Aibu to ask if you know any housewives?

[PetalMettle]

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

None my age (mid thirties) other than sahm which I've established from this thread is a different matter. It was more common when I was growing up. Where I am women are encouraged to have a third level education and work, sometimes they take a break for bringing up the children and then go back into employment. I can honestly say I don't know of any.

I know a couple of 'househusbands', school age children / no children and not working whilst their partners do. I don't know any 'housewives' though.

There's a lady who goes to my gym who doesn't work and doesn't have kids. She dabbles in a few things but otherwise a relaxed life. I am not sure why she doesn't work but I've the impression something happened to stop her. She doesn't need to, as her husband earns a lot. I think so did she, until a few years ago. I also find it fascinating, especially since she is so smart and outgoing. I couldn't do it as I'd get bored, and I like to have the ability to be a separate financial unit, as a previous poster has suggested.

I think you'd need your oh insured up to the mark, and a good lawyer ready for if you ever get divorced.
Sorry @nokidsyet gpwm = good point well made - they used it on another forum I used to post on so I thought it was common knowledge!

My mum. She has never worked, but she has done an amazing job running the house and her kids.

I am one. Almost 50, adult kids. Not unusual where I live- some are, some aren't, but not seen as strange. Have a disability which although doesn't affect me on a day to day basis, would make it challenging to hold a job down.

Don't clean as have a cleaner but go to the gym to keep fit and healthy, meet friends for coffee/lunch, shop, make home cooked dinners for me and dh. Having a house renovation so am far from bored. I appreciate being stress free and able to go away at a moment's notice with dh. I think if I had a job I found really fullfilling I'd be really happy to work part time but I've just never found it.

I was a housewife for a little while, now a SAHM. It suited us both. We had moved 6 months previously a long way away. My work was a lot more difficult and unsafe in the new place. I ended up with anxiety and OCD issues taking over. I liked being at home. Had CBT and we're TTC, now a happy SAHM to our six month old.

My SIL is one. Rich husband. They may have kids in the future but no plans yet.

Is there actually a difference between a housewife and a SAHM?

I know 2, both youngish (mid+twenties and early thirties.)

One has a very wealthy husband and genuinely doesn't need the extra income. They might have kids later but none at the moment.

The other has various health issues, so makes working difficult. She doesn't want to have children.

Both seem to have decent partners and they seem to be able to afford it.

I know loads. All independently wealthy too ie have six figure passive incomes so not financially dependent on anyone. Sounds fun if you ask me!

My aunt, he dc are all in their 30's now and she's never worked from the day she married, she says she doesn't want too.

My friend has no dc but doesn't work, she hasn't since before she married her dh. My friend is only late 20's but says she doesn't have to work as he provides for her

I know lots of sahm but I don't class them as housewives as they have (normally very young) dc to take care of which is not an easy job. I am a Sahm but I do still have a very good income from my business and I am at home by choice not becuase dh expected it and I don't cook everyday for dh and I don't clean my own house

Housewives, as in not stay at home mothers: yeah I know 2 or 3

I am. I had to fill in a form at the dentist the other day. I paused when it asked for my occupation as I couldn't think how else I could describe myself other than 'housewife'. I thought putting 'domestic engineer' would sound a little bit crass. I previously classed myself as an unpaid carer as I gave up work 17 years ago to look after a close relative. The relative sadly died 5 months ago and I have not got my head around what I might do in the future. I have been out of the workplace for so long and have no specific qualifications. It is not a situation I would have chosen but life takes it's own path and sometimes you just have to go with the flow. All my friends work so I'm not a 'lady who lunches'.

I'd love to be a housewife! Had a reasonably successful career in banking for 22 years (not particularly high level, though) before I had 2 DCs in my mid 30s. I then stopped work and became a SAHM.

DCs are now well into primary school age and I've recently started a very boring MW job, but with extremely flexible hours. I am purely working for the money, and, I suppose, future financial security.

However, I would be perfectly to never work again, regardless of the age of my children. I just haven't had much satisfaction from the paid employment I've done for the last 30 years 😕.

Yes I have a friend whose youngest child is 19 and she doesn't work. She used to but last venture didn't work out and she has been enjoying not working for the last couple of years. They don't need the money and she has a great social life.

I do think 'housewife' is an awful term though. There must be something better surely?

I know retired people and I had one friend who kept house from marriage until they had children about 3 years later. She got an allowance from her dad.

One of my neighbours fits that description.

giddyaunt I agree, but the alternative terms (I can only think of domestic engineer!) are a bit twee.

The word 'midwife' means 'with woman', so maybe the 'wife' part of the word actually means 'woman' - so 'housewife' really means 'house woman'? Not sure if that's much better but at least it doesn't imply that you're married to the house.

The older I get the more it appeals. It has always been drummed into me by modern society, feminism etc that both halves of a couple must work and provide their share.

My mum only worked for some of her life and was a housewife for the majority. She and my dad are still together, now well retired, and it really worked for them.

We both work full time and have kids of 13 and 11. I am mid 40s and it's so bloody tiring and DH and I are sick of doing the housework at the weekend. If I could afford to give up work I would immediately. Get a dog, join a gym, visit parents, do voluntary work, garden (is like a jungle at the moment after years of neglect), ALL the housework so it didn't eat into DH's and my time at the weekend like it does now .I can't imagine ever being bored. My kids will be independent in a few years but even so, I would give up work then if I could.

I think it's a healthy balance in a home if you can't afford cleaner, gardener etc when working full time.

Only problem is that DH would also give up work if he could. He earns so much more than me so if anyone gave up it would be me and the fact that I would be off knowing that he wanted to be in my position would be unbearable.

How about 'Stay at home Wife' as in 'Stay at Home Mum' ?

Not much better really. If it were me I'd rather say 'I don't work.'

I think 'stay at home wife' conjurs up an image of the wife waiting with the warmed up slippers and ironed newspaper when the husband walks through the door . That definitely doesn't happen in this house!

The Americans use "home maker" I think. Cha - that's what I reckon it would be like. So much easier on a relationship. Although I think you'd need to be very financially secure in order that there wasn't any worrying about financial resentment