To wonder why anyone with school-aged children would want to be a SAHM?

[Badtasteflump]

And what they do all day?

I have my flame-proof hard-hat ready

In the spirit of the general shit-stirring on here today I though I would ask this - as I do really wonder. Fair enough when you have pre-school aged children, I can understand wanting to be a SAHM. But once your children are at school full-time, what is there to do all day?

I work PT (school hours, basically). I manage (jointly with DH) to get all the housework, cooking, diy, etc) done in the evenings & weekends, no problem. If I were at home all day I really think I would go a bit mad - either that or I fear I would gradually become relegated to the role of house-slave, doing all the housework and childcare myself because I wouldn't have the excuse of a 'proper' job. . .

Oh, I have the (some, enough)financial independence , but now I just sounds smug.

but TBH, I would not be happy in this position otherwise.

Lol at brain atrophy!

Yup, all those people doing mind numbing, repetitive jobs are just firing neurons 9-5!

Pagwatch Kessya is clearly a moron or a man or a bit ill.

Avoid.

Chandon, well quite, but hey, some people love to think we would all be in the gutter if we were shoved aside for a younger model.

Two of my DCs are still preschool age, but when in full time school I don't fancy my chances of getting a job to fit around their school hours. I don't think I will have a problem filling my days, thanks OP. I hope to do some voluntary work too.
Just out of curiosity, what do you do at work all day? Pick your nose behind a computer screen? Waste time on internet forums? Anything particularly useful, that makes a positive, altruistic contribution to society? (Not many paid jobs really do in reality, do they?)

I think you are assuming that SAHM means exactly that - stay at home. Most parents I know who aren't working lead full and varied lives. A lot of them do their socialising during the day because getting childcare in the evenings is impossible. I know a couple who use the time to train for triathlons, several who go running and cycling and some do volunteer work for charity. I work part time and use the days I am not at work to cook, clean and shop, meet friends for coffee, help OH run his business and read MN and occasionally post on it. Because of this my weekends are free.

I love my lifestyle and wouldn't change it.

Kessaya 'the fact is that if you choose to be a SAHM with your children in school you are a lazy arse, or perhaps unemployable. Most people manage to find time to push the hoover around and do the laundry without calling it a full time job.'

I live in a foreign country where my subject is not taught. I could find a job, but financially, we do not need me to work. Should I take a job from a Belgian who needs it far more than I do just so I can say on MN, I am a WOHM?

My job is to get ds through his GCSEs, to make sure the homework is done; that he is not skiving school (not that he'd dare), and that everything runs smoothly so that dh can do his job without worrying about things. I used to do all that whilst working 60 hour weeks as a teacher with ds in prep school from 0745 to 1900 each day, so I could get it all done, as dh was working abroad and I was in UK. This works for us as a family, and it is great. Having worked from graduation until I was 40, I don't think I could be defined as unemployable either.

FWIW, why do you assume that we are all feminists, and why is being a SAHM not contributing? It contributes to the family surely?

But aren't you going maaaaddd Bunbaker?

Its not something I have ever been able to do.

But what is wrong with being a SAHM? Why on earth does anyone need to justify why they do it and what they do all day?

I think I have the ideal arrangement because I work 10 hrs a week. Sometimes I think I would rather not work but if you dont have money you are pretty limited to what you can do if you are at home all day.

If I had a bit of spare cash would I be a full time SAHM? Hell yeah!

Who else wants to know what amazing, groundbreaking career kessaya has?

Taps foot

if its not paid for out of my taxes - i don't give a shit it you spend each day strapped to a chimp whilst fucking lady gaga's detached cock.

I'm a sahm with 2 school aged dc. I love it. I have choice. I have freedom. Dh brings home in a week what I used to earn in a month. Our lives are happy and we enjoy each day, we don't live for the weekend then have to rush round doing all the jobs we didn't have time for during the week.

I have a gardener and sometimes I have a cleaner.
I can be a lazy cow or I can still be working at 9.30pm. It's up to me.

I can see how some people would be bored, but my self worth isn't bound up in a career. I like being me!

What Custardo said and because most jobs are fundamentally pointless in the big scheme of things. Unless you solve the cold fusion problem, humanity will probably not thank you for your efforts, so if you don't need the money you may as well please yourself and have a nice life.

Also, in this environment, being a SAHM with a working partner is actually quite philanthropic. We all know there arent wnough jobs to go round, right? Sharing's caring, people

I'm sure it has all been said but I feel a bit sad for those who lack the imagination to consider how they might fill their day without a job.

I spent 2 years as a SAHM to school age DC's, and (shock horror!) had FT help. Then I ruined* it all by having another baby

• obviously that was a joke

I watch hard core porn all day

Because I don't want to have to pay a stranger to look after my children after 3pm and during the holidays.

Because I want to be there for my kids if they're ill...without the hassle of squaring it with someone else.

Because we have the money for me to be a SAHM.

Because my Husband works 3 different shift patterns.

Kessaya you sound a bit jealous. Certainly not happy. Perhaps your career isn't so fulfilling that you feel the need to justify yourself while putting others down. Bless.

My husband works extremely long hours. He wouldn't be able to do his job if he had to do half the household stuff. I contribute by enabling him to work.

My youngest has just started school and I work only 1 day per week.
The rest of the time is filled up with

• Washing
• Ironing
• Cleaning the house
• Cooking (all from scratch)
• Currently uploading and selling loads on ebay
• redecorating the front room (project for next month)
• redecorating our bedroom (project for the month after)
• volunteering at DSs school

I give myself a lunch hour, so no sitting around all day watching daytime telly
TBH I have looked for more work, but the availability around here for a job that is school hours only and also pays enough to cover childcare for 2 kids during holidays without forking out extra from DHs wages (that we can't afford) is non existent.
I am happy to be a SAHM

at custardo

OOOH HullyGully me too.... when I'm not shagging the window cleaner that is [grin[

I love being a sahm. My Dds are 12 & 9 and I still want to be the one that picks them up from school every day.

I love looking after my home and family. I have plenty of time to look after things and to have time to myself. I have lunch with my friends, walk the dog, go to the gym/swimming.

When the children were younger I helped in the classroom now I volunteer once a week for a charity. My DH and DDs come home to a clean, comfortable home and homecooked food. They do not have to worry about chores and our family time is just that. The weekend is for relaxing not doing jobs.

I want to be home if the DDs are ill and I want to be available to take them to activities or have their friends to visit.

We can afford it and it works for us.

I have no plans to be a SAHM once my DD's are school age because our family will need my income. If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't. I'd spend time cooking, cleanunf, baking, being crafty, plannibf, organising, writing, reading, going for walks, going swimming or to the gym, going for coffee and volunteering.

People have gobbies and interests so some SAHM's don't just sit down all day while their children are.in school.

Plus, who cares? They're happy. If they're not they can choose a different path.