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

No way. I was home sick one day this week and I was bored at home. I wanted to be out and about and working. Not enough to do at home for me at least. I am too involved in my career and getting ahead in the business world that I couldn't imagine giving up working full-time. Of course, at times when I hate my job and and stressing I go thru those feelings - I dream about staying home. Not sure what I will do when I have kids. They say your attitude will change even if when you have them later in life (which at 30 - and it is still 1-2 years away min - so that looks like that's where I am headed) and you are in an established career. DH said it would be fine if I wanted to stay home but I can't even phantom that...sometimes I think I am selfish a little bit. I just worked so hard to get where I am and it wasn't easy at all so I really value my accomplishments. That tears at me a lot.

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

I get to be a SAHW for 70 days out of the year...

in the summers, I clean the floors, and sweep the floors and start projects...etc..

but if i could do it long term...I would do some side businesses that I have been thinking about

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

i joke about this with dh all the time, isay to him ' if I dont have to work- i will make you gormet meals all the time and keep the best house for you'

I would love to be a housewife- I know this doesnt sound that ambitous (SP?) but after going thru college and corporate world, i wouldnt mind staying home for a while. Then maybe i can pursue something that i am really interested in- rather than working for a paycheck.

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

ABSOLUTELY---in fact, I am counting the SECONDS until i watch General Hospital every day

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

I'm not sure. I think I would get bored. But I must admit that I get overwhelmed trying to get the cleaning, cooking and laundry done while working a 50+ hour work week.

I wish I could stay at home to do it or hire someone.

I sometimes feel like I have double the work, the work work, then the house work. Stinks.

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

I feel the same way - work all day and there's still work to be done! I don't mind working so much but I am tired of not having time. I would love to work across the street from my house. Imagine - no commuting?? You could go home at lunch even

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

Just to comment on what suzanne said...

i did go to day care my parents both worked and are very successful career people

but I was DEFINITELY NOT raised by someone else

we always ate dinner together, we travelled together, and they by all means taught me most everything I know and molded me into what I am today

just to be clear for all those out there who choose to work - your kid is not worse off for that

i am well-rounded and very happy - and proud to be a product of two working parents who instilled in me pride in my accomplishments both career -wise and personally

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

Absolutely without a doubt SAHW, SAHM. I would love to be able to put my all into our home, relationship and family without the distraction of a job. If I had children I'd be planning to home school them as well.

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

BEing a stay at home MOM is attractive to me, but I'm not sure I'd do it.... I grew up with both parents working and I just never thought about a life without working!

Being a stay at home WIFE is out of the question. First of all, I LOVE my job teaching and I get the summers off anyway. Second, I feel like I want my own money for certain things. I'd feel very guilty spending my husband's hard earned money on frivolous things -- and sometimes you just need to buy an expensive pair of shoes. I could not do that if I didn't earn it.

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

In a heartbeat! I would definitely love to concentrate on our home and for all we paid for it, actually spend time in it!

I love planning meals, but feel sometimes we sacrifice what we really want for whats faster and easier.

I feel like running a house is like a small business and can be a full time job, however since I work I'm only doing house stuff part time

This is funny... we have a butterfly bush in our yard, so last summer at night and on weekends I would always be watching this bush for the butterflies to turn up. Nothing. Then one day I was off during the week and I went outside to putter around the yard. The bush was a flutter with butterflies!!! I called my DH at work to tell him I was never returning to work because SOOOO much happens here during the day that I miss! Here I thought I had a faulty butterfly bush, when all along I was just missing the cool stuff that goes on in the course of the day.

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

Here's what else I was thinking. In the 50's when it was so common for the woman to stay at home, it was expected that most women would be housewives, there really wasn't a choice there by society standards. However now, we as women have the ability to choose our paths in education, career, family life etc... sooo many options. So I know for myself having had the job and the independence I now would like a stab at staying stay home and if I get bored - heck I could always get back out into the rat race and hustle!

