HEY! We're not all bad! J/K!

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Doing my best to raise a GEEK- Genuine Enthusiastic Empowered Kid!

I know that!!! She just thinks that she is better than everyone else because she lives in CA. She brags about the weather (which I agree it is better than sd) and than she brags about all the amaizing things there are to do out there, which is great, but she cant afford any of it!!! If you talked to her, you would never know that she is from Wyoming, heck I dont even think that she admits to where she is from. My sister is a very fake person.

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Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.
Jon Bon Jovi

I think a lot of it is who you are associated with.

Our area has quite a few working moms and at least the same amount of SAHM (if not more). Both my mom and dh's mom stayed at home. My mom subbed and was VERY active with the church (my dad is a pastor) so for her that brought her a lot of fulfillment and purpose outside the home.

I have a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. I knew that if we had kids I would not be able to work in the same kind of environment that I had been and be a good mom. I worked with families involved "in the system" - whether very low income, CPS or probation. I was constantly hospitalizing kids as your as 3 years of age. I am not the best mom in the world but I know I could not be even a good mom working like a did and then come home to my own kids.

I have never gotten any comments, but I have had to "deal" with being a SAHM more than the other way around. I think that there is often the stereotype that SAHMs are NOT eductated etc and THAT is why they stay home. I stay home b/c of the above reason and because I do not want others to raise my children. Also, I never want my children to feel that my job/money is more important to me that they are.

I work part time teaching for some college/universities and really get a lot of fulfillment from that. But I pick when and get free babysitting from our parents or dh is home.

This is a very soar topic for me. As I grew up, my mom had to work to support us since my dad seemed to stay in trouble with the law. I had to work for a long time while my now teenagers were little. Sometimes a person has to do what they have to do to support their family.

BUT....I also feel that if someone wants to be able to stay home with their children and is able to, more power to them. I stay home with mine and they are teenagers and an almost 8yo. My mother and father never supported me wanting to be home with my kids. Even if they were at home for breaks. They feel that I am not doing anything since I do not work out of the home nor bring in any income. I found it highly hurtful when they would ask me when I was going to get a job or make any other snide comment about me doing nothing. But my kids are happy...well for the most part anyway lol. They know I am here for them at all times. My hubby works hard for me to be able to stay home. He makes the sacrifice of being gone 6 days a week for me to be here for our kids.

Back in the fall, I did start college courses threw the UOP and I do them at home so I am available to whomever needs me still. I average A's on almost everything and carry a 3.7 GPA and now my family says I am doing something. IDK...I think it is just the matter of what people call doing something. I find it pretty hard to manage 3 kids...2 of whom are impossible teenagers and a very expressive almost 8yo...a hubby who is gone 6 days a week...and full time college courses that I have managed to excell in after not being in school since 1991. That doesn't even include running the household.
My words of advice is to blow it off.

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~~Sharon~~

I can't believe he said that to you. He obviously doesn't have kids. Raising them and taking care of a household is one of the hardest jobs. If we were hired to do it the person wouldn't be able to afford to pay us what we are worth.

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I love hunting deals

Mom to Kellan 12-16-2000
Brooklyn 12-27-2005
Nolan 10-15-2007
Wife to Russell 10-14-2005

My FIL said the same thing to me when I became a SAHM. He even had the nerve to say to me, "it was a waste of my education to stay home".

How did I deal with it? I told my FIL to watch DS for just one day. (DS was about 15 months at the time) He took me up on it. He assumed it would be a piece of cake just changing diapers. I made him do this on a Monday--which is laundry day in this house. I wrote him out a to-do list with stuff I regularly do. (to be fair, I didn't add anything out of the ordinary) When he saw "cook dinner", he said, "I'm only supposed to be watching DS." I told him, "No, you're not. That's only PART of my job. I also have to take care of things for myself and DH, YOUR SON." My DH thought this was hysterical because he knew his dad wouldn't be able to handle this.

I was gone from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. When I came home, FIL looked exhausted. He did vaccuum and DS did have a clean diaper on but no pants. He said and I quote, "You can have this job! DS alone is a handful." I didn't gloat or say "I told you so" because that's not me. (but it was fun!)

The point is when people make rude comments, try your best to let it roll off your back. You and only *you* know the challenges. You don't need to defend yourself or prove anything to anyone. I did my "lesson" to my FIL in good fun. Bottom line--the choice is between you and your DH and no one else.

I have a Masters degree and had a successful career before we decided that it was time for me to be home with the children full time. I am currently a SAHM of 4 children (2 school-age and 2 preschoolers), and this is the best thing for our family at this time. Quite honestly, I don't think I'll be returning to work for a good while. Ireally had no idea what a positive impact this would have on our family life and our marriage. Don't let others make you feel bad about a decision that you and your husband have made. Only you and your husband know what is best for YOUR family.

I just wanted to let you know that there are plenty of educated women who are choosing to leave their careers (temporarily or permanently) to focus on their families. It is not as uncommon as you might think. Good luck!

I posted a discussion topic very similar to this one months ago. I have 2 sons, ages 4 and 6, and I have always been a SAHM with them. I worked at a bank for almost 10 years before that, and also went to college. People will ask me, "So, will you be going back to work when your youngest is in kindergarten?" Most of the time the question is just out of pure curiosity, but sometimes I get the feeling that they really don't understand why anyone would choose NOT to go back to work!

I would never tell anyone else to stop working and stay home with their children... to each their own, I believe!! But for me, this is my own personal decision and I cannot understand people who seem to feel they can/should inflict their opinions on others. It simply is baffling to me.

My mother was a SAHM to 11 children. One of my warmest memories was of coming home from school every day to find her there, waiting to see how my day went. This is one of the reasons I decided to be a SAHM too.

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My Mama always said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
(Forrest Gump--1994)