for feeling smug when mothers of school-agers describe themselves as "Full-time mums" or "Housewives"?

[CareeringAlong]

Name change...

Following from the threads about life at home when you don't do voluntary of paid work, although your children are of school-age, I was wondering if anyone else who does work can't help feeling a tad superior? Oh yes, I know I'll be flamed for this, but there it is.

These housewives seem to do all the things that working mothers do (cooking, cleaning, planning etc, etc, etc) but don't have any purpose outside of this. They seem to think that doing the supermarket shopping is a reasonable replacement for a 'real' career. I can't help but feel prejudiced against them.

I'm currently a SAHM as DD is pre-school, but will do paid (and voluntary) work as soon as she's in school. I'm looking forward to building-up my career again and working for the family.

Oh, and before anyone jumps on this, I've always cooked decent-quality meals from scratch, even when I worked v. long hours; my dogs are walked in the early hours; and my house is always clean and tidy. I argue that ironing is for losers, however!

OK. Hard hat on!

what I find irritating is people who put each other down no matter their choices...thats weird

"more than just someone who pushes a pushchair" not feeling superior at all

and those who make inflammatory comments...I don't get it...why would you want to do that?

Of course it is classydiva. But not everyone wants to do that. Why should they?

The inflammatory comments? OK, I shall put my big spoon away and stop stirring - I confess, I'm not taking this whole thread seriously enough

Let's just get to the point.

Women who actually, genuinely believe that they are superior to other women because they work / don't work are major twunts.

Agree m'lud. Really not worth the 659 posts.

"Providing you have good childcare"

But that is the crux isn't it?
It took me 17 to have DD. The last thing I wanted was for a complete stranger to bring her up (no family within 150 miles). OH works from home and I work part time. We share the childcare between us. It suits us both, neither of us is stressed out from our jobs, we get to spend time with DD and I don't spend weekends doing household chores becasue they get done during the week.

I was a SAHM for four years because of DD's health issues and I did find it hard, but equally I would find working full time hard.

Actually, I don't think that CareerAlong has been particularly inflammatory. She has re-buffed the comments made by others very well, I think.

Yes, she mentioned prostitution, for example, but only because it was put to her.

What's the point in a debate if people agree? I'm with Scottishmummy - this has been interesting and I haven't seen the sort of horrible and nasty name-calling and swearing on this thread that I've seen on others.

Cue swearing at me now! :)

The OP doesn't work YuleBeLucky she is criticising from a future position that she isn't at yet

Yes but she has done it before. She has a teenage son.

Sorry I think I'm a page behind! pastaplease I think its the use of "smug" by the OP that has been the catalyst for the annoyance. The OP hasn't really contributed very much at all.

hahaha...

I agree that smug is a bad word. But I suppose I appreciate the honesty really.

I've felt very offended by several posts on lots of different threads on Mumsnet, but I know that's the nature of the beast and I suppose that's a fact of real life too.

Actually I think I'll use this thread for an assignment I've got - does "The construction of socially accepted roles for mothers through discourse in online parenting forums" sound like a good title? (it will be a real MN essay) as I don't really like Jeremy Kyle and prefer radio 4 does the OP think I am allowed to exist? Or does studying at home not count because its DH's wages that are paying the fees - I don't think I'll have to do any prostituting tonight though because he's already snoring on the sofa.

"Online Parenting Fora", surely?

Hmmm, better get myself to Pendants' Corner! :)

I stay at home. By rofession I am a Registered Nurse, but my registration is likely to lapse in 2012.

I have 3 children under 5 (just, DD1 is 5 on Friday) and DD1 has SN. She attends Special School full-time. DD2 goes to preschool 15 hours per week, and DD3 is home full-time.

I am far from at a loose end. I care for DD1 who needs constant supervision whenever she is at home. I couldn't possibly leave her with a Childminder, they wouldn't have her.

I care for DD3 all day, and DD2 each afternoon.

I am on the preschool committee, will be chair in January.

I also volunteer on a Partnership Board for a Childrens' Centre, so go to meetings for that, attend training, etc.

I am very busy. I may not be paid for the work I do, but I don't spend the days twiddling my thumbs.

The way I see it, I am making the best of the situation I am in. DD1 will need 24/7 care for the forseeable, so I do what I can to contribute while she is at school.

Well ok "discourse in an online parenting forum" I won't be using 'the other forum' as a source

be sure to cite shitsville uni and biddulph in your socialsciencetastic essay