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

Oh how a girl could dream.... I would LOVE to be a stay-at-home anything -- housewife and/or mother!!! I would never be bored and would always find something to do, either around the house or going out and meeting my friends who are SAHMs!!! I feel like there is never enough time in the day or week to get anything done, and that's without kids!!! I could care less if I never stepped foot in Manhattan ever again, and as for my friends at work, I see them outside of work, so it's not like we're just 'work friends'. Plus, I would be a much happy camper since I wouldn't have to bit*hing and moaning about my commute from he!! everyday!!!!!! And Joe wouldn't complain that we eat too late every night, since I'd be home to have dinner waiting when he got home!!!

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

Being a SAHM, was always a given between DH and me. I had a live in nanny for the first 11 years of my life and I'm convinced that it's the reason I now have a very strained relationship with my mother. She's never been that maternal towards me and I'm sure it's because she wasn't around much when it mattered. I agree with Stef, that in this day and age, that choice is a luxury and not necessarily an option anymore.

I was a SAHF (stay at home fiancee) and I'm now a SAHW. It was never anything that was planned...it was just sort of evolved from me quitting my job and then the both of us getting used to my being home while I looked for work into accepting that we both prefer things the way they are. I consider myself blessed that DH can afford me this luxury. Thankfully, I had my wedding planning take up a year of my time. If it wasn't for the house immediately following, I'd be tearing my hair out with boredem. I've been extremley bored these days because the house is overdue.

I'm sure that once we move in, I'll have more than enough to keep my plate full, but even then, I've considered volunteering just so that I feel a bit more productive (thanks shamma!) and have something else besides DH and the house to break up my day. Theres only so much cleaning and meal planning and yes, even shopping, that you can do before even THAT becomes just as monotonous as working. But I'd never choose a 9-5 over my current lifestyle.

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

Another thought:
being a SAHG or SAHW or SAHM would be more fun if there were more SAHs to hang out with all day long. It's a raity though.
I'd love to host craft parties at my house, but everyone I know works!

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

I am substitute teaching now and on days I don't get called I guess I am a SAHW and I LOVE IT!!! .....But I also am poor! LOL!

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

Susan, I'm a SAHW in July and August, and would love some more playmates!

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

I'm gonna jump in here momentarily from the non-newleywed boards to ask a question...

This topic is excellent Michele...and all of you ladies have given answers to so many of the questions I have had about what's going to happen after I bounce over to this end three months from now.

Michele, you said that Long Island has to fix a lot of things...like problems with the housing markets etc....to remain a good place to live. What's wrong with it now? Property values are skyrocketing, taxes are up, but the schools are better than can be imagined..is it that you think this is going to work against LI in the near future? My entire family has relocated...and have already begun raising their kids on LI. My FH and I have been exhausting what we will do when we finally find something acutally worth our money....will it be worth our money to be out on LI? Just asking opinions if you have them to offer!

Oh, and I'd give anything to not have to trek into Manhattan everyday....I'd give up this 9-5 (or 10-7, 8-8...whatever it is that week!) to be home, and do something more valuable with my time, than I feel I am right now.

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

Well.. as soon as I was pregnant with my son when I was 24 I stopped working. I really havent worked since. I was very fortunate to be able to do this. Had I married now without having any children I could def see myself as a SAHW. It is definitly a luxory to be able to be a stay at home anything and I always feel blessed that I am able to do this..besides if I didnt, my son and hubby would fall apart.. heheh

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

In my opinion, what LI needs to fix is that it is so darned expensive to live here and raise a family. Much more than in many other places around the country. We briefly considered moving to Scottsdale, AZ, where my family lives, and we found new construction, 4-bedroom, gourmet kitchen houses that did not need any work - 2500 sq. feet plus, many with in-ground pools, and they were under $300,000, with taxes in the $1800-$2500 a year range - quite a difference than the $6000 - $8000 that many of us are trying to scrape up to pay taxes on a 25 year old fixer-uper. Granted, the wages are not as high either, but the disparity between wages and expenses is not as great. Everything is high here, insurance, taxes, cable, electric and other utilities - makes it very difficult to raise a family on two incomes, let alone one. Whether or not it will be worth it can only be decided by each individual. I know my father thinks we're crazy for paying these prices, but DH needs to be close to his family right now, so we are. We consider it part of our retirement planning. We'll almost certainly sell and retire someplace less expensive, so investing in the house should pay off for us.

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

The only way the high cost of living could be 'fixed' is if fewer people wanted to live in the area. Its not anything the gov't can or even would want to control since making people less interested in living here would require crime to go up or some simliar bad thing to happen.

Lots of people want to live here, so the prices are high. Move to Dubois, the prices are low - but fewer people want to live there.

We are all complaining about the price of homes now, but once you own your own for a while you will feel differently ;D

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

I just joined the ranks of a house wife. It sounds so bad and out of all the people I know I am the last person that I would have picked to do it but I am finishing up school so my hubby and I decided that it is better if I go full force and finish up. When I was leaving my job a co-oworker said have fun being a house wife, I cringed it sounds so terrible this thing that I vowed as a child I would never be I now am. I am proud of it hough I am trying to enjoy it b/c I know not everyone can have this luxury and I am trying not to take it for granted. I still want my husband to do his 'Chores' b/c I don't want to break his good habbits but I find myself feeling guilty and doing alot more. I hope this doesn't change him, even though he is a much better housekeeper than I am.

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

without a doubt!! if I could I would
but unfortunately w/ my law school debt unless I win the lottery that is not an option

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

um...YES! Sorry - just having the worst day/week/month/year at work. And my husband has been a SAHH up until this coming Monday and he seemed to enjoy it.

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

I love my job and until a few months ago couldn't fathom not working. I go stir crazy in the house and need to 'get out'. School or work has always been my escape from chores, parenting, and all the other hats I wore over the years.

Recently I want nothing more than to be home. Although I still love the work I do, I now desire to be home rather than get away from it. I'm not sure why.

I can't financially do it now. I would worry about my field, which is fast paced and may go on without me, if you step away for even a few days. But if I hit the numbers?!?!

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

I have to say ladies. Being a SAHW (not SAHM) is not all its cracked up to be .

Before I had the baby, I was home because I was unemployed/layed off. Not because I chose to just stay home. If I didnt have a baby, I would never want to stay home/be a SAHW, regardless of how much money my husband makes. Well, if I can be a SAHW with a housekeeper, then I might think about it. But now, being a SAHM AND SAHW, I find myself MUCH more busy than I have ever been in my life.

I WISH it was true that SAHW's and SAHM's get their nails done and stroll the malls all day. (not that anyone said that, I just remembering thinknig that myself years ago ! )

Not to mention the lack of socializing (therefore the addiction to LIW !)

Thank God for my local moms group and for my sis, who keep me busy socially