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

Penelope_Penguin

I was a SAHM for 10 years when the Small Penguins were at primary school. I kept my brain active, and my CV filled by volunteering at school, Guides, Scouts, playscheme, church, etc, etc. I loved it most of the time, and am now back at work PT which I also really enjoy.

Most of all, I firmly believe it was best for my children to be brought up by their parents, not a child minder. Though they sometimes complained that they were they only ones in their class who weren't off to Florida, they appreciate that having a parent at home for them all the time was worth far more than an annual 2 weeks in Disney.

Penny. x

HariboJunkie

I'm more or less a SAHM, just working pt for my OH and very flxible so I'm always here outside school hours. If he didn't need me to do the paperwork for the office I could happily fill my day at home. I've always considered being a SAHM a full time job which deserves recognition but only if it's treated like one. I do think it's unfair if, like one or two of my friends, your OH works hard all day while you become a lady who lunches.
When OH and I owned another business I worked every morning while he looked after the girls and I hated it. I was missing the children and doing twice as much work when I got home to catch up on chores.

When the girls are playing up I threaten to go back to work FT and it terrifies them.

Pooky

Another SAHM here - I gave up work when DD1, now 12, was born and really don't ever see me going back.

I had a couple of years as a childminder but although I loved the kids, the parents lack of understanding that this was my "job" - not just a hobby was the breaking of it.

I'm lucky that DH earns a decent wage, it's enough to live on and service our debts - yes the debts would go quicker if I worked, but it's a lifestyle choice we made, he likes fresh home cooked food and a clean house, I enjoy doing it and DD's love having me at home when they get home from school and the fact that we can just take the school holidays a day at a time rather than planning things around one or two days off.

I do my bit with ebay/clicks/quidco etc to bring in what extra money I can, I do alterations and sewing for friends and family and use that pin money for treats. I have lots of hobbies, card making/scrapping/sewing etc etc so I never find myself getting bored....and I'm normally making something for the house or pressies/cards that save me buying shop bought ones.

A friend of mine complains daily that she'd love to not have to work - but she admitted that she only works to fund the lifestyle that she wants.....well I don't work to maintain the lifestyle I want - the only difference is that I'm more than happy with what I'm doing

For those times that I feel a bit lonely, I have a read on here, chat to friends online or go for a walk around the village - there's always someone to say good morning too. I must admit I do miss the playground contact, my eldest is now at secondary and my youngest walks home on a walking bus scheme, a lot of the mums do make an effort on the nicer days to meet at the park after school and it's easy to find someone to chat to for half an hour.

DH and I were only saying over the weekend that everyone expects me to go back to work when DD2 is at secondary school but that not only do I not want to go back, he doesn't want me to either :j I've found my niche in life and I'm more than happy to challenge anyone that calls me lazy (not that anyone's dared).

SAVVYMUMMY_2

Hi everyone,
another SAHM here, just wondering and being nosey, what other SAHMs do with the time while OH and kids are at school. This week my `cherubs` are still at school(full time), last day on thursday. So I have been able to do this morning, the flyladys` level 1,2 and 3. Hoover whole house and will do my HHI in about half an hours time. Also I`m in the middle of doing bread for tomorrows packed lunch and will make HM chicken curry and naan bread later for tonights dinner. Later check my seedlings and maybe do some more seeds.
Anyway would be nice to hear what other SAHM do with the time.

mamashaz

Savvymummy - so far this morning I have: changed our bed, 2 loads of washing which are now on the line, pruned 3 buddleia bushes, planted out 2 pots of bulbs, wasted time on MSE :rotfl:and NOT done any "flying" in the kitchen despite my good intentions!

