'SAHMS' that have full time childcare or help - a fantastic liberation or downright lazy?

[Enid]

There are lots of mothers down here in Dorset who are (or whose husbands are) well off enough to afford NOT to work. I know a few and they all have full time aupairs or nannies. One of them has TWO nannies - one for each of her children.

It seems to be a matter of pride that you always take the nanny/au pair on holiday to help with your children. Also that the nanny/au pair takes the children to clubs and activities.

OK - I think it is outrageously lazy (and so does dh). What do you think?

[cod]

Message withdrawn

[edodgy]

Very lazy.

[nailpolish]

just cant understand it. so what do the mothers do all day if not look after the children?

[Caligula]

Yes, lazy and liberated.

What's wrong with that, I'd hire extra hands too if I had the money.

Although two nannies sounds a bit berserk, like she doesn't know what to do with her money. I've never heard of that.

[kittyfish]

Sad that they don't want to spend time with their kids and also lazy. But it is a status symbol isn't it? Like the 4x4 and the second (or third) home etc. Not that I am excusing it and don't think I would have an au pair if I was very rich, just a butler, housekeeper and cook.

[harpsichordcarrier]

weird
I mean the whole point of being at home is surely to BE with the children??
just strange, not for me

[lapsedrunner]

Sounds like a great idea to me .

[Enid]

well the ones I know do:

gardening, lots and lots of socialising, shopping, dog walking and...thats it. Some of them do some charity work (only one that I know of).

A lot of them go away to London for the odd few days here and there

or go on long weekends with their dh's

[cod]

Message withdrawn

[Bozza]

Two nannies.

[Bozza]

Two nannies.

[Enid]

but I am not talking cleaners and gardeners here

this is FULL time childcare when you don't work

[nailpolish]

shopping
hairdressers
beauty salon
more shopping
lunch with friends who also are rich and have nannies

i wouldnt have a nanny if i was rich, just a cleaner

[nailpolish]

wonder if the 2 nannies get on? bet they have a right laugh together, one child each

[muma3]

extremely lazy.
what are they doing with thier lifes? not working and letting someone else look after their children. im sorry but there is no point having children if you just fob them off.
please dont think im being niave i have worked and i have used childcare but i took responsibility for my kids and never just handed them over because i couldnt be bothered . i think that having kids is bloody hard work and unless you are ready to have them and look after them yourselves ESPECIALLY when you dont work is bloody ungrateful.
IMO

[satine]

Def lazy. An aquaintance of mine had the full works - elective cs in the Portland, maternity nurses, nanny for each child, cleaner, gardener, personal trainer - but doesn't work. She's a nice woman but I do wonder what the hell she does all day! She doesn't think she'd be able to cope without all the help. It makes me feel sad, though, when I go to things like Tumble Tots or swimming to see the kids there with their nannies. The kids greet me like a long lost friend and I don't even like them very much. If I had unlimited money, I'd pay people do to all the dull stuff (cleaning etc) and spend my time doing the enjoyable stuff like Tumble Tots! (A v bitchy aside - the personal trainer clearly isn't worth the money as the mum was furious to be asked 4 months after having her baby "God, haven't you had that baby yet?")

[harpsichordcarrier]

oh yes I would have a cleaner and a bloody gardener and a sodding chauffeur if I could afford it
but paying someone to hang out with the children is odd
(agree with cod btw, if they are married then the money is their's not his)

[Enid]

au pairs almost always used as childcare - one woman I know has three children aged 1.5, 4 and 6 and her aupair takes them to and from school, looks after the baby and does all the kids cooking and cleaning.

[cod]

Message withdrawn

[Enid]

yes of course its their money

but I meant that they came into the marriage either with lots of money of their own or they married someone who earned lots of money

[nailpolish]

i was thinking the same cod

[kitegirl]

what do they do with their time? I mean, can you really spend that much time in hairdressers and nail salons?

[kittyfish]

They probably think that children should be seen and not heard.