what do you call yourself when you are a stay-at-home Mum?

[Turtle35]

when filling out applications etc what do you say your occupation is? Slave? Housewife? I never know what to put down.

lazy

G .D. B (General Dogs Body).

i say i don't have one

don't you only have to specify occupation if you've already indicated that you're employed?

with this particular application it says employement? I don't like saying unemployed, if I didn't have a baby I would work.

but you aren't employed

Would you be happy to tick "unemployed" then starlover?

yes... because i am unemployed!

actually I'm not, I work part time, but if I was a full time SAHM then yes, i'd say I was unemployed

Homemaker or Mother - it is harder than a full time job

mumsnetter?

Hmm. I think while it may be literally the case, culturally "unemployed" implies that you either are or should be seeking paid employment. A stay at home parent may not be formally employed by an outside employer, but is engaged in a useful and productive daily activity, and is in that sense "gainfully employed". It's not as simple as it sounds IMO:)

If given options and I was a SAHM and didn't work I'd tick 'unemployed'.

If I were given a space to write it in I think I'd write 'stay at home parent' or 'full time mother' (some will take issue with this I'm sure but it's only an application form).

As it is, I'm a SAHM and freelancer - earning and paying tax, so I put my occupation in.

But even us who are employed are still Mothers or homemakers too and I wouldn't list my job title and put and Mother!

Annoys me when people say 'it's harder then a full time job'

My arse!

PARP.........

I'm a SAHM and I do agree with Northerner on the 'harder than a f/t job' thing.

It may not be a "job", but it is full-time work. And if you are not doing it yourself, then you are paying someone else to do it while you do a different job.

GS - why not call yourself self-employed then?

I don't pay anyone, lol.

I would much rather be at work as it is easier, no one pecking your head every 5 bloody minutes with questions.

Personally I describe myself as

lady of leisure
lady who lunches
domestic goddess
unemployed
retired
F/T mother

depends how I feel on the day

i'm a fulltime carer (for DS and DD1 who is disabled) but on forms I usually put homemaker..

yes but the question is are you EMPLOYED?

and yuo aren't!
what do you say? employed full time: housewife

i think they'll realise that you aren't really employed!

could always put "private means" I suppose - after all Child Benefit is £100 pcm for my 2

Agree with Greensleeves. 'Unemployed' has connotations that you are seeking work and claiming benefits. I am doing neither therefore it is not an accurate description. I would add a note explaining my circumstances if there was no provision for saying you are a 'full time parent' or whatever. Badly designed forms - tsk, they do annoy me

FGS, does it really matter? What is the form for? Way too much thinking gonig into this imo

Is there not also a further information type box, where you add more detailed information about yourself?

If so, tick Unemployed and then use that other space to explain how you have used your time - and link any skills you have got through that to the job you are applying too.