If you are a working mom, why?

[Anonymous]

Because it’s not that difficult to have a job. I don’t think staying home or working is better. Figure I should go with the option where I earn a paycheck. There are downsides to both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m extremely good at my job. I’m extremely successful in my career. I am a very good mother, but an exceptional one when I come home energized from a professional success. My daughter has dramatically more opportunities (not only financial) because of my work, and is beloved in my workplace.

And you're modest!

I would much rather be honest about my accomplishments and what they mean for my child than try to tear other women down because I am insecure over my lack of accomplishments.

[Anonymous]

Because I’m not independently wealthy and am a single parent.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I ask myself this question weekly.

Why not:
I don't need to work for the $$.
It's a CONSTANT stressor in my life.
I don't even make that much $$
The work itself isn't really that interesting.

Why:
It was hard to find a good job at a good company, even if they underpay me.
It provides some security if my husband dies or leaves me (50% of college tuition for dependents, amazing retirement, lots of support)

I was a SAHM for many years and honestly feel like my kids, though now teens, would really benefit from having a full-time, on-demand parent again. My house would too! Even with a weekly cleaner, it's always a mess.

And before the harpies jump on my wonderful spouse, he does his share and more AND has a very demanding executive job.

When does it just not make any sense for me to work?

All feminist ideals aside, it's just not practical for me to be ignoring all the stuff that really matters to me - my kids, my spouse, my health - for a mediocre paycheck I don't even need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I ask myself this question weekly.

Why not:
I don't need to work for the $$.
It's a CONSTANT stressor in my life.
I don't even make that much $$
The work itself isn't really that interesting.

Why:
It was hard to find a good job at a good company, even if they underpay me.
It provides some security if my husband dies or leaves me (50% of college tuition for dependents, amazing retirement, lots of support)

I was a SAHM for many years and honestly feel like my kids, though now teens, would really benefit from having a full-time, on-demand parent again. My house would too! Even with a weekly cleaner, it's always a mess.

And before the harpies jump on my wonderful spouse, he does his share and more AND has a very demanding executive job.

When does it just not make any sense for me to work?

All feminist ideals aside, it's just not practical for me to be ignoring all the stuff that really matters to me - my kids, my spouse, my health - for a mediocre paycheck I don't even need.

You posted on the wrong thread.

Are your kids unable to pickup after themselves?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m extremely good at my job. I’m extremely successful in my career. I am a very good mother, but an exceptional one when I come home energized from a professional success. My daughter has dramatically more opportunities (not only financial) because of my work, and is beloved in my workplace.

And you're modest!

I would much rather be honest about my accomplishments and what they mean for my child than try to tear other women down because I am insecure over my lack of accomplishments.

I don't see that in this thread. Show me where. I see the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I ask myself this question weekly.

Why not:
I don't need to work for the $$.
It's a CONSTANT stressor in my life.
I don't even make that much $$
The work itself isn't really that interesting.

Why:
It was hard to find a good job at a good company, even if they underpay me.
It provides some security if my husband dies or leaves me (50% of college tuition for dependents, amazing retirement, lots of support)

I was a SAHM for many years and honestly feel like my kids, though now teens, would really benefit from having a full-time, on-demand parent again. My house would too! Even with a weekly cleaner, it's always a mess.

And before the harpies jump on my wonderful spouse, he does his share and more AND has a very demanding executive job.

When does it just not make any sense for me to work?

All feminist ideals aside, it's just not practical for me to be ignoring all the stuff that really matters to me - my kids, my spouse, my health - for a mediocre paycheck I don't even need.

I ended up quitting to start my own business in a similar situation. It just didn’t make sense to keep feeling so stressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I ask myself this question weekly.

Why not:
I don't need to work for the $$.
It's a CONSTANT stressor in my life.
I don't even make that much $$
The work itself isn't really that interesting.

Why:
It was hard to find a good job at a good company, even if they underpay me.
It provides some security if my husband dies or leaves me (50% of college tuition for dependents, amazing retirement, lots of support)

I was a SAHM for many years and honestly feel like my kids, though now teens, would really benefit from having a full-time, on-demand parent again. My house would too! Even with a weekly cleaner, it's always a mess.

And before the harpies jump on my wonderful spouse, he does his share and more AND has a very demanding executive job.

When does it just not make any sense for me to work?

All feminist ideals aside, it's just not practical for me to be ignoring all the stuff that really matters to me - my kids, my spouse, my health - for a mediocre paycheck I don't even need.

You posted on the wrong thread.

Are your kids unable to pickup after themselves?

Why? I'm a working mom. I have done both working mom and non-working mom. Both kind of suck, but I can't figure out which sucks less.

[Anonymous]

Why? Because I love my work and am great at it. Because I invested considerable time in my graduate degree and want to use it. Because I value financial independence for myself but wasn't born into money (alas).

[Anonymous]

I guess a little bit of all of the above. My boyfriend and i both took pay cuts to work 4 days/week so we could be with our kids more. He does not work on Fridays and I don't work on Mondays. We juggle the odd hours T-W-Th. But of all the parents we know, we think we have it the best.

[Anonymous]

Because I watched my mom be financially dependent on my dad, and then have to remarry someone she shouldn't have because that was the only way for her to survive.

It's lovely to think working vs. staying home is a choice of lifestyle, but when you stay home, you are sacrificing your financial independence and ability to grow your earning potential and economic power. So it means you are gambling that your marriage will never waiver, that you will never need the ability to support yourself or break away from your spouse.

[Anonymous]

Another brainiac asking to solve a mystery on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Women have choices. Men have obligations.

Except that men get to up and leave when they don't like those obligations. Women get stuck with working and raising the kids. Not sure which is worse.

[Anonymous]

My job is easy, flexible, allows me to work from home, and well-paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people think that not working in an office 9-5 means you are sitting at home? Is this what these drones would do with their time?

i could never do a sit-down job working on a computer all day. I would go effing nuts. I am a personal trainer (M.S. in Kinesiology) and when I started having kids I changed my hours (and reduced my client schedule) to evenings when DH got home and to half-days on Sat and Sun. It's the best of all possible worlds. Several of my clients have been with me for over 20 years. We are growing old and fit together!