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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to ask if you know any housewives?

108 replies

PetalMettle · 27/05/2017 06:57

It used to be a thing didn't it, but I don't think I know anyone without kids who doesn't go out to work

OP posts:
Snap8TheCat · 27/05/2017 07:02

Yes I know loads. Posh town with lots of yummy mummies though.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 27/05/2017 07:03

In the olden days you had to/tended to stop work when you got married.

I have teenagers and haven't gone back to work. Worked for 15 years before I had ds2.

Original poster
PetalMettle · 27/05/2017 07:03

But if they're mummies they have kids no? I was thinking of someone without or with adult kids

OP posts:
Snap8TheCat · 27/05/2017 07:03

Oh I misread! No not without kids even if they really in school.

WhatInTheWorldIsGoingOn · 27/05/2017 07:03

Yes. In our post natal group 3/7 don't work and the rest are all part time.

WhatInTheWorldIsGoingOn · 27/05/2017 07:04

Ah right. No, I don't know any.

Snap8TheCat · 27/05/2017 07:04

Expenses have gone up and I think most households need two incomes to run them.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 27/05/2017 07:05

I think you're going to have people miss reading OP.

Original poster
PetalMettle · 27/05/2017 07:10

Yes, should have written childless in the top. Yeah I guess it's the expenses, in particular housing

OP posts:
AgainPlease · 27/05/2017 07:10

I don't have children and I don't work.

Was made redundant a few years ago and decided to try for a family, turned out we had fertility issues so trying for 2 years before loads of IVF. Never returned to work as there was no need for me to and I didn't want to.

People say "don't you get bored?" no way! There's always something to do in London! And I've made mummy/SAHM friends to chat with plus a lot of friends are self-employed and always around for lunch or coffee.

It doesn't work for every couple, but it's a great fit for us and our lifestyles.

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 27/05/2017 07:13

The OP doesn't mean people with children - she's asking whether any women who are not mothers become housewives.
The only one I know of is my SIL but that was twenty years ago - she gave up work when she moved in with BIL. She's never worked since - although she does now have children she didn't for ten years and just stayed at home making the house nice while he went to work. They have always seemed very happy.
However even twenty years ago that was pretty unusual for people in our age group. All my friends, even if they lived with their partners, went to work.

BabyHamster · 27/05/2017 07:14

The only ones I know are in their late fifties, so close to retirement age anyway. And they do mostly have kids, but they've grown up and left home now. I don't know any my own age.

I would love to give up work if I could!

MsGameandWatch · 27/05/2017 07:16

My Mum. She gave up work in her early fifties and hasn't worked since. No ill health, financially they didn't need her to.

MrTumblesbitch · 27/05/2017 07:17

I know 2 (although they do now have children) the theory they gave was that there was no point starting a career when they wanted to have children and would be at home, so that they may as well just stay at home now. One gave up work in the run up to the wedding so she could prepare for that.

They are very wealthy families who are quite traditional, I think it was expected by their families to a degree. There was no living together before marriage or anything in these cases either.

MrTumblesbitch · 27/05/2017 07:18

Should add - these women will be early 30's now, but this was when they came straight out of uni.

IllBeAtTheSpa · 27/05/2017 07:23

I know no housewife's. I'm mid-late 20s.
The only my one I know of are the generation above mine which is still pretty unusual I suppose. Late 80s- early 90s two of my aunts gave up work before getting married. One never worked again and the second upon divorce to my uncle now has a part time job.

AgainPlease · 27/05/2017 07:34

I should add I'm in my 20s!

blueskyinmarch · 27/05/2017 07:38

I guess I am a housewife. Mid 50's and left my job a year ago. DDs both young adults. DH still works. I do the 'housewife' stuff. It also do volunteer work and have enrolled with the local uni to do an evening degree course plus I am chief dog walker. I love my life but am very lucky that my DH can support us financially and let me do things that I really enjoy.

QueenoftheAndals · 27/05/2017 07:40

In the olden days you had to/tended to stop work when you got married.

Only for middle class women. Working class women tended to always work.

witsender · 27/05/2017 07:42

I know a few. A couple now have children however.

Badders123 · 27/05/2017 07:48

My sister.
She married a rich guy and stopped work before kids.
It's all gone rather tits up now though and she has had to go back to work PT and may have to go full time soon.

Original poster
PetalMettle · 27/05/2017 07:48

I suppose pippa Middleton is isn't she? Does she work anymore?

OP posts:
PlateNotSlate · 27/05/2017 07:48

I know one. Very religious family. She lived at home until she got married, saved her money from working in a small gift shop. Gave up her job when she got married. Spent a year or two keeping house and helping out at church things - Sunday School, youth groups and the like, until she got pregnant
She's in her late twenties. The girls in the group do typically marry young and become SAHMS. She's a lovely girl and seems very happy. I'm secretly fascinated by the whole thing. Can't decide if it's adorably old fashioned, or utterly stifling.

luckylucky24 · 27/05/2017 07:49

I know one.

Got made redundant when her kids were small (aged 30). Used the money to pay of her mortgage and never needed to work again. Her husband retired early 50's.

FaithAgain · 27/05/2017 07:53

I know one. Her DH works crazy shifts but earns good money. They can afford for her not to work. If she did traditional hours they would barely see each other. She does do some writing and blogging which keeps her busy. She would be a SAHM but unfortunately they've had fertility issues Sad She seems content with her life though.

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