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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

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35 replies

multitasker · 30/08/2006 18:35

I left work four years ago to look after my kids and it was definately the best decision I made. sometimes though when I am out with friends (who work) I feel like I have nothing much to contribute to the conversation, and its strange but its always other women who ask what do you do all day as if you are just plain lazy. Are they jealous or am I paranoid? I have three great kids a wonderful husband and a lovely home and feel content most of the time. Do any other SAHM feel like Shirley Valentine and talk to the wall at times?

OP posts:
southeastastra · 30/08/2006 18:36

all the time

Twiglett · 30/08/2006 18:40

when people who 'work' ask me what I do all day I smile and explain how my life is upside down and my social life is now mainly during the day its actually 'coffee with friends while children play', 'lunch with friends while children play', 'outings with friends while children play', 'playing with children' ..

but then I don't miss work .. and I had my high-powered career and I chose to give it up

being a SAHM is infinitely more enjoyable for me at this stage of my life ...

then I ask them what they do all day

Kameko043 · 30/08/2006 18:47

I'm glad I'm amongst others who feel the same.

wrinklytum · 30/08/2006 19:41

Have just taken a year off work and went back in the other day to arrange hours.

Boss :"So whats it like being a lady of leisure then"
Me (inwardly seething) "Having a toddler and baby to look after,I would have absolutely no idea"

Hate it when people seem to think full time motherhood is a doddle

Greensleeves · 30/08/2006 19:47

Yes. But it is worth it. And I still think it was the right decision.

And MN helps enormously

indignatio · 30/08/2006 19:50

multitasker - is it other women with kids who ask? if yes, then I find that strange. I, like twiglett, gave up a good career and spend my life much as she describes. Most of my working mother friends say that they couldn't do what I do and (I feel) respect my decision - just as I resepect theirs'. If these are women who don't have kids - just laugh and say that you sit on the sofa all day watching tv, eating chocs and filing your nails. One day (revenge is a dish best served cold) they will realise that you were joking.

tribpot · 30/08/2006 19:50

Perhaps I am naive, but does any woman with children actually ask "what do you do all day?" to a SAHM? Would be v tempted to answer "the things that the nursery staff do with your children whilst you're at work" (Should add I am a WOHM, my dh is a SAHD).

mistressmiggins · 30/08/2006 20:14

I never ask - I know what you do all day

'coffee with friends while children play'
'lunch with friends while children play'
'outings with friends while children play'
'playing with children' ..

I just think "lucky cow"

what do I do 3 days a week? pretty much same as you with no playing

FloatingOnTheMed · 30/08/2006 21:09

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FloatingOnTheMed · 30/08/2006 21:10

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dinosaur · 30/08/2006 21:14

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Alibaldi · 30/08/2006 21:17

Another one here who frequently talks to the wall . Sadly though i think my h thinks I do nothing all day and he's the one who looks at me with that expression "so why didn't it get done".

jac34 · 30/08/2006 21:26

They proberbly are jealous,so take no notice!!
I work 3 days a week and my DS twins are in full time school,so my days at home are now my own.
I still spend at least one of my days catching up on housework/gardening/DIY,etc,but there was a time,when the boys were younger,when I was really rushed off my feet.
Now is my reward!!!
As long as your happy with what you do,then don't worry.

FloatingOnTheMed · 30/08/2006 21:30

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wartywarthog · 30/08/2006 23:08

I feel the same - left a high-powered job and now feel invisible when out with my old work friends. they don't actually ask me what i do all day, they just don't ask. and in a way i'm glad, but i still miss the buzz of work and the self-respect i used to get from earning a good salary.

now i'm dependant on my dh and i'd prefer not to be. but the benefits of being a sahm are huge - love looking after my dd and in no way would i want to go back to my old life.

just working through it like you multitasker...

Boredatwork · 31/08/2006 09:21

Following your thread, thought you all might appreciate the following:

A husbands nightmare...
A man came home from work and found his three children outside,
still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and
wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's
car
was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign
of the dog.
Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess.
A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded
against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring
a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys
and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled
the
sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door
was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass
lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the
back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys
and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried
she may be ill, or that something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out
the bath room door. As he peered inside he found wet towels,
scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet
paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the
mirror and walls.
As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up
in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him,
smiled, and asked how his day went.
He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?"
She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come
home from
work and you ask me what in the world did I do today?"
"Yes," was his incredulous reply.
She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."
Priceless

anniemac · 31/08/2006 09:28

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multitasker · 31/08/2006 14:47

Its actually friends who work who ask me what I do all day. Think I will try the "what the nursery staff do with yours" response. I do sometimes believe they are a bit jealous too. Im happy with my lot and am now going to try and memorise all of Boredatworks story; Sooooo spot on!

OP posts:
multitasker · 31/08/2006 14:48

As in friends who work and have kids.

OP posts:
tribpot · 31/08/2006 15:08

I've just had an email from my SIL, who recently moved out to Shanghai with my dbro, living the full ex-pat lifestyle with a fleet of servants, two older boys in school/nursery all day, nanny for youngest boy, she says they are literally not expected to do as much as change a lightbulb themselves at home.

Now I think this really IS a woman to whom one could say "so what do you DO all day?" the answer appears to be: shopping, spa treatments and lunching with kids.

SnowBoo · 31/08/2006 15:16

Just copied Boredatworks post and am now sending to dh and dbro....(Hope you don't mind)

I used to get this kind of comment from dh til he took two weeks off and saw just how hard it is. Went back to work for a rest!!

Greensleeves · 31/08/2006 15:22

I certainly don't recognise the "please yourself with friends while the children play" model at all. My children are 2 and nearly 4, and when I am not cleaning/shit-shovelling/preparing food/washing/washing up/hoovering/ironing and generally maintaining some semblance of order in the chaos, I am reading to them/with them, playing games, painting, chucking glitter and glue everywhere or out at a playground/nature walk/feeding ducks or similar where they require constant supervision. My kids have an hour's "quiet play" in their bedroom in the afternoon, which gives me a chance to clean up the fallout from their lunch, heap their toys out of the living room and make dinner for dh. It then takes me another hour to clear up after the "quiet play" It takes longer because they "help" .

It's a load of cack to say that a SAHM sits on her arse all day chatting to friends "while the children play". The only decent break is MN, because my PC is in the centre of the house so I can come and go, staying involved with the kids/house and an adult conversation I love what I do and I wouldn't want to do anything else at the moment - but I do get royally pissed off with people insinuating that we sit around all day actively "not working". Bollocks.

anniemac · 31/08/2006 15:41

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Molton · 31/08/2006 17:04

Shame isn't it that working parents / SAHMs, and even women without kids seem to conspire to make those in the other situation feel inadequate in some way. Really women should all support each other more, at the end of the day we have to restock the world with people (naive floating on cloud emoticon....)

Twiglett · 31/08/2006 17:12

but I have a 5 year old and 2 year old and honestly .. HONESTLY .. its more play than work being a SAHM

you need to drop your standards Greensleeves

but then I look around and my house is quite tidy .. the kids have eaten home-cooked food .. (the stuff you say you 'do' with them I count as playing with kids tbh) .. so either I'm missing out on something or you're doing something wrong