SAHM

Well that's a contribution then isn't it?

@Emm36801 so what was. your point?
Someone can be doing volunteer/charity work while being a SAHP.

Wasn’t your online business work?

providing fulfilment I mean in the same way volunteering etc does.

To me a SAHP doesn’t equal running a business or volunteering.

Teams/zoom

I was still having good interactions, prob with more folk outside of my direct team 😳

I launched my own online business so I could be a SAHM. I regret not doing it sooner. I regret hurrying bathtime and bedtime routines because I was so exhausted from working. I regret not cooking from scratch for so long because I was working 13hr shifts. I regret working weekend shifts and bank holidays for the money while DH had fun with the kiddos. My DCs are adults now, but still live at home and I'm here for them now.

@Placeo Not true at all. I live in an affluent area and have many Sahm fronds who don’t need to work. All of them are from high achieving backgrounds and had fantastic careers, many had their children a little later. They have said they choose to stay home during the early years for the sake of the children, I can see frustration in some of them as they are highly motivated individuals, they’re always full of ideas and fun to be around, they tend to have many activities going on.
I was previously a teacher full time and 100% preferred being at home! It was so hard at times, but having slow mornings with my Dd-breakfast in the garden, long dog nature walks in the nearby woods, visits to the beach, park, cafes, shops, library, museum, zoo and meeting friends were some of the best days of my life. My Dd is at school now and I’m at work and I really see that those were the glory days

Oh of course, there isn't one correct answer. :)

Yes I would. I will probably start my own business in that sort of situation like have a property portfolio that I manage, renovate, etc.
I have never dreamt of being a sahm either, maybe because my mum was one and she was always obviously miserable, I wished she worked and didn’t take out her misery and boredom on us. If dh earns so much, I might work part time though so just working 3 to 4 days a week for example but I’ll still work definitely.

I think charitable work is a valuable contribution.

Odd view point. I had a choice, I chose to work. I didn’t wish to give up my career and stay home doing chikd care and chores. Not my bag at all.

and I clearly hang with women who are the same, as all my friends chose the same.

@Emm36801 do you believe people can only "contribute to society" if they are in paid employment?

@Placeo wow !
So if a person is a SAHP they can't possibly be a "brilliant independent thinker".
That really really is rude.

I'm a SAHM and don't agree that everyone would want to be one. I see it like any other job- however much some people love doing it, others would be meh or absolutely hate it. 90% of jobs are boring to me, so obviously plenty of people think the same about SAHM.

I was a primary teacher before, so it makes sense that I find being at home with small children more interesting than someone who is a lawyer or a software developer or whatever. Most people I know who work in early years or primary education have mentioned they'd have enjoyed being a SAHM if they'd had the choice. But I equally know plenty of people in that sphere who didn't want to at all.

I find it amusing that people are saying that they need to work for interesting conversation when usually people are complaining they are being made to go to the office (where they can't work because people keep talking to them)

@KeinLiebeslied54321

Just describing my own experience which is different to yours

Assuming there are no health or other issues that prohibit or make working difficult, then once kids are in school (mine do 8:30-5:30 every day) I don't know why people wouldn't work. I was brought up to work hard and contribute to society. None of my friends are SAHMs - we are all hardworking professional women. I know this won't be popular but, for me, this is so important, especially as a mother to daughters. I'm the main earner in my home and my husband shares all of the chores.

And on my days at home I never went to soft play- expensive waste of time, in my view.

Do you not know anyone who has a fulfilling career that they want to continue?

Almost every woman I know works, at least part time. I know only a handful of SAHMs.

When mine were small I worked 3 days. I would have gone mad as a SAHM.

I’m in bed I’ll, so my job, which is interesting, not doable at the moment.

No need to be so defensive. It’s fine to pretend that SAHPs are brilliant, independent thinkers.

I hate a long working week, but actually appreciate the structure and routine of working.

I'm due DC1 in July and when I got back to work I'm requesting a 3 day week. I don't need to go back at all financially, but I really do need done external project to keep that side of me ticking over.

I know lots of SAHP.
I know lots of working parents (Full/Part-time).
I feel like we don't all have the same choices to start with (some folk have to work to pay for childcare whereas for some working is cost prohibitive, that sort of thing), but as long as folk are getting satisfaction from what they do then that's what matters surely?

Excellent reply!

'Bluntly', that's completely incorrect.

There are intelligent and interesting people everywhere, and it's prejudiced to assume that they are only in 'interesting jobs' - whatever that actually means, being as the term 'interesting' corresponds to different things for different people. I honestly met some of the least interesting people when I worked at a top University, however have met some amazingly interesting people in my time as a SAHM. Also, it's rather bold of you to assume that I spent any time at soft play, let alone every Tuesday morning. I'd say that most intelligent and interesting folk realise that there are loads of other ways to entertain children. I can honestly count on one hand the amount of times we went to a soft play (one party, once at a Brewers Fayre type place, once when a new place opened).