SAHMs- just curious...

[MNmom2]

1) Once your youngest is in college, will you continue to be a SAHWife or join the work force?

I would like to work again (waaaaaay down the road LOL), just have NO clue what I'd do at that point. Just want to do something I really enjoy and don't dread!

2) For the SAHMs who had a job before, were they jobs that needed a college education or just a job to get a paycheck?

Sort of both. LOL I had the education, but didn't use what I went to school for.

3) If you have a college degree and became a SAHM did you think it was a waste to get the college degree? Did you earn enough to get back the money you paid in tuition?

My mom thinks so, but dh has always defended it and says no education is a waste - that it makes me who I am today and that I apply that knowledge and experience to my life on a daily basis.

4) Will you encourage your daughters to go to college?

Yes! My kids will go if we have anything to say about it.

5) Did you ever consider working and making you DH be a SAHD?

I guess if I had a 'career' I'd consider it, but I would hate to miss out on this time with my dks and I think it would make me envious of dh. kwim?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Been at home since 1996. So almost ten years!!! Wow time flies. Youngest is in 3rd grade and oldest is a Freshman in HS.

I am glad I could be home. The kids grow so fast...

As far as the questions...

1) I will join the workforce sooner, I hope!
2) Just a paycheck.
3) I don't think it was a waste. It was an important part of developing "me". I wish I would have been smarter and went for a better degree, and had been more focused.
4) My dd's are going to college.
5) I don't make enough $$$. But I tell DH if I ever do he can be a SAHD.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

A few questions (No flames meant at SAHMs)

1) Once your youngest is in college, will you continue to be a SAHWife or join the work force?

2) For the SAHMs who had a job before, were they jobs that needed a college education or just a job to get a paycheck?

3) If you have a college degree and became a SAHM did you think it was a waste to get the college degree? Did you earn enough to get back the money you paid in tuition?

4) Will you encourage your daughters to go to college?

5) Did you ever consider working and making you DH be a SAHD?

1) Only if we need the money. We live comfortably off of one income right now and being home enables me to provide good meals, a clean house and keeps me sane. When I worked and tried to manage the house and kids, I was not always the most pleasant person to have around. Too much stress. Beside, with DH being self-employed, we can vacation any time we want to. If I rejoined the workforce, I'd have to ask my boss for the time off.

2) I have an advance degree and supervised the chemistry section of a major hospital's laboratory.

3) My income supported both me and DH while he was in school and then while his business grew. As his income increased, I chose to go into consulting so that I could reduce my hours and eventually stay home to raise the kids when they came along. I know that I more than earned back the amount that I spent on my education. And I feel that it sends the message to my DD15 that you can have it all but it's okay if you don't have it all at once.

4) Our hope are that both DD and DS will choose college. DD is very intelligent and has a lot to offer the world. It would be a waste for her not to go. I will support her decision regardless of what field of study she chooses and if she decides that she wants to quit working to become a SAHM someday, I'll support that decision too.

5) No, it's not even a consideration. DH's earning potential far exceeds mine. Conversely, his ability to nuture and kiss away the boo-boos pales in comparison to my skills in those areas. We both do what each of us does better in order to make the family work. FWIW, he has no mechanical or computer skills, so I'm the one who does all those tasks.

 

[froglady]

I've been a SAHW/M since 1981. When we lived in Toronto, they weren't hiring "foreign" nurses, so I couldn't work. (Although I was called in June to work; by that time, we had adjusted to living on one income) When we moved to FL, the hospitals I applied to offered me LESS than I had been making in 1978, and still expected me to work weekends and off shifts. DH said...NO MORE...so I stayed home and became pregnant within a few months. I haven't worked outside the home since.

I'll be 60 when my youngest finishes school (NOT college) so I doubt that I'll be back in the workforce.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

A few questions (No flames meant at SAHMs)

1) Once your youngest is in college, will you continue to be a SAHWife or join the work force?

2) For the SAHMs who had a job before, were they jobs that needed a college education or just a job to get a paycheck?

3) If you have a college degree and became a SAHM did you think it was a waste to get the college degree? Did you earn enough to get back the money you paid in tuition?

4) Will you encourage your daughters to go to college?

5) Did you ever consider working and making you DH be a SAHD?

