Reasons to be happy SAHM's!

[whensmydayoff]

Hi

I am a SAHM and have read a lot of threads lately about the boredum that often comes with the job!
I felt that since my PG hormones are blessing me with a GOOD DAY I should share my reasons to be happy and hopefully cheer you all up.

1. Unless you were a formula one racing driver or TV presenter, were there not days at work when you'd look at the clock and it was 2.30pm then 3 hours later you'd look again and it was 2.40pm !

2. If you tried going back to work, and I did - How horrible was it when your mum/childminder/nursery worker told you about what they had done today for the first time. How horrible was it when your child seemed to prefer them to you?

3. How fast has it went? It will get faster still and you'll look back and be glad you were the one bringing them up, seeing the progress, there for the hugs and funny bits. One day you will wish they were young again and wonder where it all went.

4. Do you have days where you are near tears or actually in tears by time DP/DH gets home? Little horror has upset you/made your day hell. Did nobody ever do that to you at work?

5. We will all be back at work, working with someone we have nothing in common with, clock watching or stressed out our tiny minds and think back to the days when we were pushing our babies/toddlers on the swings or having a relaxing coffee with other mums and wonder what we were moaning about.

Don't get me wrong, I too have found myself so bored that I think I may just stop breathing.
I have had evil thoughts towards Thomas and his friends.
I have stumbled across mums who are less interesting than paint drying and had to endure an hours conversation about sleep problems or weening when that all seems like light years ago to me.
It was just this morning, Im 28 weeks PG. I decided to look through my DS's baby clothes to see what I will keep and wash when it struck me - I can hardly remember him wearing most of them or him being so small. What the hell do you do with a baby anyway!
I came on here and seen more threads from bored SAHM's and just wanted to remind you all how quickly you will not remember these days.
If it didn't cheer you up a bit - It killed 10 minutes reading it! x

Lovely OP

LCN (working mum on ML wondering what the feck all the fuss is about!!)

Op - I am a sahm and it has been the best 5 years of my life. I have never been happier. Love it .

I can see where you are coming from and I think you are being treated rather unfairly but that's mumsnet for you.

Don't feel bad.

Reasons to be happy?

Rightho,

When i wake in the morning it is usually to ds2 wanting to nurse and we have a snuggle for about an hour (and sleep). Then he blows raspberrys on me and then hops off the bed to find his big brother. I can hear from my bed ds2 making kissing noises outside his brothers door. Then ds1 opens the door for him and is greeted by a a very happy toddler. They then go and play together. Though ds1 is 9 he enjoys reading to ds2 (21 months) and playing with him (for a bit ). I have a shower and then go get breakfast sorted for us all. We have breakfast together and then ds1 goes and gets ready for school while i clear up and help get his things for school. I try and then get the escape artist toddler ready, as soon as his nappy is off he legs it. Very cute and very predictable . I eventually manage to get the flailing arms and legs into suitable clothes and then off to school. If we have time ds2 walks for a bit otherwise in the pushchair. Once ds1 in school (and ds2 has chased him for extra goodbye) its a slow walk home as i have to pick all the blackberrys we can find for ds2 who eats them like a hungry bird. Once home my ravenous toddler sometimes wants second breakfast. We have a play and then naptime. Its absolute bliss when i am nursing my now non stop toddler for his nap and he falls asleep all happy in bed. I either doze off too or lie with him for a while just amazed but what a fantastic and beautiful boy he is.

I get on with bits around the house till he wakes (if i am not asleep too) and then its already lunchtime or i am preparing it for later. I also try and start preparing dinner if its one of those meals (casserole - they are fab). We then go to the farm or owl sanctuary, or have something planned like friends or library etc. Then its the school run time. I love collecting my ds1 from school and seeing his smile and hearing all about his day though sometimes its hard when he's had a bad day and is stroppy or the other way round. Anyway, finally home and depending on the night depends on what happens next. Often ds1 has friend over or an activity, swimming or cubs or dreaded homework. Ds1 also plays with ds2 a bit and the tv goes on while i make or finish making dinner.

After dinner I clear the kitchen while hubby hoovers then bathtime for ds2 and then his bedtime. Ds1 showers and sorts himself out now. Then i spend about an hour with ds1 1-1 and lie with him in bed reading to him or him reading to me. Then downstairs for hubby and me time.

Hubby irons if there's any and if he's got time. We have a cuppa and chat and play a game (i won tonight ) And then we chill out till bed. Ds1 is off to his dads for the weekend and ds2 is asleep in our room. Later when i go up i usually kiss both boys goodnight again, but tonight just ds2. He'll prob crawl across from his bed to ours tonight as full of cold.

