to remind people that school is only 189 days per year

[newport67]

On every SAH/WOH thread we see these comments
"no childcare to be done once kids at school"
"you can't call yourself a SAHP once dc are at school etc etc.
Now I accept it is not exactly stressful once dc are at school. That is why I do work a few hours a week.
However, in the holidays and whilst dc are not at school I a still a SAHP.

Indeed.

Just what you said people are always going to judge choices though i find ignoring them helps

I've never heard anyone say that you cant be a SAHP once the kids go to school

Why do you imagine anyone cares?

Thats nice.

I agree
School hours jobs, term time only are hard to come by and poorly paid

That's why I use childcare

Er, yes. And as a FT WOHM, I am only expected to work for 7 hours a day for 217 days of the year. Thanks to flexitime, working days can be reduced to 205, 189 of which the dc are in school.

So does that make me a SAHM the rest of the time?

Betty try the SAHM thread in chat at the moment. Although its a little long!

So why not put that on there instead of starting a whole new tedious thread?

Probably because that thread is so long and is becoming really vindictive at the moment. Plus they are only examples. Seen similar comments on lots of other threads.O and here's another gem.
SAHM after your DCs are all at school is the wrong name. Unemployed, I'd call it.

I'm a SAHM. I honestly couldn't care less what people think, I do have a toddler at home and one in primary school and yes, I find it tough going sometimes but honestly? I am pretty envious of my friends who only have school aged dc - they get 6+ hours a day for 189 days a year (minus any sick days) to get on with stuff. What a luxury!

Why do you even care, OP? You don't have to justify your choices to anyone on here, and if it works for you and your family, that's all that matters.

And none of us get medals for having the hardest life.

I agree it's a good position to be in. It really takes the stress away. I know I shouldn't need to justify it and it does work for our family. (DH works long hours with long commute)
However, I guess I am just ultra sensitive at the moment. Blame it on the hormones. Won't even be an issue in September as I will have a newborn.

I think there needs to be a bit more reason and compassion both from and towards SAHP's.

The truth is that when the children are at school, the 'job' of being a SAHP is definitely not as demanding as someone who works full time. Simply because of the amount of hours put in. Even if you are 'working' when they're in school, i don't think you can compare putting the washing machine or dishwasher on to being in a working office or something with a boss breathing down your neck.

But on the other hand, when the children are off school, SAHP's easily do as many working hours in a day as a person working in full time employment and i think that people who do work full time need to acknowledge this more than they currently do. Looking after children all day is difficult even without having to juggle 10 household tasks at once.

Speaking of mutual respect and compassion. I disagree with working parents who come home and expect to do nothing because they've been 'working all day' whilst their SAH partner has also been working all day in the house, it indicates that the one who goes out to work doesn't think that the one staying home is really working. Likewise, i disagree with SAHP's who when their partners come home, see that as the time to put their feet up because their partner can 'take over' looking after the kids... again, it fails to acknowledge that they've been working hard all day at work just as the SAH partner has at home. The best way to manage it is equal division of labour once both parents are home together.

The statements you cite do not make sense- 'no childcare once they are at school' what do you do the rest of the time then, stick them in the cupboard under the stairs?

And 'you are not a stay at home parent once they are at school', well you are a parent and you are staying at home aren't you? It's a description not a job spec.

I personally refuse to wholly define myself and my worth in relation to being in or out of a bloody house, with or away from my children at any one time, or according to whatever job I happen to be in. I am just me!

Train and become a TA. You work school hours,get school holidays off....spend all day caring for other people's children and then go home and look after your own. Don't get me wrong, I love my job,but its sometimes a bit like a busman's holiday!!

Jinsei, that makes 8.6 weeks annual leave? I want to work where you do!!

I don't understand.

Being a SAHP is a different job to being a WOHP.

You can't compare the 2 and say "my life is harder than yours"

It's not a competition.

If you are a WOHP school holidays are tricky.
If you are a SAHP also true but in different ways.

its 2 different jobs

190 days a year in Scotland. School staff work 195 days. But secondary schools are having 188 days to allow the staff to write the exams for the new national 4's.

In England school is also 190 for kids and 195 for staff. Thassorl

Jinsei, that makes 8.6 weeks annual leave? I want to work where you do!!

I know, I'm very lucky! :) Includes 6 weeks of "proper" annual leave, plus bank holidays and six more days when the office is closed. We had the extra bank holiday this year, so came out at nine weeks altogether. In addition to that, we have flexi time, and can take off additional days with that if we have accrued the hours!

I don't always like my job, but the T&C are bloody brilliant!

I fail to see what is so hard about staying at home. Other than that it can become boring and you lose your self esteem. This is getting so boring with all the 'it is such a hard job' bollocks.

And what Jinsei said about the hours! Nobody works 365 days a year so it's no kind of comparison.

Wanksock, that's not really fair is it?

I'm a WOHP and have been for 14 years since dd was 4 months but I really don't think it's fair to say its not hard work.

The standard FT working year, allowing for weekends, Bank Holidays and statutory leave allowance is 225 days per year.

Oh, and I found the office far easier and less stressful than SAHM. Horses for courses.