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

Genuinely lottery winning style money no object? No way I’d work. I wouldn’t do anything domestic though!

Home all the way.

I'd stay home and hire a nanny.

Work part time. I do work part time but maybe I would work a bit less

Work.

Unless I were managing a farm or big estate which is the same thing.

Like others, would be happy with long working days and fewer of them.

As it was, I had long and unpredictable days - sometimes 3am to 11pm. Not child friendly.

Hmm, I think I interpreted 'money being no issue' differently to most posters - I thought it meant we won the lottery or whatever (in which case DH wouldn't work either!). If it just means 'would you work if you could afford not to' then yes, because I do. But I wouldn't say money is no issue - we could survive off DH's salary, and plenty of people do, but I wouldn't want to.

Being a sahm can be glorious /personality of mum /children /sen /location /transport

/family back up /support network and £££££.

Some dc would test the patience of a Saint.

I think each person needs to think about what they can cope with, their support and go from there.
I was a sahm and it was gruelling but due to my personal experiences there was absolutely no way I was putting them in a nursery, non verbal. I see that as my cross to bear for choosing to have dc.
It's far harder than anyone can tell you.

However, I didn't have any ££ with the first one at least to do much stuff.

Ideally I would have loved to work maybe two days a week more for the break /social aspect of it /money but only once they were able to convey their moods and feelings and talk a bit.

I had no family back up either but dh was great.
So it's really individual.
But personally if anyone can help it, I wouldn't put teeny babies into nursery, every day for hours on end.

Mums mental health is crucial to being able to support the child.

Work part time. I do 2 days. Well paid, interesting professional career. Keeps my brain working. Pays for a cleaner and gardener and nice holidays.

Oh yes being able to hire a nanny and be at home would have been fabulous as well! An extra pair of hands and eyes... The bliss!
I honestly don't know how single parents do it...

SAHP

Work 100% If I could afford it I would try and take about 18 months off then go back part time of 23 hours a week (2 x 11.5 hour days) I am a midwife and love my job. I can't imagine not doing it!

The reality is this days it's very hard to justify continuing to be a SAHP when children are school aged. Wraparound care is widespread and the costs of housing etc mean most families need two earners.

So choosing to be a SAHM for 5 or 10 years in your 30s is nearly always a temporary decision, but it can a) fuck your finances royally and b) be extremely difficult to get back into anything approaching a decent career.

The compromise imho is to work part time. Thus retaining a decent career & finances, and putting yourself in a position from which it's not difficult to scale back up.

We don't have any money issues and I've been a SAHM for 20 years. My youngest is going to secondary school next year and I'm just about to look for a job. It's been nice staying at home but, recently, I've been getting very bored at home. I miss the adult conversation, and doing something different every day. I'm really looking forward to getting back out in the world but, I wouldn't change the last 20 years.

I’d go down to 3 days a week, but I wouldn’t give up entirely. I like my job and I like all my colleagues.

I am primarily a SAHM but do small amounts of freelance work as and when. At the moment it's just to keep my hand in. Once my children are at school full time I'll probably do more of it, but I'm lucky to have (as it stands) the luxury to work as much or as little as I like, and will probably vary the amount, pick and choose what work I do do, etc.

If money wasn’t an issue because of an inheritance or a lottery win then I might stay at home but if it meant relying on my spouse I would always work, I could never give up my financial independence

I like working although work p/t. If money was no object I'd get a nanny or two & start my own business.

This is us. I have just handed my notice into my very flexible part time job. However my DH and I have a business together that he works FT at and I do a few hours on the finance side.
I am looking forward to having some time for myself in the day.

I'm a SAHM, but I also have a severely disabled DS. When he's at school I consider the time I'm home alone as respite. I get to do the housework in peace, and also get a little bit of time to rest.

Work but part time and keep the cleaner

If money wasn't an issue I'd work part-time.

I wouldn't put a child in wraparound care (so potentially giving them a 10 hour day) unnecessarily.

I'm a SAHM until my youngest starts school next September then I definitely want to go back to work in a job I enjoy part time.

If money wasn't an issue I would work pt or do a PhD.

If I won the euromillions I think I would set up a small charity/be a trustee of one.

I'd want to do "something" not home/family related.

Work part time - best of both worlds.

Work!

There's no underestimating the benefits of adult company and using my brain!

There are jobs that will fit around children that don't require childcare - office jobs in school, TA, agency work, volunteer work etc if money isn't the issue.

My ds is disabled and I'm a LP parent. I've always worked in education and although needed wrap around care when he was younger it's being home during the holidays that's benefitted us.