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

SAHW ... maybe, but only on a part-time basis. Even though I'm not the happiest person at work these days ... it's still a part of who I am and helps me achieve the who I want to be. Like Niecey said, I've worked hard to get this far ... I don't just want to stay at home now, when I don't have to!!!

As for a SAHM ... possibly. Right now I envision that I will work on a part time basis once we have kids, at least with the first one. But with two little ones, it may be hard. My Mom was a SAHM, at least when I came around (Child #2) ... I was very glad that I got to come home and see Mom everyday - but I think a part of her thinks about the 'what if'!!! But that 'what if' can be reversed for those Moms that worked!!!

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

I was a SAHG/F (Stay At Home Girlfriend/Fiance) for over 3 years with my FH.

My FH wanted to do a bit of traveling and there was no way for me to start a job and take off all the time. FH was also traveling internationally a lot, so I stayed home to take care of things. Believe me, he put me to work!

If I don't get a job with either the Nass. or Suff. police departments, I intend to be a SAHW.

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

If we had the $$$$ I would love to stay at home, but I would go CRAZY. I cant sit still.
I would take some time off work when we have children, and maybe go back part-time like my friend is doing. You beed that break from them as well.

I think Im going to FINALLY take my first summer off thise YEAR!!!!!

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

I think it is really unfair that women went from not many work options to mandatory work (in most cases) PLUS housewife. I mean, Stef is right. There is still so much to do at home AND a full-job is just assumed these days.
I know that there are a few SAHW/SAHMs but that is not the norm anymore. I think we are losing our choices in so many ways.

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

Michele...the women's liberation movement is what caused us to be in the predicament that you talk about. Ironic, but true. We are not losing choices...we created too many for ourselves and now, we are not willing to *sacrifice* as much. We want it all.

JMO.

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

I don't know if I'd want to be a SAHW, but will def. want to be a SAHM. I like the field that I'm in, however the only appealing thing about SAH is that I wouldn't have to deal with the daily grind of 'I HAVE TO GET UP AND GO TO WORK'. If money was plentiful, I'd probably not have a full time job, but still stay in a health care field as a volunteer and put in about 30 hours a week instead of being considered a SAHW. The good thing about volunteering is that you don't HAVE to do anything on the days you don't want to! And, if money was no object, I'd pay someone to clean my house.

I think that we do have more choices than our mothers and grandmothers did, I understand that the cost of living is high, and in LI we need 2 incomes but I think if a woman really, really wants to be a SAHM, with her husband's support she can do it. I think that is also where the problems lies, not all men put in as much effort with housework and this is where the stress and pressure is. I know, based on how DH and live now, that I will end up doing more work than he will in terms of having a full time job, raising kids and taking care of a home.

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

I think we have more freedom and I am a huge supporter of a women being able to be anything she wants to be, getting paid equally etc..etc.. I would NEVER go back to the days when men controlled whether a women could keep her children and they had no rights to vote, drive etc..
And I would never 'ask permission' from a man, like women were forced to do in the days not-so-long ago. BUT I think women have come to realize that you cannot have it all, nor do many of us want it all. I want to have nice home and lifestyle but I think it is unfair that on one income we cannot do that on Long Island. Honestly LI needs to fix some of the problems with unemployement, high taxes, traffic and the housing market if it wants to remain a nice place to raise a family.

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

I think most of us are compelled at the idea of staying at home, that's because we wouldn't have to get up early and go to work. The truth is though, we would get bored. Most of our friends and family work so we'd be alone most of the time. Some of us may have experienced that with getting laid off etc..but that is just temporary. Imagine long term.

I told my DH, when we have kids...he's welcome to stay at home - I'd rather go to work! We'll see what life brings us I guess.

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

I would love to quit my job and be a SAHW. For me right now its kind of hard, coming home from work and then have to cook and clean etc, but I pretty much have a schedule that I try to keep too.