Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Does anyone else love being a housewife?

181 replies

Bookaholic73 · 14/11/2019 17:50

Im just wondering if anyone else loves being a housewife and has decided with their spouse that you’ll stay at home instead of work?
Not because you have to financially, or for any other reason than you really enjoy it.

I love it. I love the traditional way of life, I love having dinner ready for my fiancé when he gets home, I love cleaning our home and making it look nice.

OP posts:
alreadyinchristmasmood · 14/11/2019 17:53

Well, after 12 hours of work today I can certainly say I'm jealous. But otherwise I'd get bored pretty quickly. What do you do all day?

Waiting1987 · 14/11/2019 17:54

I would never want to rely on a man to support me. I trust my husband but relationships break down. Each to their own and I can see why it might appeal.

legodisasterzone · 14/11/2019 17:57

I’m a full time carer for my daughter and I hate being at home all day.
Initially, it was nice to leave behind work and all the dashing about. I quite liked cooking nice meals and being on top of stuff.
However, I quickly realise that it really bores me and I find it a lonely and isolating existence.
Doesn’t help that I hate housework Grin
My lowest point so far is when I realised I had become addicted to Midsomer Murders 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’m only in my 40s!!! X

DamnShesaSexyChick · 14/11/2019 17:58

I'd hate living off someone else's dollar

Bookaholic73 · 14/11/2019 17:58

Oh believe me I’ve done my fair share of 14 hour days.
If the relationship broke down, I’d just go and get a job, it’s not like I have never worked or will never work again.

What do I do all day? I cook, clean, take care of the animals, sew, mend things, wash the cars, walk the dogs..lots of things.

OP posts:
Bookaholic73 · 14/11/2019 18:00

I’m not ‘living off his dollar’. I’m providing him a clean home, food to eat, children being cared for, etc.

That’s like saying to him ‘if never want my woman to do all the cleaning and home making, what if she left you, you’d have to do it all yourself’.
Of course that’s the case!

OP posts:
Bookaholic73 · 14/11/2019 18:01

@legodisasterzone nothing wrong with Midsummer murders 😂

OP posts:
legodisasterzone · 14/11/2019 18:02

I don’t disagree with it, as everyone should do what works for them.
Just bear in mind that it can get very monotonous and lonely.

Bookaholic73 · 14/11/2019 18:04

I’m an active part of my towns community, so I don’t get lonely. God forbid, I’m even considering joining the WI.

OP posts:
AreYouOkayHun · 14/11/2019 18:05

Perhaps in the 1950s I could see how a 'housewife' filled her day, but now not so much. Also the worth of my income goes far beyond money.

HalloumiGus · 14/11/2019 18:13

I would be very careful tbh but I've been made cynical by seeing a couple of women left high and dry after giving their all to homemaking for a few years. By being so devoted to home they furthered their partners' careers. The partners rewarded them by getting promoted, travelling for work and shagging their underlings. Both seemed like decent guys before this but something about this dynamic brings out the latent entitlement in some men.

Tractorgirlz · 14/11/2019 18:14

I’m planning to SAH until DS starts school. I don’t find it boring at all! I meet up with friends and their children, meet up with family (who work in medicine so have varying shifts) I cook, clean, walk the dog, obviously play all day with a toddler. This week we have watched a couple of Christmas films but usually it’s a couple of Disney films per week (which I love!) we do some craft things and baking. Then at the end of the day once DS is in bed I’ll read or catch up on a tv series. I work for half a day per week then do a bit of bookkeeping for family. We go away a lot in our camper and have a couple of abroad holidays per year. Lots to do and look forward to, I have a wonderful life.

JoJoSM2 · 14/11/2019 18:18

I don’t work and enjoy it. But I have a cleaner and gardener. I spend my time looking after DS or things like hobbies/gym/meeting friends.
My new year resolution was to learn to cook but ilI gave up after a few weeks. I think it could be cool being a domestic goddess making own jams and curtains but I’m not cut out for it.

CalamityJune · 14/11/2019 18:28

I'd be bored rigid. I really enjoy working. The challenges, the team work, the shared goals, the deadlines. I'm not terribly self motivated and enjoy a bit of healthy pressure and accountability. The commuting I could do without, mind you.

BrutusMcDogface · 14/11/2019 19:44

How many children do you have and how old are they? I have 4, youngest is a baby. My poor dp works very very hard and still comes home to a tip....

user1480880826 · 14/11/2019 20:00

I would be bored out of my mind. And I would hate not having my own money and financial security.

Unless you have preschool age kids there is really no reason to stay at home all day. I refuse to believe there are that many essential housework tasks to keep you busy all day. Your partner will surely come to resent you sitting around watching daytime tv, going out for coffee and going to the gym. I know I would not be happy funding my partner to live the life of Riley while I went to work.

CandyCaneLove · 14/11/2019 20:26

I don't disagree with it at all and certainly wouldn't describe it as "living off someone else's dollar" - you're a team and you're doing what works for you.

I could choose to do that and I do think I'll miss DD when I go back to work. However I really love my career and colleagues and I've worked too hard to get to the position I'm in to give it up now. I do think that as my daughter gets older there will be less need for me to be at home and I would regret giving up a career which could give me a personal income and interesting life for years to come.

BlueWonder · 14/11/2019 20:38

Who pays for your national insurance contributions, prescriptions, use of public services, roads, infrastructure.... that sort of thing? There is a cost to society in you staying home, not just what you personally lose in earnings. Not having a dig at you personally, but someone who could work and opts not to isn't contributing to services in society but is still using them.

formerbabe · 14/11/2019 20:41

I'm quite old fashioned but I truly think the death of the housewife was one of the worst things to happen to the modern world.

TalentedMsRipley · 14/11/2019 20:45

You ARE living off his dollar, then. Sorry this thread isn't going the way it was meant to.

LittleSweet · 14/11/2019 20:48

Legodisasterarea, same here. I'm carer to my two dcs. I feel lucky I can do it for them. I feel lonely and isolated. I don't like being financially dependent on my dh. I feel very vulnerable.

MarshaBradyo · 14/11/2019 20:49

I love being with dd at home, other dc at school. But I have help, cleaning is more likely to send me back to work.

AnneLovesGilbert · 14/11/2019 20:50

Have you set a date to get married?

minesagin37 · 14/11/2019 20:51

So what's your point? Most people do housework and work. I feed animals too. I stayed off work for a year after my daughter was born but I found my brain slowly became mush. None of my sister in laws work and now they just talk shit.

KaliforniaDreamz · 14/11/2019 20:53

mine actual LOL