I felt like I had to constantly justify what I do with my day - I felt guilty for being at home! My husband has always been great though so from now on I'm proudly going to tell everyone who enquires that I choose to stay at home to look after my family.

Angelina and Curv I am so sorry about your daughter and your son xxx

mamashaz

Another SAHM here!

I have 2 children aged 5 and 7 so both are at school now. I am so busy trying to manage the family budget, do domestic tasks, grow food for our family that I don't think I would have time to work! Luckily OH earns enough money to support us all although I contribute doing eBay, surveys, mystery shopping etc.

I haven't been asked for a while when I am going to get a job - it drove me mad for a while - so I hope people have realised that I am not going to in the foreseeable future.

Mamashaz