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!

So - everyone is very happy being a SAHM. In which case, why on earth do you feel to justify your choice (over 700 posts now) to a complete stranger whose opinion you don't value?

MN is like some weird parallel universe at times..

I agree with Pastaplease. OP is just voicing her opinion. Now granted OP was being deliberately provocative - but as she has admitted herself - to get this kind of reaction. I don't know why some would wonder at her having friends - she seems pretty interesting to me. Now someone please say 'Why did she have children - if she just plans to leave them with a stranger' and put this thread to bed. Or better still my MN favourite: 'research' shows if you leave your baby for more than 8 hours (note the convenient correlation with working hours) they will think you are dead. How researchers worked this out with a non-talking baby - I have never found out.

dont act the goat maisie,mn is traipsing life & pov to online strangers,and they opine

thats why we all love it so

Baaaaaah

baaaaa=sheep
goat is trip trap surely

Goats are more kind of Maaaaaaaah (fondly remembers the grandson of a goat farmer and nights in the goatshed). Trip trap on MN though.

nah nae trip trip ignore the troll hunters.they are daft

dont think i actually know any full time stay at home mums with children at school and no outside interests.

most mums i know work part time or stay at home with toddlers - they have lots of interests/hobbies/activites but also want to give their children the best start in life by being there for them.

lol,best start in life!best start is v subjective and isnt necessarily mammie at home either

SM was that at me?

It's an MA in Autism. It's important and can make a difference. But then as you've felt free to hurl insults at me I can tell you to piss off back can't I?

wind your neck in,no i wasnt addressing you

Bollocks, i've done my Mn apprenticechip my neck is firmly stuck out

But OK sorry

why would i only seek to annoy you,when so many on mn to poke

scottishmummy, are you on the sherry?

SkyBluePearl. I don't think I know any mums SAHM or WOHM who are not trying to give their children the best start. Sorry -you can't claim that one for the SAHMs. Hobbies and interests fine - you can have them.

are you on the make.dont be so daft

PMSL SM

I have known you years deary, I never assumed you were out to annoy me, I just thought you were implying my degree was summat silly to do with

Becuase if you didn't realise the dissertation title I mentioned sounded like it after all! The other possibilities sound less guffy but have less RL usefulness.

To give their children the best start?

Fuck RIGHT off. You don't hold the monopoly you know.

I really am going to shove my gavel up a few arses in a minute.

Where's the OP? Catching up on a few of Jezza K repeats on late night telly, I reckon.

And back to the OP- yes most mums want the best for their kids.

And an awful lot of mums are sometimes SAHM, sometimes WOHM, or WAHM........ their personalities, child rearing skills and validity don't change, only their circumstances. And perhaps where they find their validation: I got an awful lot from my work when I had it, now it comes from accessing the best ASD support I can for my boys and helping the family through a rough patch.

Both are fine, just different.

well ye ken then that of course im takin piss out if socialsciencetastic chuff.throw in some social constructs and foucault,really make me laugh

inserting objects in anuses.you been snorting lemsip yule

I don't really find Focault to my taste, Wittgenstein is more my thing.

Of course I mean Foucault - too much wine.