thinking its mad, how everyone assumes your going to return to work, when your dcs start school?

[milkgoddessmakesthefinestmilk]

im not planning to, i want to be the one that takes dd to school picks her up from school is there if shes sick or on holiday.

don't school children have about 3 months of hols a year?

Quite, riven.

i know, i know. I'm just messing with ya. we'd probably like each other in RL. in fact, you'd probably fancy me. It's a given.

Sorry I have got to duck back in re. the barrister / boring comment.

Being a barrister is about 1 per cent to do with red tape and 99 per cent to do with using your brain in a challenging and stimulating way. Being a barrister, if you can do it well, is one of the most interesting and rewarding of "standard" jobs (ie if you're not Stephen Hawking or Martin Amis or whoever) you can do. It also pays extremely well and is flexible.

I'll confess that I used the phrase deliberately to annoy - although of course I have met people who have done just that.

I would not respect a partner who stayed in a job for the money.

I agree with the barrister comment by the way. Most barristers have the enviable skill of being to articulate arguments logically and coherently within a nanosecond of reading a set of instructions. It's marvellous.

Barristers and solicitors are both types of lawyer.

Fairly roughly - barrister represents in court (Rumpole, etc). Solicitor more office work (though they do go into court) eg wills, property, commercial deals etc.

You can really only get to a barrister via a solicitor.

Oh and barristers are dead sexy.

Don't know about respect but I'd feel terribly guilty if my DP felt he had to stay in a job to keep me at home financially.
He is in advertising at the moment and hates it with a passion, he is leaving to join the police force, I'd prefer us to be happy than rich.

Can I ask Quattro, how much do you actually see your kids during the week? Surely your job takes a lot of your time?

I leave on time most of the time and I simply get away with it. Things sometimes don't get done but nobody has brought me up about it. I also work from home quite a bit so I'm available when needed.

Do you do the same? I'm not poking at you btw, I'm just curious.

VS I used to work in advertising for about 3 years. I loathed it and have been a different person since I shook the dust of that agency from my heels. Good luck to your DP. He will be so much happier & that will filter through your whole family.

DaddyCool do you not even take any pride in your work? Getting away with things, nobody ticking you off about leaving stuff undone - that sounds awful.

I agree with Quattro re both parents working in order to cover unexpected redundancy, sickness etc - I would hate DH to be the sole earner and him feel responsible for it all.

Whilst I only work part time and nothing fancy like a lawyer, my wage covers the mortgage and council tax and I'm happy with that. If DH ever lost his job, I could increase my hours or look to move for more money whilst he found another.

I can also shop knowing that I have contributed to the household, I dont think I could be financially dependent on DH and not feel guilty when spending. Its a joint account and he earns more but at least my wages help.

As for being a SAHM, whilst I would love it in the holidays I know I would hate it term time. There is little to do and once the housework is done I would be bored silly. I do actually enjoy my job, sure I have bad days but you get those in most jobs, I love the company and the stimulation it brings.

marmite - no, i don't. I have an approach where that i get away with as much as possible and assume that one day the bubble will burst.

I can't just prioritise the needs of the faceless corporation i work for over the needs of my family. that's where people go wrong and then they get divorced and lose almost everything. My boss and my bosses boss are on their third wives. pathetic.

I have my cake and eat it too.

Quattro - you are clearly after Xenia's crown.

If SAHMs are as brain dead as you appear to believe, why are you wasting your superior intellect on threads like this?

Annie - that's the thing about it - the more you put in the more you get out etc

Daddy - ah yes - now you really don't want to know about my hours

Hoping to prod them back into life?

hmmm, prioritise admin (and i don't care what you are, barrister, accountant, clerical person, PA, top exec.... it's all boring admin) over family.

sounds great.

You are Xenia!

Go one now, go set the world on fire and leave us to chew the cud/care for our kiddies.

Go on, that should have said.
Stupid SAHM that I am