Hm...read a fair few posts at the beginning and the end of the thread...but, to many to read them all, lol!
Sleepinbeauty....to your op....I can see your point, I think...about those SAHM that theoretically could be doing something but aren't and mpoan about it...saying that, I don't think it's always this straightforward, iykwim....not all mothers are prepared to use paid childcare outside schoolhours and there aren't that many Jobs around that you can work around school!
I suppose it depends on your qualifications, etc...what you could do!
I am not sure though, where your opinion comes from that those individuals must be lazy and woe the hubby that has got to work...I don't see myself as a lesser person just because I am a SAHM( and no, not yet fall into that category...have 1 schoolaged, one pre school aged and one lil one that only just started Nursery at the age of 2), indeed someitmes I think if more mothers would be SAHM (i.e. if this would be an option to all that would like this) maybe we wouldn't have such a breakdown in society, maybe we would have better Kids in a closer nit familyunion? Maybe Working mums are society's problem more then SAHM's? This is not my opinion, but just a thought thrown in!
Personally i beleive you got to do what you feel is right, but I don't think anyone is less of a mother or worthy as a person and a member of society because they choose to be a working or a SAH-mom...!
I find it very sad that you believe that being a SAHM is less worthy and that we should feel bad for our Hubbies...I find looking after Kids it's the very hardest Job I have ever done, because it's constant, and you don't even get paid for it...it must be done for love!
To Anoah...hm...my dh pays plenty of taxes and I think so do most partners and dh's in familys where the choice is that one parent stays at home...so, why is that unfair to you and your family...no one is making you go to work, I assume, it's your choice, mine is, for the time being to be a SAHM...with dh being in teh Armed Forces, I find it rather difficult to get childcare arranged for 3 children, as I just never know if he really will come home when he thoguht he would, etc...and when he goes oin tours then well...what do I do then...I could not get a job that wold pay well enough to fund childcarecosts...so, why should I bother...I will return to work when I am good and ready (indeed, I am starting some relief bank support work soon, as that is the only thing that I could manage right now,i.e. Organisational...but really this is a lil bit more, because I am starting to feel that I need just a tad other things around me then my own Kids...so, indeed me going back to work is probably one of the most selfish things I will do at this time), but when dh is out of the army and ther Kids go all to shcool, then I am hoping that I can make a real return into the workforce and will be happy to pay my way! But still, I do htink that me being a SAHM is jsut as important as when I go back to work...it's just different!