If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

Not so long ago, when a women got married she left her job and became a Stay At Home Wife. Some women worked, but many didn't. I was raised by a Mom who never worked but always wanted to. But 30 years ago day care was not the norm and not offered to most women. So now that I have a career, honestly I can say that I would love to just be responsible for my home. Call me Mrs. 1950's but I love cooking, getting the house straightened-up,etc.... Anyway with housing prices, student loans etc..etc... I cannot just up and quit my job because I am a Mrs.

If you could, would you?

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

If I had the luxury of quitting my job, I would...but not to stay home. I would take up a new profession that I truly enjoy.

I wouldnt mind staying home for a year or so because I have never had the luxury of not working - even in school - so I would like to experience that lifestyle...but i would get bored fast.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

for the first 2-3 years - then i'm going back to work!

i actually like the feeling of being productive - contributing to the household income - and having a better lifestyle financially for me and husband

plus my sister sends her little girl to day care and the little one LOVES it - she has so many other kids her age to play with!

edited to say - my husband's mom was a stay at home and it's not LUXURY by any means - she was constantly busy doing laundry, cleaning house, fixing meals, going shopping - you'd be surprised how busy a mom can be!!!!

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

So I kind of am right now (though temporarily). Since I got laid off 4 months ago, I've been home.

I like having my freedom and I like taking care of the house. But I'm not as productive with my time as I'd like. I've done some volunteering, read a lot of books...but more often than not, I spend way too much time inside and online. I'm bored.

However, this is a temporary situation. And it helps that I'm still getting paid for this time off. If we didn't have that income, I think I'd be too stressed about being home to enjoy it. Maybe I haven't gotten more invloved with things because I know its temporary and I don't know how long it'll last...

Aside from all that above, YES, I would choose to be home if I had the choice. But I think I would start up some fun side businesses where money didn't matter.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

I would ... when the kids come, we'll try to figure out how much time I can take off to be at home. It's soooo impt. My parents were teachers & they were always home. My dad got home b/f I did! When I got off the bus, there he was ...

I'll never be able to explain to vinnie what that meant to us as kids ... as he is taking about moving farther away from the city & therefore ADDING more time to his working day.

I told him that I would rather that we were poor, than our kids miss out on having their parents around.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

I would def stay at home BUT, I would pursue my life long dream of being in business for myself.. so in other words, I'd let my career revolve around my life with my children...I think I'd go nuts and become very depressed if I didn't do anything.. no offense to anyone, I'm just a person who needs to have something constantly going on to maintain my own sanity..

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

Believe me, staying home is not a luxury! And it's not just b/c I have a baby....that's only part of it.
I think that staying home and not working is one of those 'the grass is always greener' type of things. Unless you are wealthy, staying at home is not all it's cracked up to be.

But, this is just my opinion from the other side of the fence...AND, I'm having a bad week...so, take it for what it's worth! LOL!

Michele - I am cracking up at your 'Mrs. 1950's' comment....that's an oxymoron for someone that is a liberal feminist! LOL!

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

While I never thought I would want to, the idea becomes more and more appealing to me. Not because I do not want to work but because the thought of someone else raising my children is upsetting.

However, staying home will not be possible for me for financial reasons. I am going to school now to become a nurse and lucilky with nursing I will be in a career that has flexibility with working hours.

My mother always worked. I grew up with a very strong work ethic instilled in me. While I respect people who stay at home with their children, b/c it is one of the most difficlut jobs to do, I just don't see that in my future.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

Being a SAHM is different.I am talking about being a SAHW, no little ones.
I was laid off for 7 weeks 2 years ago and it was great. Not getting laid off- that $ucked. But being home and really enjoying NOT working for a while was nice. I was worried that I wouldn't find a new job, but if we had the $$$ I probably would not have gone back to work. I might have done something p/t in a flower shop or a place I enjoyed being.
Being home without children is a luxury- it is very different than caring for small children.
Editted to say- being home and not weathly is not as much fun as being home and wearing your Prada's while going shopping. Totally agreed.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

In my opinion, being able to stay at home is definitely a luxury. All the cooking, cleaning, etc.. that you do during the day STILL NEEDS to get done if you work all day..its just has to cut into your evening and weekend time.

Obviously being a stay at home mother is a totally different scenario and not quite the same sort of situation - but is a luxury in the fact that 90% of mothers dont have that option. So I guess if you are a SAHM, the OPTION of choosing to be home with your child is a luxury - but the lifestyle (day to day) is not.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

If we were able to maintain our current lifestyle, i would in a heart beat!

I would love to have time. Time to do chores, errands, prepare meals, work on a hobby, take a class, even be able to make a DR's appt without having to clear the time off with my boss, anything really.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

Okay, I can totally see your point(s) of view. I wasn't disagreeing to be difficult, I'm just grumpy today. Sorry

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

I think staying home, children or not, is a lot of work. That being said, I would love to try out being a SAHW-there is so much involved in running a household that I know I would always be busy.

Also I feel like my home would be my own little domain and I can have control over my schedule and how I do things-unlike working for a corporation where there's always someone you answer to. I guess I would prefer staying home to working in an office 9-5, but if given the opportunity to run my own small business I would rather do that.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

Not sure if I could do this, I get bored really easy, I probably would be as big as a house with eating LOL...and everyone else would be at work...

I could deal with working from home every once and again but I wouldn't like to always work at home. So in so many words, I don't think so, but initially when I have a child, I would like to be a SAHM to send my kids off to school and whatnot and go back to work when they are older like my Mom did with my brother and I. Unfortunately, I doubt this will be even be an option when we have kids.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

My kitty misses me during the day so I need to be a Stay At Home Kitty Mom

And I agree with Stef- I still have to clean the house and work. I would rather just clean my house.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

I would LOVE to be a SAHW. I always knew family came first to me, then my career, but it's been so much worse since we got married. I see my priorities changing, and I no longer care about climbing the corporate ladder. I've always found taking care of a household, family, etc to be more fulfilling than any career, but that's just me.

I'd probably get bored if we didn't have kids right away, but I could keep myself busy with volunteering, crafts, etc. That's just a fantasy though - living on LI is expensive enough, and the only way I'd stay home now is if I had a baby - otherwise, it's not worth the things we'd be giving up relying on 1 income for now - especially because I CAN work right now. So, I'll have to wait for a baby to come along

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

I would quit my job in a second if I could be a SAHW. I think I would still want to have a little part-time job somewhere, but for the most part, I wouldn't want to work 40-50 hours a week like I do now. I would love to be able to have the freedom to come and go as I please, take care of the house, cook more, and do little projects around the house.

I had that freedom about 4 years ago while I was looking for a job and still had my part-time job that had in college. It was great, and I loved the fact that I worked only 20 hours a week. Left me with so much free time to do other things and help my mom around the house.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

I would love to be a stay at home mom.. I think its one of the toughest jobs there is and i cant imagine having to balance and career and do it, besides if we can afford it i would love to stay at home with my children vs sending them off to day care for some one else to raise, i understand not all people can do that but i would LOVE to!!

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

I think once I have kids....I would like to stay home. This won't be for a few years anyway...we have a mortgage to pay.

Re: If you could, would you be a SAHW (Stay At Home Wife)

As long as I could maintain my current life style, I absolutely would. The only thing is that I wouldn't stay home... I'd be out doing things!
I have summers off and I am never bored. I always have something planned, or a 'nothing' day planned where I just read or relax.