If money wasn’t an issue, would you rather work or be a stay at home parent?

[twerkinGherkin]

Just curious. I’m not sure if stay at home parent life is all it’s cracked up to be. My children aren’t in school yet but even when they are, I think I might prefer to work? But putting them in wrap around care is giving me guilt as it’s not necessary. Wondering if I’m crazy to consider working when I don’t need to

I’d like to be paid a bit more to work slightly fewer hours…..currently doing 4 days a week. Would like to do 3, for the same (or ideally more!) money

I don't even have kids and I'd SAH if I could!

Work PT. I've gone back full time again, after DC2, and the guilt is awful. And I'm exhausted, and can't keep on top of the house jobs. The guilt is actually getting worse about DC1 rather than the baby, because he now fully understands and tells us how so and so wasn't in nursery today because they spend a day with their mummy. Or asks why he's always the first to be dropped off in the morning.

And most of the kids at his nursery are there because their parents work. I'm dreading when he starts school in September and will be in the minority being in the wraparound twice a day, every day.

I couldn't be a SAHM, but something part time would be wonderful.

Work. Now they are older (primary school age) I enjoy them more but they’re at school anyway. I’m not a toddler type of person and working means that we can pay someone to do the housework.

Work!!!

Stay at home for sure! Napping is my favourite hobby not even joking

Sahm even if mine weren’t in school, I loved being home with mine when they were little I miss it now they are in school

I depends on their ages. Preschoolers? Sweet fucking Jesus no. Being around maniacal toddlers all day without the sweet sanctuary of work would kill me off.

Can i not work but also have no children

If I had the choice, I would work part time managing my own charity.

Hmmm SAHP but i would need to be well off enough to do interesting things all the time.

@FeckingCovid

SAHP. To be fair we could probably afford for me to do this on my DH wage but I've got used to having my own money even if it's only part time wages

This makes no sense...so you're saying SAHP but go on to say you're in this situation but have chosen work?

It's definitely work for me. I will only bring home £500-600 a month after 2 in full time nursery but we share all our money and I like my job. I'm enjoying my last mat leave while it lasts though.

I have never felt so happy as I am now stay at home mum to DS 3 x

I'm a sahm to school age dc...today I've napped for an hour and watched tv in bed...I have never had a job I've enjoyed more than that.

Work part time running my own consultancy business, and be SAH the rest of the time.

But with a cleaner as I am not in the least domestic.

Currently having this dilemma. Think I will be a SAHM for a few years though we will also use childcare for a couple of days a week for socialising our DD and to give me a break. We are lucky to be able to afford this I appreciate

SAHP - which I was until youngest hit secondary school. Now work PT and would be bored to SAH all day. Although I could opt for voluntary work or hobbies instead I guess.

I'd do what I did when the DC were younger and work p/t - I loved that, it was the best of both worlds. Now my job is f/t, couldn't be done in p/t hours, and I miss my days off.

Money isn't an issue here and I choose to work. My mental health would suffer if I didn't. I was fortunate enough to work through out the lock downs/out of home, which helped keep me sane.

Once both kids are in school, SAHP most definitely. Our house would actually be tidy sometimes, I would be there for my children and I could take up a hobby or two.

My children are 3 and 6mos at the moment and, for now, I'm very much looking forward to coming off maternity leave. I feel eternally tired and beat up by the monotony of it all.

I wish we were back in the age of tax credits for working families and them being a decent enough amount to get by, so that one if us didn't have to work FT while my kids were young. We both work FT and it is utterly knackering, but that said being a SAHP isn't for me. If one of us would have worked PT while they were young and picked up career later, it would have been better for us I think.

I suppose I am better off having worked, but your career still suffers with young children anyway, with sickness, pregnancy, MAT leave and spreading yourself so thinly to deal with.

Ideally I would like to not work or have the kids for a few hours a week as I could get the stuff done that most stresses me out without interuptions.

Work. Until they go to school. Then SAHM.

Send ds to boarding school and go traveling I think.

Sahm for me. But I totally get people who want go back to work.

I've never been a career-driven person though and I also like my alone time! I couldn't be doing with working with a load of other people.

I imagine some jobs are very fulfilling but I'm too lazy to do the training.

Don't tell ds!