1. Depends--I tend to enjoy work I don't get paid for more than the work I do get paid for.

2. I got my job b/c I had a college education but it certainly wasn't a requirement for the job. My jobs after graduate were retail management trainee (degree required), housekeeping at DVR (definitely no degree required), and then finally settled for an hourly finance position (no degree required--but was helpful to landing an interview and the job). This was all within 4 months of graduating. The retail job ended up being an absymal situation--the housekeeping was so that I was making a paycheck and the finance was a job I enjoyed until some turmoil at the end of my first pregnancy. I did go back temporarily--but the damage was done. Long story short--the idiot savant they had me train was fired for a multitude of reasons--in trouble for a potential legal problem and her old department wouldn't take her back.

3. Absolutely not. I have a degree--at any time I can go back and pursue a masters. I enjoyed my college years and would have gladly stayed in the field (television production) but my personal life led me in another direction. But hey--I can at least say that I know one of the directors of the Acadamy Awards . I had $15K in student loan debt. I do not recall when we paid it off. We merged our finances, so I cannot say with any degree of certainty that I could or could not take care of myself.


4. ABSOLUTELY!!!!! In fact--one's tuition is paid for and the other is in progress--and they are only 5 and 3.

5. Heck no. He's an engineer and my career path would never get me in that direction. However--if I went back to school for something else and could get a decent paying job--it is certainly an idea. But financially--the career paths and things I am interested in, just do not lend themselves to the idea that him being a SAHD would be a wise choice. (I do not object to SAHD's, so please don't misunderstand me).

LLP--SAHM since September 2000.

 

[beattyfamily]

Been home since 1 week before my first DD was born June, 1996 so that's 9 1/2 years.

I don't regret my choice for a second.

 

[RitaZ.]

I have been a SAHM mom since 1993, I stopped working (part-time)when our first child was about 1 yr old. I'm glad that we have been in a position for me to be a SAHM, I wouldn't change it for anything.

After years of devoting my time to others, I decided to return to college this past August. After so many years being out of work, it was the logical choice for me. I did volunteer at my children's school on a regular basis once my youngest started K, but after two years of it, I must admit, I was getting bored with it. Going back to college has been a challenge because my time is obviously limited, but I must say, I'm really enjoying it, way more than I did when I was younger. I go to school while my kids are at school and I'm there for them when they get out of school, so it works out perfect for us. I'm 40 and believe it or not, I'm NOT the oldest student on campus.

 

[Tiffann4k]

I have been a stay at home mom for 10 years ( before my daughter was even born) and thats pretty good concidering I am only 28 years old Havent had a paycheck in 10 years, I will be a stay at home mom until I die.

 

[luvmy2sams]

A few questions (No flames meant at SAHMs)

1) Once your youngest is in college, will you continue to be a SAHWife or join the work force?

2) For the SAHMs who had a job before, were they jobs that needed a college education or just a job to get a paycheck?

3) If you have a college degree and became a SAHM did you think it was a waste to get the college degree? Did you earn enough to get back the money you paid in tuition?

4) Will you encourage your daughters to go to college?

5) Did you ever consider working and making you DH be a SAHD?

1. It depends on where we are in life at that point. I'm tentatively planning on getting my teaching accreditation when DS2 starts 1st grade, so I could potentially be working full-time (but still with my kids' hours) in a few years.

2. I worked as a tax accountant before becoming a SAHM, which required a 4-year degree.

3. My college education is absolutely not a waste. I went to school on a full scholarship, and I've more than earned enough to pay tuition, etc. Besides, I met DH at college (see tag) so I wouldn't trade that college experience for anything.

4. Both my kids (DD6 and DS2) will be encouraged to attend college. DD6 is testing out at 6th grade levels currently, so I know she has the ability to excel at whatever she puts her mind to doing. DH and I highly value extended education, but we will support DD and DS in whatever they decides to do with their lives.

5. DH and I considered this, but DH's salary potential with an MSME has a much higher base than my degreed profession does.

~Angela, SAHM since 1998

 

[Tiffann4k]

1) Once your youngest is in college, will you continue to be a SAHWife or join the work force?


I will always be a stay at home mom


2) For the SAHMs who had a job before, were they jobs that needed a college education or just a job to get a paycheck?

My last two jobs before I became pregnant with my DD I got right out of highschool but I had special schooling for the career I was going to choose...anyhow I worked at an airport in security and then I went to Indiana and worked security at Magnavox and these werent "rent a cop" type jobs either.



3) If you have a college degree and became a SAHM did you think it was a waste to get the college degree? Did you earn enough to get back the money you paid in tuition?

I started college when my daughter was a few months old but I knew it wasnt for me, I would never need a career, my career was being a mom. So I didnt make it through one semester, I dropped out and have never regretted it. I wont encourage my daughters to go to college if they do not want to, I will encourage them to be SAHM if that is what they choose and hopefully by then there will still be some "old fashion" men around who would support their wives staying home vs working


4) Will you encourage your daughters to go to college?