SAVVYMUMMY_2

Hi there, mamashaz, I too have 2 children. One turned 6 going on 16 last week and the other 7 and now found that I don`t get so many people asking when I`m going back to work. I guess they relise by now that I`m enjoying my time too much being a SAHM. I was determined to try and get on with my work this morning and so haven`t been on here as much.
Bread now out of oven,MMMMMmmmmmm and checked my seeds and seedlings but haven`t done any more seeds at the moment. My FIL along with OH own an allotment, so hoping to grow lots of veggies for that, will go and check out what ingrediants I need for tonights meal in a mo.
Pick boys from school, quick change, then drop them at their gymnastics club and start meal.
Thats my lot!.

sb44

I am a SAH mum of 46 with an eight year old.

Started work at 17, was never out of work, always had a job to go to before I left the last one and did a spell in the RAF which was my ambition as a teenager.

Gave up work when I was 37 to have our daughter and haven't gone back.

I still feel like I am skiving sometimes and think that people think we must be living off benefits which we aren't. Child benefit and working tax credit, which is a pittance but we manage on that after my husband has paid all of the bills out of his salary.

I just say that I was working for 20 years without a break whereas some have children very early (it wasn't by choice that I was an older mum) and have done things back to front.

Plus we have no family whatsoever within 200 miles. I have been apart from our daughter for 2 nights in 8 years!

kippers

Well, i handed my notice in back in June and i will be working my last two weeks at the office when school starts again in the next two weeks.

:j :j :j

I have had the summer off (as i only work term time) and the first week of the summer holiday we went away...it took me the whole week to 'chill out' and stop being grumpy and stressed! This confirmed i am doing the right thing and i don't want to be like this on my family holiday again ever!

During the school summer holiday i have been following fly lady and our house is tidier and cleaner than it has ever been. We have lovely homecooked food everyday now and we haven't ran out of homemade bread or cookies. My girls have had friends round and i've spent time playing games and doing jigsaws.

I'm starting a RHS gardening course in September for 1 day a week, which i'm really looking forward to (i've had an allotment for nearly 4 years now).

All in all i am so looking forward to giving up this horrible job. My challenge now is to try not to get too stressed when i go back for my final two weeks!

Thanks once again for all your posts.

:T :T :T


Edit: Forgot to say money will be really tight (especially with all the price increases lately) but we can just do it with a cheapy holiday each year...time to enjoy lovely family times at home.

honey

Hey Kippers,

Yay for you! You sound really happy :T It's great to hear you're having a lovely summer hol with your children.

I hope those last two weeks go really fast for you! It seems ages since I left my job back in April - I'd forgotten about this thread

I'm really enjoying being a full time SAHM again Since I last posted on here we've had a lovely baby girl, she's five weeks old tomorrow. So routines, housework etc are pretty much out the window at the mo!

Good luck with your course in September and try really hard not to get too stressed in those final two weeks!

Honey x

Chell

Good luck Kippers, hope you enjoy your time at home.

I've been a SAH/WAH/working Mum for the last two years. I am on unpaid maternity leave from my paid job just now but still running my business from home. I have a five year old going into his second year at school, DD who is three and a half at preschool four sessions per week and I have a ten day old baby.

I only worked three evenings per week for three hours, term time only. This was enough extra money to make us comfortable rather than just having enough to live on and also kept me sane.

I run a website from home selling Sign Language products. I hope that by the time all the children are at school this will be going well enough to keep me busy and bring in an income each month rather than having to find anither job. I completed my level three BSL course a week before I had my first child. I did some CSW work after he was born but as it was hourly paid it just wasn't profitable along with paying childcare.

My days are busy as DS needs to be at school for 9, DD not till 9.30 then she is picked up at 12.30. 3.30pm I need to get DS. Neither of the schools are withing walking distance. I feel as though my whole day is spent clock watching and doing school runs.

I love being at home in the day but as much as I love my children a little bit of time away from them is good. We don't really have the spare cash to go out often, if we go out for treats then the children are treated too. Working gave me an opprtunity for this time out.

I will now be at home full time as I have DD to look after. At the moment I am loving it but in a few weeks I might not be, LOL.