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[peapod1980]

And I feel the complete opposite. I envy all of the stay-at-home mom's. I have been the bread winner in my family alway's. I would love to be able to volunteer and just do thing's that I wanted to do. I would have loved to have been able to stay at home with my son when he was little. I see both sides of the coin of though.

For me, being a SAHM is truly a two-sided coin. I feel this job is essentially a gift I can give my kids; the security of knowing their mom is available whenever they need her, having the time to devote to their activities, etc. My mom was a SAHM, but she didn't drive. So, while she was at home, she wasn't really as available as I wanted/needed her to be at times.
On the other side, the job is 24/7. I've told my husband to try to envision his workplace also being the place he sleeps, eats, etc. There is no moment when you walk out the door at the end of the day and leave it all behind. I envy (and miss) that feeling of walking out of the office at the end of the day and being "off" until the next day. For a SAHM, she goes to sleep and wakes up in the office day after day.
I've read the other posts, and I agree that at this point in my life I lack something to be passionate about that is truly mine. I think what I've enjoyed most in life is teaching--I taught French to elementary kids while I was in college and loved it. I was a substitute teacher in public schools when my oldest was a toddler. Over the past couple of years, I have tutored high school kids in ACT/SAT verbal prep and helped students write college admission essays. I feel the happiest and most fulfilled when teaching, honestly. So, my challenge is to find a way to do it all, I guess. And that makes me tired.

 

[Landlocked]

8 working days to go! I feel like a kid waiting to go to Disney World or something. This is awful.

Edit- The only thing that would make this better is if I were heading to SoWal when I leave here.

 

[Kimmifunn]

For me, being a SAHM is truly a two-sided coin. I feel this job is essentially a gift I can give my kids; the security of knowing their mom is available whenever they need her, having the time to devote to their activities, etc. My mom was a SAHM, but she didn't drive. So, while she was at home, she wasn't really as available as I wanted/needed her to be at times.
On the other side, the job is 24/7. I've told my husband to try to envision his workplace also being the place he sleeps, eats, etc. There is no moment when you walk out the door at the end of the day and leave it all behind. I envy (and miss) that feeling of walking out of the office at the end of the day and being "off" until the next day. For a SAHM, she goes to sleep and wakes up in the office day after day.
I've read the other posts, and I agree that at this point in my life I lack something to be passionate about that is truly mine. I think what I've enjoyed most in life is teaching--I taught French to elementary kids while I was in college and loved it. I was a substitute teacher in public schools when my oldest was a toddler. Over the past couple of years, I have tutored high school kids in ACT/SAT verbal prep and helped students write college admission essays. I feel the happiest and most fulfilled when teaching, honestly. So, my challenge is to find a way to do it all, I guess. And that makes me tired.

I want to be you when I grow up.

 

[Paula]

Paula, I wish you had been one of my professors!

Gee, jdarg, thanks. I didn't see this earlier. I really do enjoy my job and I do a whole module on "crafting a life" for the MBAs on the last day of class. I remind them that their MBA should not get them stuck on a path, but rather it should give them lots of choices throughout their lives, especially if they live under their means.

Again, thanks for your kind words.

 

[peapod1980]

I want to be you when I grow up.

Careful, you haven't met me yet! ;-)

 

[Paula]

By the way, there's actually some research on who is happier - stay at home moms or working moms.

The answer (by Carol Gilligan and her colleagues) is that it depends on whether the choice to work-outside-the-home or stay-home-with-the-kids was the women's own choice. If she makes the decision of her own free will, then she tends to be happier with the choice she makes, regardless of what her choice is. Makes sense to me.

 

[Landlocked]

By the way, there's actually some research on who is happier - stay at home moms or working moms.

The answer (by Carol Gilligan and her colleagues) is that it depends on whether the choice to work-outside-the-home or stay-home-with-the-kids was the women's own choice. If she makes the decision of her own free will, then she tends to be happier with the choice she makes, regardless of what her choice is. Makes sense to me.

My wife is a stay at home and she is like a kid in a candy store. :clap_1:

 

[Jdarg]

My wife is a stay at home and she is like a kid in a candy store. :clap_1:

I worked full time until Will was in 1st grade. He went to daycare M-W-F and my parents on T-Th. It worked out very well. I was SOOOO organized compared to now- I don't know how or when I cleaned the house, kept up with the laundry, grocery shopped and cooked, etc., but things were always done. Now I work 2 afternoons a week, my house is a wreck, I am constantly "picking up dinner' somewhere, and the laundry is endless. I'm thinking it is because my routine is different every day- no continuity. But most days we are having fun. Peapod is right about a SAHM "always being in the office" though! I love finally falling into bed (on the flannel sheets )- I don't have any problem sleeping these days!

Of course SoWal .com doesn't help!