Just answered that above..lol


5) Did you ever consider working and making you DH be a SAHD?

Heck no!

 

[rumrunnergirl]

A few questions (No flames meant at SAHMs)

1) Once your youngest is in college, will you continue to be a SAHWife or join the work force?

2) For the SAHMs who had a job before, were they jobs that needed a college education or just a job to get a paycheck?

3) If you have a college degree and became a SAHM did you think it was a waste to get the college degree? Did you earn enough to get back the money you paid in tuition?

4) Will you encourage your daughters to go to college?

5) Did you ever consider working and making you DH be a SAHD?

I've been a SAHM since June 1999. Here's my answers:

1. I'll be 60! I really don't want to re-enter the workforce then. I put in over 20 years working before I became a SAHM.

2. I've held different jobs. Some required my college degree, some didn't.

3. Definitely not a waste of money to get a degree. How can knowledge be a waste? Yes, I earned enough to pay back my tuition, although most of it was grants and scholarships, so I didn't borrow that much. More for me, LOL.

4. Yes I expect my DD to go to college and pay for it, just like I did (and my sisters did too).

5. My DH would make a horrible SAHD so it was never an issue. He has no patience, and makes good money so it wouldn't make sense for him to stay home. Plus I cook much better than him, LOL.

 

[JVL1018]

Sorry to hijack your thread.

I have always wondered about these questions. Since we never had kids, I was never a SAHM. But my job is such that I can and do take 6 months off every few years. I find that at the end of 6 months I need to get back to work. By then the house is completely organized and I am running out of things to do. But I am not a carrier type of person. .

Oh I was visiting work all the time on my maternity leave in the 4 weeks before I had the baby, I was so bored!
If I didn't have children at home, there is no way I would want to stay home and not work-I'd go crazy!
But when they are both in college, I'll be around 50 so it will be different maybe than the way I feel now in my thirties.

 

[EthansMom]

I've been a SAHM for 4.5 years since DS4 was born. I really love it. DH will occasionally talk about how much extra money we'll have when I start working again outside the home, but I don't think he realizes that half of the cooking, cleaning and shopping that I do now would fall on his shoulders.

A few questions (No flames meant at SAHMs)

1) Once your youngest is in college, will you continue to be a SAHWife or join the work force?

2) For the SAHMs who had a job before, were they jobs that needed a college education or just a job to get a paycheck?

3) If you have a college degree and became a SAHM did you think it was a waste to get the college degree? Did you earn enough to get back the money you paid in tuition?

4) Will you encourage your daughters to go to college?

5) Did you ever consider working and making you DH be a SAHD?

(1) I will probably return to the workforce in some capacity before my children hit college age -- my kids are 1.5 and 4 so the completion of college is still at least 20 years away.

(2) I had a BS and was an Engineer and Manager in the Aerospace Industry prior to staying home.

(3) I've wondered if my father (who helped pay for my college) thought it was a waste, but I've never felt it was a waste at all.

Firstly, if something ever happened to my husband or if my marriage failed, I would be able to find a decent paying job with minimal effort -- maybe a few refresher classes at college and I'd be very marketable. Also, my husband is well educated and intelligent and part of the attraction between us is intellectual -- without my education, I wouldn't have my husband or kids.

Also, at home, I'm confident enough to run the household, handle all finances, etc. without needing to fall back on a man. When there's a big issue, DH and I discuss it, but I've overseen the contractors performing home renovations. And I manage a comfortable stock portfolio. I think that someone without a formal education could also be successful doing these things, but it might be more difficult.

(4) There will be heck to pay if either of my children does not want to invest his or her time in a good education, whether its college or trade school.

(5) My husband and I discussed doing a "split schedule" with each of us working part time. We also discussed the possibility of DH staying home with the kids. However, at the time that I was pregnant with my first child, I had a 2 hour commute every day for work. And DH has a Masters Degree and made more money than I was making with a BS.

There is also an aspect of being a SAHP where you have to be able to put your needs/wants last so much of the time and, while my DH is a pretty giving guy, I think he's a little too selfish to be able to handle the total subjugation of will that is often required to care for small children full time.

