Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your husband will lose respect for you, no matter what he claims.

DCUMers love to say this but there are actual studies that show the opposite to be the case. The happiest marriages are those where the wife stays home. I'm sure many disagree but simply saying "he'll lose respect for you" is your own coping mechanism, not close to a fact.

I don't agree with the "he'll lose respect for you" line, but I also don't buy the response. Studies, PP? Really? Please provide links to peer-reviewed journals that have documented this supposed correlation between happiness and women not working. I'd love to read them.

Google is your friend. Check him out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your husband will lose respect for you, no matter what he claims.

DCUMers love to say this but there are actual studies that show the opposite to be the case. The happiest marriages are those where the wife stays home. I'm sure many disagree but simply saying "he'll lose respect for you" is your own coping mechanism, not close to a fact.

I don't agree with the "he'll lose respect for you" line, but I also don't buy the response. Studies, PP? Really? Please provide links to peer-reviewed journals that have documented this supposed correlation between happiness and women not working. I'd love to read them.

Nope, I stayed home for 1 year with my first and it cured any subsequent angst for that life. I also have a friend who left the workforce for 5 years (not technically for childcare reasons) and now is having a horrendous time finding a job. Her child has no health insurance. Every time I fantasize about some mythical idyllic life as a SAHM, I remember that a one-career household is basically one layoff away from that kind of life. So I'm grateful for my job and all the stress that comes with it.

Anonymous wrote:Your husband will lose respect for you, no matter what he claims.

DCUMers love to say this but there are actual studies that show the opposite to be the case. The happiest marriages are those where the wife stays home. I'm sure many disagree but simply saying "he'll lose respect for you" is your own coping mechanism, not close to a fact.

I fantasize about staying at home sometimes. I kind of hope it is in my future. But, given my career, it is pretty likely that it may never happen.

Just as well, I suppose. I also like having a career. My older sister stayed at home and was an amazing mom, but suffered terribly when the kids left and now, at 50, has no way to support herself and her husband lost all their money. She is always on my to keep working.

Guess we will see how it all works out.

True

Anonymous wrote:Your husband will lose respect for you, no matter what he claims.

Why do you think that?

Your husband will lose respect for you, no matter what he claims.

Anonymous wrote:I would think you would also have stress staying home, just a different kind. Any SAHMs want to chime in on this?

I think it depends on your values. Some value getting their "own" paycheck. Others value running their own household and doing their own childcare. People who think they're having it all, really aren't. No one is.

I am a SAHM and it makes our family life so much better and less stressful. My DH travels for work a lot and he doesn't have to worry because he knows I always have all child/household things covered. We can afford to get by on one salary. I would be back at work if we needed my income to live but we are frugal so for now it works for us. Now that it is summer I am busier than ever with all three home and running around with them all day. It is fun and they are growing up fast!

I would think you would also have stress staying home, just a different kind. Any SAHMs want to chime in on this?

It's totally not worth it. But my husband is incapable of staying employed so, since I have a child to support (and apparently her father too) I have no choice.

Work is highly overrated.

If you can afford to stay at home. Do it!

I have been thinking about being a SAHM. I enjoy my job and my field, but my salary is piddily and I find the stress of working (office politics, micromanaging boss) might not be worth it for me to work. I'd feel bad about not using my masters, but a lack of stress in my life as a priority too. Not sure what to do.