SAHM

I would eat my own feet rather than SAHM.

We're all different. It suits some, others, not so much

Maybe not everyone would be a sahm , but maybe they would prefer the lifestyle of someone who had taken early retirement.

But if you're question was asking if people would like to take 6/months a year out from their job , and walk back into it , you'd get different responses.

I loved it, btw. They'll be off doing their own thing soon enough so I'm making the most of it!

I didn’t go back to work when my mat leave ended in November. We agreed I would stay home with the DC as we have no family help and full time nursery would cripple us.

I’ve been a SAHM then for, 4/5 months? And I am ITCHING to go back to work. I am on job sites all day. This SAHM lark isn’t for me. I am 33 and have worked FT since my eldest was born (now 11) and used to DREAM about the life I’m living now but the grass isn’t always greener.

OP, what is your situation? It does seem a bit of a stir up reactions post. Xx

I've always been a SAHM (not ntentional - I had planned to go back to work during school hours once they were at primary). Both my parents became very ill and needed lots of support for a few years. Then DH retired early and we got involved with renovating a house to rent out, plus we run several groups/governorships/committees so we're certainly both working, just not paid!

I was a SAHM for 3 years when my 2 DC were tiny. Hardest job in the whole world with no time off and little sense of satisfaction 😂

Going to work full time is easier!! And I love being a subject matter expert, who grown ups actually listen to (my DC seem to have selective hearing!!) 😆

I love working. Ran my own businesses since my twenties and I’d be devastated to give it up.

Had periods of being mostly a sahm mum years back and enjoyed it short term while they were tiny, but longer term I need the excitement of working towards something big in my life.

I would, and I did (work).
No regrets.
Balance.

I went part time, 3 and a half days, for the first couple of years. My job is stressful, so I didn't get the relief some do, but the home days weren't easy either. When you have a child with special needs it's that bit harder and so the usual things like playgroups can be a nightmare!

However the question to work if you don't have to? No of course not, I would spend my time volunteering to help charities, be with my family more, still be very active but not a wage slave!

I'm not sure how helpful these thread are, no matter how well intended.

Every human and experience is different.

@Orangello that's a terrible comment.

I was a senior partner in child protection law for twenty years and lost ten babies, now have four.

I couldn't go back to that for that for a million pounds.

My best friend from university had twins and was back in three months, said she would be dead if she had stayed at home.

What about the women who clean and look after children as a living.

We all need to support each others decisions

I'd quite like my DH to be a SAHP though so I could travel with my job again. It's too tricky to do it much at the moment with us both working. Sadly, he also has no desire to be a SAHP.

Loved being a sahm. Did it with eldest until they were at school. Then pt.

Then when had others i stopped as soon as maternity kicked in. Never returned. Now wfh but i chose my days and times as long as the work is complete it doesn't matter so I'm basically a sahm. All kids now in school. And I love it. School drop and collects, housework, groceries, even a siesta. I can do as i please. I would hate to return to a job, in fact i wouldn't, where i get told where i have to be and when, what times, luncbreak at set times.. Its just not me. I can't deal with the stress of time off for kids illness, sportsdays, all the other school stuff ( 4 kids in 3 schools is a lot to juggle)

But i understand how some people love the structure.

I enjoy my job a fair amount. It's well paid, WFH, flexible, great hours, fantastic benefits and pension. I get satisfaction out of it.

Would I be a SAHM if dh's income more than doubled and I therefore didn't 'need' to? Absolutely not. I want my own income, my own security, my own pension. I prefer working to the most usual SAHM duties of childcare, cleaning and cooking. I want something else to do with my time, to develop at, grow etc etc.

Would I still do my £40k a year job if I won the Euromillions? Not on your nelly 😂. With that level of independent wealth and residual income I'd be doing far more interesting things than my current job, much as I like it.

The two are completely different situations though. Saying you'd jack your job in if you won the lottery doesn't mean 'I long to be a SAHM'.

Not me
I would never have given up my career
No one expects my DH to give up his

Def the other way around. I’ve only 1 friend who didm’t work and she never stopped whinging! I’ve no idea what she did all day!
All the rest of us like working and like having financial independence.

I’d rather work than be a SAHM. I never want children. Work every time, thank you.

That's not a fair comparison.

SAHMs typically do all the housework and childcare.

Lottery winners can outsource both kdi they please.

I don't like housework, I would rather work and pay a cleaner. I love my kids but find 24/7 with them too much.

I don't have to, we could live on dh's salary not the same lifestyle we have now but we would be fine. I like my job, I'm good at it, it's very intellectually, emotionally and psychologically challenging in a way parenthood just isn't, I also take a lot of satisfaction in the benefits it has for society and I feel I'm really achieving tangible outcomes. Also honestly DS wouldn't benefit from 100% of my attention, I am a doer, a bit of a perfectionist and have a lot of energy, no child needs all of that!
If I won the lottery, I already have very detailed plans of a large and ongoing project I would fund and project manage which is adjacent to the kind of work I do now.

No, I wouldn't want to be a SAHM. I need to work for my mental health. That said, if I won the lottery, I would work part time, and it would be running my own cat rescue and rehome centre, not the job I do now.

But this is wealth suddenly thrust upon people who have not worked for it. Successful, wealthy people don’t stop working.

Gosh no not me. I've had a couple stints off work and hated it. I like my job, I'm good at it, I like routine and getting dressed up having somewhere to go each day. I enjoy the status and reward. I don't think I even want to retire.