For example, I have to rearrange my shedule to meet the kids' naps and energy levels. I know that I have to accomplish my errands in the morning or early afternoon and be home by 2 when the kids are cranky and need a nap. If we're out at the store and DS says he has to use the restroom, then we HAVE to stop at the restroom. But as for myself, I usually do my best to wait until we get home because it's difficult keep both the 4 year old and 1.5 year old from touching the germs in the restroom. Basically, as a full time care giver, you don't usually get to do what you WANT to do because you're too busy doing the things you HAVE to do.

 

[Alice28]

A few questions (No flames meant at SAHMs)

1) Once your youngest is in college, will you continue to be a SAHWife or join the work force?I am not sure at this point, since my youngest is still a baby.

2) For the SAHMs who had a job before, were they jobs that needed a college education or just a job to get a paycheck?Both. My last two jobs required a college education.

3) If you have a college degree and became a SAHM did you think it was a waste to get the college degree? Did you earn enough to get back the money you paid in tuition?I don't think it was a waste at all! Yes, I earned enough to earn back what I paid in tuition.

4) Will you encourage your daughters to go to college?Absolutely.

5) Did you ever consider working and making you DH be a SAHD?

No. DH would go insane being home all day. He's a fab father, but he has a strong need to work outside the home. And that's fine with me!

 

[anewvance]

Well, i've been a stay at home MOM since my daughter was born 6 years ago. But i've never really had a job. Well I did work for a few months when I was 20 at Kaybee toys but that's it. My grandparents were still putting me through collage when I met dh and even when I moved in with him, they were still paying for school and giving me sort of an allowance. And then we got married 7 1/2 years ago, and his job was good enough that I just didn't have to work.. plus I was still taking a few classes online. I always knew I wanted to be a stay at home mom when we had kids... just glad dh has a job that allows me too. I do do ebay which I consider my part time job, pretty good money there too.

 

[MamaLema]

I have been a SAHM for 9 years. My kids are 2, 7, and 9.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Since DD was born, in 1999.
Been thinking about a part time job, maybe two days a week while the kids are in school. Just for a little pocket $$, though DH says it isn't necessary.
I wouldn't want to work a job where I couldn't be home for them or unable to volunteer at their schools.

I will say that while I do a lot of volunteering, we do a lot of arts and crafts stuff at home, I am otherwise not very domestic. I hate housework and am lousy at it.

 

[mommaU4]

I have been a SAHM for a little over 9 years now. I can't imagine doing anything else although there have been days along the way (and there still are) where I've questioned my sanity. Hopefully my kids will be the better for it.

My two youngest will be in school full-time next year so I will need to start thinking about some sort of work outside the home. Probably retail or something that is just a paycheck, as I will still need to be home with them during the summer months. I might go back to school but am not sure what I'd take. I've been "mom" and tended to others needs for so long now that I've forgotten what I am interested in. I'm sure it will come to me though.

Before I stayed home I was just working to make money. We were young. I had my first shortly after I turned 23. It would never really be an option for DH to stay home. For one, he couldn't handle it and two, he makes more money and has better benefits.

 

[jodifla]

I guess I'm the odd woman out.

I have a 4-year-old DS. From the time until he was born until 10 months ago, I was the full time breadwinner and DH worked from home, and he and my dad watched my son.

Then we moved and my husband took a job, making me a SAHM. But after more than 22 years in the workforce, I don't feel it's the right move for me to be home, or my son. The break was great, but I'll be looking for work in the coming year.

 

[georgina]

A few questions (No flames meant at SAHMs)

1) Once your youngest is in college, will you continue to be a SAHWife or join the work force?

2) For the SAHMs who had a job before, were they jobs that needed a college education or just a job to get a paycheck?

3) If you have a college degree and became a SAHM did you think it was a waste to get the college degree? Did you earn enough to get back the money you paid in tuition?

4) Will you encourage your daughters to go to college?

5) Did you ever consider working and making you DH be a SAHD?

Ok, I've been a SAHM for over 15 years, and had to take a crack at these -

1) By the time my youngest hits college, DH will be retirement age, so no, i probably won't rejoin the workforce.

2) I have an engineering degree and worked in a professional capacity for 5 years.

3) I paid my way through college and feel that education is never wasted. I am capable of supporting myself should the need arise. I know I earned more than my education cost me, but that is really irrelevant to me.

4) Of course I will encourage my daughters to go to college. I feel eveyone should be able to stand on their own 2 feet and support themselves. I choose to spend my time now volunteering, but have many skills,

5) No - for one, DH can't breastfeed, which was important to me. I really didn't like working the daily routine, and as he is older than me and had more years in at work, it made more sense for him to keep working. We had discussed all this before we got married and had kids, and planned it out financially.