What's my occupation?

[allthatmalarkey]

I have to give my occupation on something official. The last time someone (a doctor) asked, I really struggled with what to say. I hate saying housewife. I'm crap at running the home and am basically a SAHM because the childcare cost more than my job paid, which I didn't like enough to pay to do until the preschool funding kicked in (had my kids completely the wrong month of the year and would have had to pay until both were nearly 3.5). I feel like a fraud saying housewife. It smacks of being patted on the head by your DP and having a status somewhere between a child and an adult. Not being able to have your own bank account or get a mortgage. Does anyone know what options I have? Carer seems a bit wrong as carers have rights which don't apply to regular SAHM stuff. Unpaid child carer? Voluntary worker? I once said household manager as a joke. Is there an agreed term I don't know about?

I don't know what the official answer is

how about "child care"? You don't have to state paid or unpaid?

Unemployed?

I think I would just write "none" in your situation. Not everyone has to have an occupation. It's not obligatory.

If you don't want to put none though, then I presume SAHM is a perfectly acceptable occupation to use. Or give them the reply you would have used when you did work.

Shouldn't there be a thing for this though? I'm not unemployed in the job seeking sense and I'm not in the child care industry. The National Statistics lot are recording this info to keep tabs on that sort of thing. Surely with so many doing this there's some sort of name for it although I suppose that's housewife.

Sorry posted under.

X posted not just posted!

Unless it’s a job application, it’s unlikely to matter. What’s wrong with SAHM? I like Household Manager!

moth

Make some Facebook tat, put it on there and say you're a self-employed crafter? Maybe even look at something you could do freelance, even if you do it once! ;)

My degree subject is going to show a bit here. Occupation is about being economically productive. Which I am. I am looking after humans and developing some of them for the job market.

What is the official thing? For most purposes I don't think it really matters what you put, so if it made you feel more comfortable you could just put whatever you used to do. If that feels dishonest put 'on career break', either on its own or in brackets after your old job, as it sounds like you plan to go back when the kids are school age?

Perhaps you should say “Human Resources Manager” then!

I think I'd put stay at home parent, as it's accurate and doesn't have the implications of housewife or homemaker.

But that doesn't satisfy the definition of economically active, does it? To be economically active you have to be either in or seeking paid work. I agree that 'economically inactive' is a horrible term, though, especially as it covers people who are working very, very hard in other ways.

Taking a career break to look after children

I've seen Home Duties recently on a birth certificate...

I always put 'full-time parent'.

I just leave it blank or put none. If those options are unavailable I put unemployed. No need for fancy names.

I would say full time mother (and yes I know it annoys some wohms).

Tell 'em you're a child development consultant

I’ve always just put my profession (accountant) even when I was a SAHM. I actually havent worked as an accountant for years but its easier than explaining actual job.

What do you mean by "not being able to get your own bank account"?

I'm with Johnnycomelately on this one.

Full time Carer.