How do you feel about stay-at-home parents?

I stay at home and my husband likes it that way. There are a lot of times where I miss working simply because I made decent money. I hated my job, but that extra income would make a huuge difference in our lifestyle right now.

I do like being able to stay home though. It makes eating healthy and exercising on a regular basis much more easier. Our home is a lot cleaner these days and I have time to make good, homemade meals for my family. My step son also gets a lot more "jess time" (my name's Jess). My husband seems happier too. It was me before that was the bread winner and it has done wonders for his ego to be working. I am less stressed out and he is less stressed out.

I do some work through Amazon at home to make some extra cash. It's pretty easy to get bored staying at home with a 4 year old staying with us every other week. There is only so much cleaning and cooking and working out a person can do.

I'm a stay at home mom and I do love it. I'm a little unusual because I'm an older mom - we were married for 11 years before we had kids. I worked full time right up until my oldest was born.
I have NEVER missed work in the 5+ years I've been home. My husband is really supportive and helpful with the kids when he is home. Not every day is easy, but even on the worst ones, I'd rather be home with my kids than at a job wondering what my kids are doing
Just because I love it, doesn't translate into "everyone should do it my way." My oldest son's kindergarten teacher is a working mom and she's awesome and I'm so thankful for her!

I'm a SAHM. I don't envy my husband anymore for being able to "escape", however, while my son was going through the terrible twos, you bet I did. Honestly, I don't love it, and I don't hate it. I do love the fact that I get to be with the kiddo all the time, but it does get very boring, very quickly. That being said, I certainly don't miss holding down an office job.


I do know, however, that my husband is completely envious of me. If it was feasible financially (my husbands makes FAR more than I ever would), he would stay at home and I would work. His missed a few milestones, and I know he hates that.


I don't judge any other mother for her choice to stay at home or not. Every mother, or father, does what's best for THEIR family, and I have absolutely no business to judge their choices, even if they differ from mine. My husbands parents both worked and he went to daycare. He turned out great. My mother was a SAHM. I turned out great (contrary to popular belief). As long as a child is raised with love, be it by one parent, two parents, or a loving guardian, that child will turn out absolutely fine.

I enjoy staying home. I have a small home daycare, so I do contribute money wise but I am still there if my kids need to be picked up from school early/have days off/are sick. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I have a group of friends that I go out with a few times a month and then I go to the gym every night, so no I don't feel like I'm isolated or envious of my hubby. I do miss having a "normal" job, but if we had to put 3 kids in daycare, pay for gas weekly, my clothes, etc, I would probably be making less than what I do now. It's not for everyone but it has worked for us.

I work part time so it is a little different, but I never feel like my husband sees my non-monetary contributions to the household. I think he probably resents me being home. But he wouldn't admit it because it was an arrangement that we discussed and agreed upon together.
Karen

I feel that Stay-At-Homes should take advantage of the fact that they're home & get involved with new hobbies, learn an instrument, write a book, exercise, dance, learn to draw or paint, etc. They have a lot of time to cultivate some wonderful skills & activities that can make them truly happy, & I feel like they don't take advantage of that as much as they should (or at least, you don't hear about it).

If I became a SAHM (never will, though ) I would DEFINITELY be spending all of that time fulfilling intrinsic motives in my life! I do that now, but I would have much more time for it all as an SAHM.

Do you even have kids? I'm not trying to sound rude but seriously who would be taking care of the kids and household while you are "taking advantage of new hobbies"?

Actually, I've picked up loads of new hobbies while being a SAHM. Granted, I have one child, and he's ridiculously independant, but still, it's inaccurate to assume that all SAHMs have no time for anything other than cleaning, cooking, and child rearing.

I used to be a single mother for 3-4 years working non-stop and all that jazz.

I got remarried and I was able to stay at home for the last 4 years with my son.

I am grateful for the time I have got to spend with my littlest one but as for ever doing it again.....

No F**king way!!! I love my kids but I loved my sanity more. And I have been hit with guilt about money whenever I want to go out and shop. We share all finances and my husband has told me not to feel guilty because of all the mom stuff I do that makes up for it.....blah, blah, blah,.

When you are used to being the only breadwinner, it is very hard to swallow when you no longer bring in any income at all. I still do everything I did before I got remarried but some of us women were just not made to be at home. I am much happier when I am productive outside the home.

I wasn't a SAHP, but I stayed home to do "home stuff" for about 6 months. Worst thankless 6 months of my life. I LOVE having a job. Staying at home is hell if you ask me.

My wife and I are both self employed and work from home most of the time so we actually were both SAHP and I wouldn't have changed it for anything.

I am a stay at home dad... And... I love it........2 wonderful children. They keep me quite busy...