Why do stay at home moms get strange questions?

Question

Why do some people who find out you stay at home with your child ask questions about if he's in school when he's only 3 years old? Then they ask if your child has any siblings. Then their final question is about their friends.

Answer 1

I don't think these questions are strange at all.  They seem perfectly normal to me, and the asker is probably just making conversation.  Maybe your son looks older than 3??  

I didn't get strange questions when I stayed home with my daughter.  

Answer 2

I totally hear you.  I like that acronym SAHM it took me a minute.  LOL.  

People are just nosy!!! End of story.  It's usually nothing personal.  Don't ever feel guilty about SAH.  It's wonderful.  I would have never wanted to miss that first smile, first tooth, first rolling over, first step...

It's a career to be home.  Don't let questions bother you.

I tend to ask questions back, like, Oh your 3 yr old didn't go to Pre-k?  I thought everyone did that nowadays.  

You get the hint?

Answer 3

im a stay at home mom

i enrolled my son into school when he was 3

pre-k3

early headstart it cost us 4thousnad but he started his education early

he loves school

everyone think its easy being a stay at home mom/dad

if its so easy why dont they do it

see how much you can do a day

i cant really be still

i constantly have to do something

my son wasnt an only child

i was pregnant i went to college i was experiencing really bad complications so i took a semester off and i lost the child

so stay home helped me heal a bit... that was over a yr ago

im currently pregnant again this time taking it easy

but i still do my wifey/motherly duties take care of my house

im like your stereo type stay at home mom

sit on my butt and eat bonbon watching tv

its very rare the tv is on

ill turn it on to listen to music

Answer 4

They have never been a stay at home anything and just assume you don't do anything but sit home, watch tv and eat bonbons. I don't think people truly understand that being a stay at home parent is a real full time job. If you think the questions you get are weird just think of the weird questions that my friend the stay at home dad gets.  

Answer 5

I have been asked strange questions also since staying home.  My children are school aged 5, 6, 7, and almost 9...  people say wow are you one of those people with a bunch of kids that homeschools and stuff? LOL.. no i'm not.. i stopped working mainly because by stepson has some serious developmental issues, which thru therapy are improving and i am currently back to work just 3 nights a week.  But yes people assume because of the number of children that we are hyper-religious homeschoolers, that live on a farm or something..which isn't further from the truth.  I just tell people i chose to stay home for awhile because we could afford it and its what worked for our family, i'm back part time now and that works for us now, as our family is ever changing.

Answer 6

I'm a SAHM too and I got plenty of those questions as well. And yea I did get a bit tired of answering them. So I just gave them the answer that told the truth and suited us best" My Husband works during the day and I'm at working at night, so I stay home." Then comes the lovely" well why aren't they in daycare" question.. which makes me laugh a bit" I don't have an extra $1750 per month for both kids to go to daycare". And thats where the questions stop usually. Some people are so curious they get a bit rude but I just chalk it up to them not knowing what its like  and just want to know more. I dont let it but me really anymore unless its just down right rude then I do get a bit unhappy.

I taught both my girls what they needed to know to start preschool, how to dress themselves properly, tie shoes, zip jackets, and get their gear ready for school.  I use to be a teachers aid in a Daycare my Senior yr of High school. Yes they do have friends but not at ready access for everyday play. Im hoping once both are in school full time this fall that changes for both and we can have more playdates for them.

Answer 7

This is Yahoo, EVERYONE gets odd types of questions, not just SAHM's. Just take a look around....

Answer 8

I don't remember the questions seeming strange but sometimes rude. I had all my kids pretty close and I got questions like...Why did you have them? Were they accidents? When are you going back to work? When are you putting them in school? Why are they not in school (pre-school? And many questions on sibling rivalry. Usually I gave short direct answers unless they were so dumb they didn't deserve answers. Most of the questions were made out of just plain not knowing and figuring daycares and pre-schools were the normal thing to do.

Answer 9

hmmm, I don't think those are strange questions ....

When my oldest was 3, he didn't go to school, he didn't have a sibling and he didn't really have any friends yet.

"opposite of the truth" .... what do you mean?  They're not TELLING you what your life is like, they're ASKING.  Wouldn't you rather people ask than assume?

Answer 10

I am a stay at home mom and I think that it is because not many women are lucky enough to be able to stay at home with their kids.I know exactly where you are coming from.