m We have 100% joint finances. I already contributed some of my inheritance by purchasing our family home in cash. We both own it through a trust. |
^^ I don’t think this board is a good place to come if you want to SAH. Many people on here have opinions like the one above. They really don’t grasp how many women stay home or want to stay home but simply can’t because they have bills to pay. I think the references to large inheritances derailed the conversation. |
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I only read the first page. These posts were obnoxious.
Op, I totally get what you are saying! Having to have a high powered career AND have a second kid without feeling like you can stay home after sucks if what you want to stay home. It’s like, you’re supposed to make lots of money but also go through the exhaustion of pregnancy and another kid while also steaming ahead with your careeer. That’s annoying if it’s not what you want and I could totally see stopping after one kid in your case. |
That is flat-out not true. Women have worked, including outside the home, for centuries. Women worked as maids, weavers, cooks, governesses, teachers, nannies, nurses, factory workers, shop girls, prostitutes, laundresses, seamstresses, etc. And women labored on farms and in home businesses forever. The idea that a woman would just stay at home and not help the home generate income, but just take care of kids, has never been the norm. And she's not a terrible person because she wants to stay home, but because she thinks she's entitled to have another adult pay her way whether he wants to or not, and assumes bad things about her husband without even talking to him about it. |
| I'm perplexed about OP's statements that (1) it's de rigueur in her culture for mothers to SAH, (2) her husband is from the same culture, and (3) her husband and his parents place a high value on work (including on her specifically working). I went to a fancy east boarding school and am an UC WASP and I am a FT WOHM. No one in my culture thinks it's bizarre when women both work and raise kids. |
| I haven't read the replies, so sorry if I'm repeating myself. First, this is something that needed to be discussed prior to marriage. Second, I know plenty of lawyer moms. My next door neighbor is one and she has 3 kids. Her H is also a lawyer. She works for a mid size firm and she know she won't make partner, but she has good W/L balance. Her H is in house. The fed is full of lawyers. |
| How much does DH make? I have the opposite problem… |
Yeah, the OPs interpretation of the world with her as this bizarre imaginary victim is obnoxious, super entitled, and wildly ignorant of history to boot. |
OP here. This is exactly how I feel. |
So much this. A spoiled brat grown into an adult. Yikes. |
You both are extremely harsh. Wow. Entitled? I came on here saying I may not have another child so I can continue working. How is that entitled? I don’t view myself as a victim at all. I simply want to live a nice life and having two kids and working as a lawyer sounds unpleasant. I try to make good decisions in life and it doesn’t sound wise to have another child with the desire to stay home, when that could affect my marriage. My marriage comes before children. I apologize about not understanding history. All I can say is that 100 years ago, there were likely zero husbands out there demanding that their wives have more kids and also be a lawyer. Yes, I realize many women had jobs. |
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It seems you and your husband don't share the same valuesm. My husband and I talked about this before marriage and I agreed I would always work. After having my kids I changed my mind but kept to my agreement overall I'm happy. I plan to retire early. Your kids actually need you the most as teens so why not count on retiring and being at home during that time?
Don't count your inheritance. I know plenty of people who counted on an inheritance and through circumstances it didn't work out. Maybe pick a less demanding job or he has to pick up just as much oof the domestic work because you work. |
A spoiled brat because I want to stay home with a child? |
We did talk about this pre marriage. My own mother stayed home. I think my values have changed. I also agree that older kids can really need a parent at home. Unfortunately, my husband doesn’t seem to be on board with this. I agree about not counting on inheritance. We haven’t done that in terms of financial planning. I simply mentioned it because I was trying to point out that my husband doesn’t really need to worry about paying the bills. We don’t even have a mortgage |
Why is everyone saying she wants him to pay her way? If they’re married and already have a high NW (maybe even high enough to live off already) then why can’t she live off that? From her post it sounds like they DON’T need more money! If he is so GD insecure about his job security and ability to support his family then I think that alone is a good enough reason not to have any more kids. Clearly they can’t afford it. |