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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want to be a SAHM

54 replies

frenchlavenderandlemon · 08/10/2024 12:00

I know, not very feminist to admit to it but hear me out before you vote YABU (then by all means … Smile)

DH has worked in his company for nearly twenty years, and he has a lot of benefits but it isn’t close by. The office is a good hour and a half away on a good run. Then he sometimes has to work away. This week he is in Northern Ireland (we’re in England.) Changing jobs isn’t simple or easy because he does have some flexibility which allows him to WFH two days a week when he’s not away and plus he isn’t trained for anything else and there’s absolutely no way he could get the equivalent salary elsewhere.

So as a result pretty much all the childcare and house stuff falls on me. I can’t honestly say I mind exactly but I find balancing it with my own work almost impossible. I’m a teacher and I work three days a week but I can feel all the other stuff I have to do on top of actually teaching piling up and it is so stressful.

I don’t think there’s an answer here as we do need my salary and I recognise the usual arguments re pensions and if DH left. It’s just so stressful at the moment and next year will only be worse in some ways!

OP posts:
Comingsoonone4 · 08/10/2024 12:25

frenchlavenderandlemon · 08/10/2024 12:22

Financially it isn’t an option. I just wish that it wasn’t the case I effectively have two jobs.

That’s a difficult situation, I’m sorry there’s no solution for you at the moment.

If you’re a teacher is it possible you could move to online tutoring for the subject(s) you teach/could teach?

ilovelamp82 · 08/10/2024 12:24

Being a stay at home mum doesn't make you not a feminist. Women being able to choose whatever way they like to live their lives without limitations because of their gender is. Every woman should be encouraged and supported to live the life that they want to live and if you are in the fortunate position to be able to be a stay at home mum and that is your choice you should absolutely do that.

frenchlavenderandlemon · 08/10/2024 12:22

Financially it isn’t an option. I just wish that it wasn’t the case I effectively have two jobs.

OP posts:
Comingsoonone4 · 08/10/2024 12:19

I think it is feminist of you to say you WANT to be a SAHM. It only wouldn’t be feminist of you if you said all women should be SAHM. Feminism gives you the choice of a range of lifestyle options, if being a SAHM is what you want, it suits your family, your husband is on board and you won’t be putting yourself in a shit position eg pension, if your husband left you, then you should do it, you only get one life.