SAHMs- just curious...

[buddy&wooz]

OK, I'm bored and passing the time before I get ready to go out later, and I got to wondering if there are many SAHMs out there who've been doing it as long as I have?

I quit my last paid job a month before my oldest son was born- that was July 1989, almost 16.5 years ago! I haven't earned a paycheck since (I did pick up some minor freelance work but nothing regular at all.) I've got three boys now, the youngest is 7.

Any other long-term SAHMs out there?


(and save the flames, I've heard it all and really don't care...)

 

[disneygals]

My oldest is 13.5...I worked part-time until she was 3 and then I was happily laid-off. So I've been home for 10.5 years. Wow, it goes fast. I'd like to continue to be home, especially through the teen years. My other 2 dd's are 11 and 9. If I have to go back, I'd try for part-time.

 

[Jennifer S]

I've been a SAHM for almost 10 years- not as long as you but I think it's fairly long. My youngest is 5. I love it - no flames from me. I wuill probably do something part time in a couple of years. I still want to be here after school lets out.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I've been a SAHM since 2003.

 

[Alice28]

I've only been home for 2+ years. And I'm loving it. I rarely think about working outside the home anymore- I'm so busy! I don't plan on going back til my youngest is in 1st grade, and then hopefully only parttime, so I am home to keep an eye on my older two when they get home from school. My MIL likes to say that the time to REALLY be a SAHM is when your kids are in Jr High and High School & finds all sorts of opportunities to get themselves in trouble after school and such. I think she may have a point!

 

[4greatboys]

I have been a SAHM for close to 6 years now and I love it. I wasnt able to when my 2 oldest were small, they were 12 and 10 when I was finally able to stay home. If I hadnt been a SAHM they wouldnt have been able to play football or have any activities that took place after school because my grandma couldnt have done all that driving around.
I dont plan on going back to work once the kids start school full time. I will just have more time here during the day to get done what actually needs to be done instead of chasing kids around, breaking up fights and just being able to get something done without "assistance" lol.

 

[kbkids]

Been a SAHM since 1997. Well, I do work part-time out of the house (medical transcription), but that's only about 2 hours a day and usually ends up getting done at night after the kids have gone to bed. BORED? Never been there - would love to be though! It just seems like there is ALWAYS a crisis going on in our house, something is broke, somebody is late for something, the dog threw up, laundry is overflowing, something's burning in the kitchen! - you get the picture!

 

[kldmom2000]

I've been a SAHM now for about 5.5 years and I'm sooo thankful to be able to be home with my girls. I have no idea what I'll do when the girls are both in school-I'd love to be able to be a teacher's aide or something where I'd have the same hours that they do so that I can be with them summers and holidays. I previously worked retail management and then went back to college again to be a clinical medical assistant. I doubt I'd go back into medical and retail just prevents you from having much family time due to the hours required. DH is self-employed and he's very happy with the arrangement now since he works from 3:30am-6pm. It would be very difficult for him to rearrange his work day in order to drop the kids off at daycare/school/etc if I had a job... plus, down the line when they're both in school, if there's a snow day or if one of the girls is sick, I would always be the one having to take the day off. Enjoying this time with them as long as I can.....

 

[damo]

I've got you beat!!! Since 1986. However, I do tutor a lot so I don't know if I am still considered a SAHM.

 

[motherhen17404]

I have been a SAHM since 1997. My son is 14 now and I thought I would go back to work when he started high school. But both DH and I feel that now is the time he really needs me to be home for him. There are too many things a teen can get into these days. I am however thinking about getting a part-time job, or doing volunteer work. I am just now starting to get a little bored at home.

 

[Horseshoes]

I've been a SAHM since 1999, but I do work about 6 times a month, but when the kids are in school, so I still do consider myself a SAHM.

I will probably go back to work full time once the college years start

 

[MoniqueU]

Since 1993 here.

 

[SeeDisney]

I've been a SAHM for about 10 years now myself too. Don't plan on going back to work for about another 6 years or so and probably work at the school.

 

[DisneyDotty]

I've been working full time as a SAHM about 10 years now ( --I really DO feel like SAHM's work full time--with little time off. Really--who had a break these past few weeks? Kids, DH, but not me! I'm not complaining though, and wouldn't trade my life for anything.)
I remember when I first quit my job--I thought--My God! What am I going to do with this (at the time) 10 month old? That's the last time I've had a chance to think!
Someday I may go back to earning a paycheck--after all, the retirement years look pretty lean for me right now--but not til kids are much older.
I do feel bad for my DH having to shoulder the financial responsibility in our family, but he and I agree that I'm contributing more than my fair share to the workings of our home!
Happy New Year!

 

[Marseeya]

I'm kind of a SAHM. I quit my job in 1995 when DD was born and I went back to college. I've been going to college pretty much since then with a year and a half break between undergrad and grad school.

The time I wasn't in school was pretty boring for me. I'm not a domestic kind of person -- I hate doing household chores and I don't cook. I'm a horrible housewife.

 

[luvflorida]

I've been a SAHM for 13 years, since my youngest was 2 years old. I was a first grade teacher for 15 years, so I was always pretty much on the same schedule as my two older kids. I knew that our daughter would be our last child, so I really wanted to stop teaching and spend as much time as I could with all three kids. Throughout the years, I've taken on several substitute teaching jobs, but none for more than a few months at a time.

 

[tw1nsmom]

I've only been a SAHM for 6 years (twins are 5 1/2, but I was on bedrest for 3 months). I always wanted to be a SAHM, but assumed I would have to return to working outside the home once the children were in school. DS has special needs and managing his therapists, evaluations, and being his advocate (as well as meeting DD, and DH'd needs) is really more than a full time job.

I think we all make the best decisions we can for our individual families. I'm happy to have the opportunity to be a SAHM.

 

[we3disneygo]

12 years here... .....my last job was a Toys R Us.....back in the early 90's....wow.....

 

[JVL1018]

6 years here..I do plan on going back to work when my son is in first grade(Sept 2007), but as a substitute teachers asst in the special eductaion schools.
Not what I did when I left to be a SAHM, but I've done it in the past and I can't think of a better part time job for me. I like it, and I can totally work around my kids schedule, esp. being a sub.

 

[Steffi]

I've been a SAHM since January 1995. I have worked at a couple of short-term, part-time jobs since then, though, so maybe I don't count.