Reply to Why wouldn’t this person just SAHM for a year or two?

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Reply to "Why wouldn’t this person just SAHM for a year or two?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Umm ... because domestic labor is labor, and maybe "this person" would rather work in an office with adults, than be home all day doing domestic labor?  [/quote]

I don’t get this point. Of course taking care of a child is labor— no one has argued otherwise. It’s just a practicality argument. Why would someone take a job that looks pretty unappealing if they didn’t have to, especially if doing do necessitates paying someone else more than you make?

People are being coy, so let’s make this stark:

If you knew someone with a high earning spouse who chose to work at McDonalds and hire a nanny rather than SAHM, wouldn’t you think that was odd? Or would you still argue that “being around adults” is sufficient reason to do this?[/quote]
No, I would not think it was strange. I worked in food service for years (including fast food) and there was a lot I enjoyed about it. As a shy introvert, having a role in which I could interact with a lot of other people in a very specific way (which reduces anxiety) for short amounts of time was a huge plus, and it provided a much easier way to get in some socialization than the often-exhausting cultivation of long-term adult friendships requires. So I can readily understand why someone might enjoy that kind of work and want to continue doing it instead of staying at home with small children, which isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Also, DCUM really needs to get over this mindset that "her" salary is what pays for childcare. Childcare is a [i]household [/i]expense that comes out of [i]the entire household income[/i]. The question is not does the mom make enough to cover childcare; it's do both spouses working together make enough, and here they clearly do.[/quote]

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