AIBU to be in awe of WOHM???

[SnakePlisskensMum]

Don't want this to be patronising or creepy creepy but how the hell do you do it???

I had a great career for years, high powered, highly paid, long hours. I always said that if I was lucky enough to have kids I would want to stay at home with them until they went to school (circumstances permitting). I was lucky enough to do this and loved it but as my youngest has just started school and DH's job is now not that secure I decided that it was time for me to contribute to the family funds. I retrained in an area recently which means I have a 'trade' and I have set up my own business which is only just starting out but growing quickly.
I cannot believe how stressed I am! I am highly organised but I am so used to being able to do stuff in my own good time. Now there's deadlines to meet, clients to see and I can't seem to fit in all the other stuff I used to do. DH does his fair share too and is brilliant with the kids.
I am now in awe of people that have to/choose to work whilst having young DC. My mate was left a single parent when her DH left her and she did it all alone, working from when her DS was 6 months old. I have the utmost respect for her.
As I said, I'm not patronising, just really, really admiring and I admit it, naive!

Sorry to hijack, but I can't decide if I have the best or worst of both - I work from home. So yes I have the flexibility of taking time off during the day, which is great, but on the other hand, because I'm at home, I feel it's expected that I will do cleaning, shopping etc while my DH is at work,

YANBU at last someone has said it. It seems fine to say its hard being a SAHM, but I quickly realised that some SAHMs just don't get how hard it is unless they have actually had to do it.

It's not just the lack of hours in the day, its being torn between your the needs of your DCs and work expectations. Being at work in some pointless meeting whilst your DC would love you to be at school for something. All the things your DCs do that parents can be involved in but you never know about as you don't do the school gates or really get to know the other parents. For anyone who thinks this is just a matter of priorities, DC will always be the priority but so is feeding, clothing and giving them a home which means keeping the job.

I mean it's often assumed that WOHMs choose to do this, want to do this or its some sort of lifestyle choice where they have a fabulous other life outside DC. The reality is often one knackered woman too tired for anything else.

I'm going to take that as a lovely compliment.
And throw one back at you. I admire SAHMs too.

I feel like I have the worst of all worlds atm, and like I am doing nothing properly. Though "results" don't bear that out.
I don't think I have anything easier or harder than a SAHM and that is not exactly the point.
We all have different experiences/children/support/capabilities/needs, what works for one doesn't work for another.