SAH: what are the "best" years to stay at home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Ah, the cutesy SAHM as professional job - "the only boss you have to answer to is a little bundle" and the like. It completely dismisses the fact that the "boss" and all "performance reviews" etc. are earning you no money and each year, no retirement benefits, and each year decreasing your earning power. Fine if it works out and it will for many women who stay home, but I can't stand when women dismiss it like that.

Why can't you stand it? Is it because you are one of these people whose life is set to rush hour traffic and the gray gloomy ordeal of money grubbing? Her causal dismissal of bosses and maxxed-out 401k plans tied to a volatile stock market and junk bonds perhaps give you pause to think that maybe all your efforts of money grubbing and boss butt kissing is a big waste of time, and perhaps it disturbs you that all your slaving away, putting up with people only because they have the power to inconvenience you, when you ought to be home yourself with your little one, makes you feel guilty because you know what is right but you choose instead to grub for the dollar to maintain a certain lifestyle. Perhaps you have to grub for it but if you don't, why bother?

I'm sure (sarcasm here) when she is 80 years old she's going to wish she had padded her 401k all the way instead of taking time out for the wonderful pleasure of seeing the content, sweet smile on her dear child in the crib.

Some things are priceless, and being with your newborn cherishing motherhood is one of them. Long days at work, face pinched from stress and feet pinched from being in high heel shoes all day, yeah, that's what I'm sure she wants to remember in her gray-hair years instead of fondly remembering the day when the sun was slanting just right through the window illuminating her child like an angel, her sleeping baby snug and safe with mommy instead of a jaded nanny or in a conveyor belt day care center.

Motherhood is the most important and rewarding career a woman can have. It is where she belongs. There is time enough to sock away a little cash after the children are grown and have flown the nest

Motherhood as a career? No wonder we don't have family-friendly policies in this country. What mindless drivel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Ah, the cutesy SAHM as professional job - "the only boss you have to answer to is a little bundle" and the like. It completely dismisses the fact that the "boss" and all "performance reviews" etc. are earning you no money and each year, no retirement benefits, and each year decreasing your earning power. Fine if it works out and it will for many women who stay home, but I can't stand when women dismiss it like that.

Why can't you stand it? Is it because you are one of these people whose life is set to rush hour traffic and the gray gloomy ordeal of money grubbing? Her causal dismissal of bosses and maxxed-out 401k plans tied to a volatile stock market and junk bonds perhaps give you pause to think that maybe all your efforts of money grubbing and boss butt kissing is a big waste of time, and perhaps it disturbs you that all your slaving away, putting up with people only because they have the power to inconvenience you, when you ought to be home yourself with your little one, makes you feel guilty because you know what is right but you choose instead to grub for the dollar to maintain a certain lifestyle. Perhaps you have to grub for it but if you don't, why bother?

I'm sure (sarcasm here) when she is 80 years old she's going to wish she had padded her 401k all the way instead of taking time out for the wonderful pleasure of seeing the content, sweet smile on her dear child in the crib.

Some things are priceless, and being with your newborn cherishing motherhood is one of them. Long days at work, face pinched from stress and feet pinched from being in high heel shoes all day, yeah, that's what I'm sure she wants to remember in her gray-hair years instead of fondly remembering the day when the sun was slanting just right through the window illuminating her child like an angel, her sleeping baby snug and safe with mommy instead of a jaded nanny or in a conveyor belt day care center.

Motherhood is the most important and rewarding career a woman can have. It is where she belongs. There is time enough to sock away a little cash after the children are grown and have flown the nest

Okaay, psycho. How does DH cherish fatherhood?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to everyone for your opinions. 16:07 your post was very helpful for me.

I'm sorry that this has degenerated into some kind of attack on people who work or stay at home. I appreciated hearing from the woman who loved the baby years (who could argue with that?! it really is the most precious time) and I appreciated hearing from those who think it makes sense to take time off later rather than earlier.

Any other thoughts welcome.