More women staying at home because they want to spend time with the kids - is this the reason?

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,
Am wrting in the Standard tomorrow about latest research suggesting stay at home mums are increasingly not returning to work because they want to spend more time with their children. Now Patricia Hewitt has said that Mothers who stayed at home had been under-valued for too long by the Goverment. What do you think - in an ideal world would you stay at home full time? Do you feel strongly about raising your kids yourself? If money were no object would you jack in the job and what, if anything, would make returning to work more attractive?
Have to say now I've chalked up four the thought of being a full-time mum is pretty terrifying (call in the professionals I say )

I have to say I find it odd that the government would be happy for me to go and nanny somebody elses two children and would subsidise me for it. Yet will give no such help if I choose to look after my own two.

If money were no object I still wouldn't leave my job, would still do 3 days per week but would leave at 2.45pm so that I could still do collection from school on the days that I worked.

I am a sahm and I wouldn't change it for the world. I and my dh feel that it's our role as parents to bring up our children and to be the ones who are there for them 24/7. Yeah sure we have family (gp's in particular) who are more than willing to look after dd but we personally feel that it's our role as parents to be there.
I also haven't heard good things about some nurseries that would give the confidence to put dd into their sole care for X hours aday.
Why would I want them to see dd's first smile, or steps, or 1st words ..? That would devastate me.

Although I understand that NOT everyone is as fortunate as we are.

We are not loaded by any means..in fact we have even less money now dd is around BUT we make sacrifices and things have changed in our lifestyle to allow me to stay off with dd.

Nothing would make returning to work more attractive...Do you think I would rather sit in an office dealing with work than stay at home developing our dd.??? Being able to go for walks when we like,shop when we like,being my own boss....

Yeah yeah, I do have hard and trying days BUT then I had these days when I worked.

BTW I feel sahm's are sooo under valued. Financially we would be bettre off if I was on the dole and claiming benefits then being a sahm. The government doesn't seem to recognise the financial strain on us but then again don't suppose they want to because that would go against their needs for nurseries iykwim. I also feel I am a minority (sahm's) and in our group of friends I am the only sahm...Sad esp when I constantly get comments like " You need to work to give you variety" and "your dd needs to go to nursery to allow her to mix" etc etc. My dd and I have all the variety we need and as for mixing with others, we attend weekly m&b sessions. TBH I feel my dd is benefiting more by me being a sahm...

SHHH, here,here.
I'm sick of people asking me when am i going back to work, and feeling guilty for wanting to be a SAHM.
I had kids because i want to bring them up, watch them grow,enjoy them. Not let other people have that pleasure.
I am fully aware that some people need to work,and am so glad i'm lucky enough to be able not to. I hate hearing people say "i go to work to get away from the kids",(which i do quite often), why have them then?.It all passes so quickly.

belleofball well said! I know someone who's a month off giving birth, she has already "booked" her mum to babysit new years eve! Shocking IMHO.

IMO some people also feel the need to have children to "tick the boxes".