A day in the life of a SAHM - which part would you class as the work bit, which as...

[emkana]

... having a break?

Was wondering about this, because I think dh often reckons that a large part of my day is spent doing nothing, but where's the line between having a break as a SAHM and between "doing your job"?

So...
... is going to toddler group having a break?
... chatting to friends while your children are playing?
... sitting in the sun on a bench while the children are playing on the slide/in the garden?

See what I mean? To my mind I'm still doing my job because I'm still supervising the children, and dealing with anything that comes up. But on the other hand the children play second fiddle in these situations...
just wondered what everybody thought.

i think as long as you are with the kids, whether at a group or with friends - you never totally relax as always have one eye on the kids.

also, their needs come first
do they need milk
a snack
a nappy change etc...

have they fallen over, pushed someone etc...

might be sitting down, but certainly not having a breaK!

Going to toddler group is not something you would do without a child, so it's not a break. If you are able to chat to a friend or other parent while you are there you are making it more fun but its still not a break, just the same as work colleagues chatting/bantering.

the same applies to chatting to friends while children playing

Sitting in the sun on a bench - same again

I get a break when lo's at school/nursery and have finished all household stuff - aprox 4 hours per week.

Never think of it as a job. Not a helpful comparison IMO, for the reasons you give in fact.

I see what you mean but I personally class a break as time when I have no one else to think about only myself!!!! therefore, my only break comes at 7 pm when they are both in bed!!!! I don't even get a toilet break.....!?!

Message withdrawn

I don't see it as a job. But there's never a break when the kids are around. I switch off only when they are at nursery 2 and a half days a week. And this is when I work. but it is some kind of a break.

Though when they are little, it feels a bit like having to deal with a rather impatient boss

It's all work.
It doesn't matter what you are actually doing, because the responsibility is always there.
But some of it is in pleasant circumstances.

I agree, it is a misunderstanding to think of it like a job. it's just life, isn't it?
my life is looking after children.
even when I am not with them, I am thinking - what shall we do tomorrow? what shall we cook? who needs new shoes? should I home ed???
etc

There is never a break, I agree. But I personally do feel that time I am out of the house at the park, toddler groups etc is less taxing than being at home thinking about the washing, the next meal, the clearing up etc etc.

I agree too that time out of the house is more fun. I really felt like i was having a break this evening because having dropped ddand friend off at a party I spent some quality time in a restaurant with ds (9) before picking up the girls. By the end of the evening I was missing no. 4 (aged 2) but felt extremely relaxed. At some point children stop feeling a responsibility and start becoming pure fun.

My only true break, IMO, is when I am at home and the children are somewhere else - when I have an empty house to myself.
If I am out and they are being babysat then I am usually working. But if they are not my responsibility then I see it as a sort of break.
I am temporarily on my own with the children (DH is working overseas) and I am knackered - even when they are asleep I am 'on duty' ... I never sleep properly.
I take my hat off to lone parents I really do.

I sometimes go to Toddler group with a child in tow (when DS2 is in a strop and there's someone to look after him at home). I go to play the piano - and to talk to other mum's. Even when I do take him I do get a break as all the helpers that do tea and things know DS2 really well and effectively 'take over' the childcare for me - it's wonderful

I agree that time out of the house is better too.
I am more relaxed ...

I am a sahm and I try to engineer my whole day as having a break from my two boys!
I hope my husband does not read this and rumbles me.
So why am I always tired!