Stay at home dad?

Anyone here is/has a husband/SO who is a SAHD? Children are still a few years in our future, but when we eventually have a baby, most likely DH will stay home and I will continue to work. I'm just wondering what it's like - Mommies, do you get jealous of all the time DH and DC spend together? Did you get strange reactions from people when you told them your arrangement?

Re: Stay at home dad?

My DH is a SAHD. I admit...sometimes I"m jealous he gets to stay home with her. But, in our work fields, I always made more $$$, and it's just the nature of the businesses we were in. It didn't make financial sense for him to work at job that he hated 40 hours a week...to take home very little after taxes and daycare costs.

It has it's benefits. He cooks dinner most of the time. He does whatever errands I ask and makes all appointments for us. Makes whatever phone calls need to be made. We also have a 10 year old (his daughter from his 1st marriage) and he makes sure her homework gets done, etc and then I just check it when I get home.

However, he is a bit lonely and I feel bad for him. There's not much for him to do during the day. He doesn't really have friends he can go lunch with. He doesn't go to the mall to go shopping during the day. So, he does get a bit lonely being isolated alot of the time.

We do have our own consulting business, and DH is the one that talks to the clients and works out the contract details and such. I go onsite to the clients and do the work. As for reactions from other people, it's usually an "Oh, really. That's interesting". But, in all honesty, I don't really care what other people think, it works for us.

Good luck!

Re: Stay at home dad?

If we could do it financially, DH would be more than happy to be a SAHD. I am more business-headed and he would rather stay home and clean. Maybe one day we can do it this way?

Re: Stay at home dad?

Dh was one for 3 to 11 months. Then Andrew went into PT day care. He still watches him 2 days a week. I was extremely jealous at first and resentful that I was the one working and providing benefits, etc. But their relationship is so great it's hard to stay mad. Maybe after baby #2 things will change, but otherwise he'll be a SAHD for the new one.

Re: Stay at home dad?

My hubby is a SAHD during the day and goes to work at night. No one has every had anything to say to us about it, and if they did, they can bite me.
I definitely DO get jealous of the time my hubby has with the baby, but I'd be jealous of anyone who was spending time with her over me. I think it's normal. It works out really well and my little girl has an amazing chance to know her daddy so well.

Re: Stay at home dad?

My DH will be on sabbatical from his teaching job from September to January, and he will be done with his school year in mid-May while I go back to finish my school year in June.

I know I will be a little jealous, and I know it's going to be hard to juggle things, since DH will have to get some research and writing done while he is home. For the most part, our friends and family think it's great that we were able to get this arrangement- it gives us 10 months with the baby before she has to go to daycare. But honestly, I wouldn't care if we did get strange reactions- I love that Emma and my DH are going to get this time together.

Re: Stay at home dad?

My girlfriend has a DH who is planning to stay at home (she's due with #1 in about 2 weeks.) She's an active duty Naval officer and she's more the go-go-go type and he's really good at home. They are going with her career and all the moving, and he is going to stay at home with the kid (someday kids.) Her DH is a financial planner so he may do it a little on the side, but not for awhile, in the near future he'll be at home.

Re: Stay at home dad?

DH is not a stay at home dad, but because of his work schedule, he is home more days a week than I am. Sometimes I get a little jealous, but then I remember that I willl be home all summer, all my vacations, and I get home early enough to spend a lot of time with my son. Nobody said anything bad about it. Even if they do, who cares what people think?

Re: Stay at home dad?

My Dh stays home during the day and works night. So far it has been working out great. I know my son will be so lucky to have a good relationship with his father as well as myslef. I see so many of my friends whose husbands don't get home till 7 or 8 and work like dogs. Their kids never get daddy time becuase of it.