Benefits of being a stay at home mom? :)

[Firsttimemama345]

:)

I would think that for every benefit there is to bring a SAHM, there will be one for being a WOHM. Both come with benefits and drawbacks.

A benefit for me is that I've been able to look after my child in hospital without worrying about work. But that has come at a huge personal cost, so it isn't a pure benefit, IMO.

If you child is ill and can't go in to school, you don't have to ring into work to say you can't be in (especially helpful when my 3 all had chicken pox one after the other)

If your child has lots of hospital or medical appointments, it works a lot better.

You are available for all nativity plays, phonics mornings, sports days etc.

Much easier during a pandemic than juggling working and home learning.

Downsides too obviously and it doesn't suit every one.

I am a SAHM, there are pros and cons just like any other situation. The main positive is being able to look after my own children, I am always there for school pickup, I can always attend thier nativity etc.
I wouldn't even consider it if I wasn't married to DH though, it can leave you very vulnerable. I do worry about what I will do career wise, now that the date DS2 is due to start school is near I am seriously considering retraining once lockdown is over. I really would like a job now.

Always available for appointments etc greater flexibility as you don’t have to book around work.
Always there for the DC- poorly, snow days, nativities, assemblies, reading afternoons etc
Time for life admin
Time to meet friends - pre covid
Time to go for lunch - pre covid
Time to go to the gym / run - pre covid
House is always clean and tidy

Time to volunteer / do hobbies
Weekends can be enjoyed with the family as it’s not taken up food shopping / cleaning
Less stress - it’s a very nice, easy life if you can afford it

Benefits:

Spend more time with your children
Save on childcare costs
More time to spend on enjoyable activities with kids

Drawbacks:

Spend more time with your children
Loss of salary / financial independence
No / reduced pension
Career takes a hit
Less intellectual stimulation, possibly
Financial vulnerability

Whether or not it’s the right thing for you depends on how you weight these various considerations and decide what is most important to you.

That said, many of these benefits can apply to working parents too if you have the ability to work flexibly.

Dh and I both work full time. One of us does the school run every day. We don't use breakfast club, or any sort of wrap around care. We don't use any family help. One of us is there every day at 3pm and home all afternoon. One, but usually both of us are at every school play, sports days, parents evening, etc. It's no trouble to take off when one of them is ill.

But dh is self employed and I work for a pretty family friendly employer where flexible working is very normal even for those who don't have caring responsibilities. So if you have the right set up, it's possible to have the best of both worlds.

That said, I think the benefits will be largely for you if it's the sort of thing you enjoy. Children from happy loving families do equally well whether they have a SAHP or a lone or two working parents. But the question is, will you be happy? Will you be able to make the most of the time off? What will you want to do with that time when they're in school? Are you the sort of person who would have friends to meet up with on weekdays, want to go to the gym, do volunteer work? Or would you be bored with that and fidgety? I think ultimately it's about your happiness and how it fits with your longer term plans in life.

Pro - time to actually enjoy life and pursue interests and enjoy your children instead of having to work for a living.

I've done both SAH and WOH - pluses and minuses to both. SAHP means less rushing for me, no rushing to nursery and to work; more time with DC; better meals as I've got more time; the house is tidier and cleaner; no worries about childcare if DS is ill/nursery closure due to COVID

I get to spend more time with my kids but if I’m honest I’d end up spending more on childcare than I would earn anyway!