Re: Seriously Considering the SAHM Thing -

I ditched work and after a 7 year/$250k education, lol. The office will always be there hungry for my time and effort- my kids though- different story. They'll both be in school all day just a few years from now and then a few years later they probably won't want to be caught dead with me, haha. I thought work was important but I realized I couldn't care less and like you said, I wasn't exactly curing cancer, so eff it. Being home is amazing. We do crafts, we go to mommy and me, the playground, play dates, walks to the supermarket, etc.

Is it perfect? No, things get crazy some days. Sometimes I call DH freaking out that my toddler is bratting out and my infant is gassy and they're pulling me in different directions, and I stink like spit-up, and I'm still in pjs at 2:30. It's something that needs to be worked at. You have to have the discipline to figure out activities, meals, etc. and not go crazy. You have to get used to having much less income and you have to handle how all that new stuff may affect your dynamic with dh. But but but huge but- IT IS A LABOR OF LOVE which the Manhattan rat race grind was not. I never looked at my dumb briefcase or stapler and felt such love- such joy- that I almost feel weak in my heart from it.

Will I go back? Probably part time once both kids are in school. But for now, no freaking way- I am raising my kids and the way it feels is something I've never felt before- a satisfaction that I never got from any job.

Message edited 3/15/2012 10:34:32 PM.

Re: Seriously Considering the SAHM Thing -

It's such a hard choice. I would really have a sit down with your DH. My DH was actually the one that really really loved the idea of me staying home, which made my choice easier. I'm very educated, but never felt a ton of satisfaction in my field and I was still training!

I'm an anxious person and do worry about what will happen if he leaves me, if he gets hurt and can't work, if he looses his job, etc. We've really tried to plan for all three of those scenarios as much as we possibly can. We don't have a prenup, he actually works in the medical field which is pretty safe (relatively speaking) and has real estate income that we could live off if we needed to, and life insurance etc. I mean it's NOT fool proof and I HATE even thinking about it too much, but it is something we really sat down and thought about.

Being a SAHM isn't easy, but I feel so satisfied at the end of the day. That said I agree with the other posters you have to put yourself out there and make friends or it gets really isolating.


I'm not sure if I'll ever go back to work. I know most people say they'll go back when the kids get older, but my field doesn't work like that. I'd have to go back to seriously crazy hours and work my way back up. Besides that both our moms stayed home and they both say it actually only gets crazier once everyone is in school. So who knows, but for right now I'm glad I made the choice.. Good luck to you

Re: Seriously Considering the SAHM Thing -

Just want to THANK all of you for everything -

I was obviously having a really BAD day yesterday
It's been building for awhile.

But it was great to get everyone's honest opinions and support.

My company is going through a major re structuring in the next few months so I am going to wait it out and suck it up to see where and how the chips fall.........I'll make a decision from there.

I think I can hold it together until the summer