I love being a sahm, i'm lucky to have the choice.

OP don't feel bad. I liked your post.

For all those who are offended- go start your own thread on the joys of being a wohm.

Ilike being able to leave the house like bomb has gone off before i drag everyone out fir the school run knowing i will be back to clear up shortly!

We all do our best for our children, to the best of our ability and our circumstances.
We are only human!
Women are sometimes our own worst enemy!
We are all miracles lets not forget that.
OK...I've had a couple of ciders , but we should all be proud of ourselves, we work damn hard...d*it!

Quattrocento Lucky ol you!
Very pleased for you that you have such a wonderful job and that your mind is so trained.
Actually, for the record, nobody made me cry at work. I was just trying to cheer up
ALL THE LONELY BORED SAHM'S who have posted threads lately asking for help or advice.
I didn't mean my DS actually preferred my mum (she sat for me) in all seriousness and this was not the reason for me to stay at home. [hmm} as if!
I had a hectic job (I used my brain a bit too and worked hard to get where I was - I know, shock)! I made my choice and not so I could offend anyone else. I wanted to be with my son - bloody cheek eh.
I actually couldn't give a shit what other people do with their lives to be honest. Try it sometime.
Come on SAHM's, back me up. There are some of us who have a brain, decent jobs, worked hard.
My untrained mind thinks perhaps you have hidden issues with your wonderful working life or you wouldn't have clicked onto 'reason's to be happy SAHM's'
Right im off to have a coffee and think about nappies!

just realised that OP didnt want an essay. I always take it too far .

OP didnt find any of your posts offensive. I wasnt a full SAHM with ds1 as had no choice and I missed him desperately so i can reflect on that when i wonder if i am doing the right thing for our family iyswim.

I dont think this was started to have a debate, think sometimes people look for a fight when there isnt one. (me too sometinmes)

No organising child care at short notice for training days, and no negotiating time off to go to Nativity/ sports day etc etc

Feeling like I'm making a decent job of something rather than half-decent job of several things.

I love being with my children. They are fascinating in different ways at different stages.

Being out and about in the community with them and seeing/taking part in things that I was unaware of while I was out at work.

Showing them things that I know.
Rediscovering things and seeing them fresh through their eyes.
Tinding out new things with them.

Watching them become independent bit by bit and being thrilled by their individual abilities.

Staying reasonably on top of the housework/accounts/appointments without feeling like I'm disappearing up my own behind trying to juggle it all. (although that can get a bit hectic with having 9 of them).

Feeling a valued member of the family in that I can support my dh and my children in their day to day life just as they support me. (obviously have bad days but in the main this is true).

Being a sahm suits me at the moment. It might change, it might not. Who knows. But for now - I'm happy being sahm and consider myself fortunate to have the choice.

Nappies and coffee
nah a sahm on a Friday night is mnetting with wine surely

I love being a sahm for now but I am also looking foward to developing my career when dd is older. Surely being a sahm is a fairly temporary occupation, otherwise what will you do all day when they are at school or uni?
That's not to say that being a housewife isn't a worthwhile occupation. I have taken great pleasure in home making since becoming pregnant (blame the nesting hormones) and I'm not even a wife! I think becoming a mum gives us licence to be all cosy and nesty for a few years at least!

Oh and I agree with being available for school plays/ child's illness etc without the headache of worrying about time off work.

Not having to put my child into childcare or playgroup.

My eldest child did seem to prefer his c/m to me. Cried for her when he hurt himself.

I also gave up a career that I'd worked at. My choice although it did take me until I'd had my 4th child to take the plunge.

But the OP was celebrating it by directly comparing her life to that of a WOHM.

I had a bloody lovely 5 years as a SAHM. I drank lots of coffee, got addicted to MN and got another degree. It was smashing. In and of itself.

I liked your op too don't go!

quattrocento - I think you need to open your oh so 'trained mind' a fraction and take the post in the manner it was intended. i.e to lighten the mood of sometimes discontented SAHMs, rather than getting so defensive.

We all make different sacrifices for whatever reasons. Why be so patronising to one another?

Cause that's MN Hope unless there's a more interesting thread being bandied about!!!

I'm not defensive on behalf of WOHMs. When my DC were small I didn't work. I just think it's not the best way of counting your blessings as a SAHM. Mind you, it is better than congratulating yourself that your children haven't been abused in a nursery

See this is how it all starts - I see quattrocento's post about coffee and nappies and trained minds and think about all the funny intelligent trained women I know currently at home with their kids and feel offended on their(and my) behalf.
And then I think fuck it and go and get some more wine....

The wine's good

I mean that I don't think you need to compare your life to someone else's, to their detriment, in order to celebrate it.