To be, or not to be a stay at home mom...

Question

What do you like about being a stay at home mom? What do you not like? What's one thing you would change? Do you get enough time to yourself? Do you think that it's worth it?

I would like to hear everyones opinion, thanks!

Answer 1

My plan (if my ideal life pans out!!, haha) is:

Stay at home for the first 6 months of the babies life.

From 6 months until 24 months work 2 days a week and give bubs to mum or mum-in-law!!

From 24months until 36months, continue working 2 days whilst bubs is in mums care, work another day and send bubs off to childcare for the day to interact with other children, and work 2 nights per week (ie waitressing or something) so that dad and bubs can interact.

From 36months until 48months - add an extra days work so an extra day can be spent in childcare.

Then comes kindergarten/pre-school...and then school!!!!!!

Likley that other children may come during this time though so it will all change, but you get my drift yeh?!!  

Answer 2

there's no one who would raise your child exactly like you except for you. my older kids i worked and went to school. my younger kids i stayed home with. i'm not going to sugar coat anything. it's the best job in the world. i wish i had been able to stay home when the older kids were younger. the kids are better off and more rounded. they're better behaved. the worst part about it is that it can be lonely sometimes. you have to make sure you get enough time for yourself away from the kids. i think that's what's helped most in my marriage. i make time for myself but my hubs and i also have always made time for just us. it's very important to your well being.  i think it's very much worth it. in fact, i think that's a lot of what's wrong with society today. you can't be at work and know what your kids are doing both. i'm sorry but it's true. i've been in both situations.

Answer 3

I love being a stay-at-home mom.  I know that my kids are being raised and loved by me!  The values that my husband and I believe to be important, are being instilled by me -- not an underpaid, overworked staffer at a daycare.  

There are some days the kids drive me batty.  Those are usually the days I am exhausted, need a shower, and we all need to get out of the house.

I would change...  I would like to be better at planning and doing activities with the kids.

Time to myself -- during the day, not so much; except for naptime.  I am pregnant with baby number 3, and nap during naptime.  My husband is great about seeing if I need a break, and making sure I get one.

Is it worth it?  Absolutely, without a doubt.  We may not have tons of extra income, but my kids and the relationship I have with them is priceless!

Answer 4

I love it, although sometimes I do wish I had a little more time for myself. I love seeing my daughter develop further and further every day, and being there for her every second.

Answer 5

I am not a stay at home Mom now - now I am a stay at home Grandma/nanny. What I don't like is the limited access to other adults for conversation that is not about what happened on Bob the Builder or Hannah Montana! What I like about being home with kids is all the great times we have together- picnics in the yard, trips to the museum, story time at the library!

When it was my kids I never felt I had any time to myself. And really didn't have much at all - I think that Mom's need to schedule time outs for themselves -- get a sitter/trade sitting with another Mom, you both get an afternoon off and the kids get to play together!

Yes I think it is worth it. A child knows when the person caring for them genuinely loves them -- not just a day care worker who while taking care of the child cannot give them the same unconditional love you can!  If you can afford to stay home financially then I think it is best for the kids.  

Answer 6

Being a stay at home mom is great! You get to be apart of you kids lives as much as possible which is amazing because alot of kids dont have parents. You do get time to yourself at first its stressful but it gets better Sometimes i want at job but then i think about missing out on my kids lives! I dont think i would change anything, my husband is great about it to  when he gets home from work he will take the kids and do something and i'll have time to myself. It just depends on somethings like patience..