Today my job was a pain in the ass, but generally I like working and am proud of my career and accomplishments. I think I'm a good role model for my kids.

The money I earn is nice, but far from essential. I do think having two earners is good diversification in case one spouse's career hit a rough patch.

Yes I love my job. I run a local branch of a national nonprofit working with an underserved population. I like that my org is helping people, but I actually really enjoy my day to day which isn't specific to a nonprofit. I manage a large team of people and I find a lot of value there. It's interesting and challenging work.

I love my job! I am a researcher and I have tons of freedom. I love my kids, too, but I was working in my hospital bed the day after a C-section while my newborn slept. That's the way I want it. I don't make a ton, but I make enough, $150k/year with extremely good benefits.

I love my kids who are an infant and preschooler but I simply could not stay home with them -- I'd go crazy. I can afford a great nanny, and for the preschooler to go to morning preschool so that makes it easier to work, honestly, as I feel that my kids are probably happier,stimulated and safe with a great nanny than they would be with me or DH who would both be miserable staying at home.

I love my job, and I'm good at. I find the work interesting; I have terrific, smart colleagues; and I believe strongly in the mission (which is a really important quality for me). I make ~$140k. I make quite a bit more than DH, who likewise has a job that he loves.

I also hated working (though not the job itself) when I had a baby (even though I took an extended leave--5 months). I hated it so much that I said I wouldn't have another unless I could stay home for at least a year. So I waited quite a while, then had a second. I SAH for 15 wonderful months. But by the end, I was ready to go back to work.

My kids are teens now, can't imagine not working. I'm glad they see me doing work that helps improve the world a little bit.

I like working but also liked being a SAHM for the baby-preschool years. When the kids are little caring for them is definitely a full-time job but once they were in K I needed something more to engage my energies. My life is much more balanced with me working, although in a not stressful, flexible professional job.

I had been feeling a bit burnt out in my last job when I had baby #1 and the time off helped me rediscover my interest in my work so that was good.

I really LOVE working. I love getting ready for work (in grown up clothes) and having my very high level government job where I get to make decisions that impact the entire state for the better. It's stressful at times, but do not regret it one bit.
I also SAH for 4 years while my kiddos were tiny. Was very fortunate to re-enter without too much trouble.
I cannot imagine being home full time. Once my kids are in school -- what am I doing to help society better? What am contributing? That is my internal dialogue (not to hit on SAHM, bec seriously I was one once).

But I also know how fortunate I am to have my job (super flex hours doing great work).

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I only asked because I seem to come across women who work and bemoan their jobs and wish their DH made more so they could just be a SAHM.

I also know women whose entire goal in life is to be a SAHM.

I know only two women my age who don't want to work. One is a SAHM. The other is a colleague -- she can't afford to stay home, but would if she could. Otherwise, everyone I know, including myself, wants to work.

I love my work. I am a government attorney, doing appellate law. It's intellectually stimulating, my colleagues are great people, I have great hours for an attorney (42 hours/week) and the hours are relatively flexible. I work from home one day a week and I am able to work from home on evenings and weekends if needed. In practice, I rarely need to, since I'm a very fast worker, but it's nice to have that option rather than having to stay late at the office. I put in 3 years in Biglaw previously and my current gig is so much better, despite the much lower salary.

I love my son more than anything, and hope to have another child, but I never wanted to stay home with kids. It just isn't for me. My mother didn't stay home (she was a teacher) and it's not something that has ever appealed to me. My husband used to think he might want to stay home, but after he took a 3-month paternity leave he changed his tune! We both enjoy our work and we're very fortunate in that regard, I know.

I love my job. I wish I could pick and choose when to do it, rather than work full time, but I can't imagine not working.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any women here who actually like working and want to actively pursue and grow their career despite having children? Does your husband's income affect this attitude?

If so, what do you do? Why does it bring you so much fulfillment?

Man here. I don't like working. I do it so I can feed my family and pay the mortgage. I guess five of one thing for two of another is a fair trade.

I'm successful. I earn six figures.

But do I "like" working? No. I would never find fulfillment in working. Maybe if I was an entrepreneur I might feel differently, but the notion of defining yourself by your career seems really odd to me.

Man here and I hate, detest my job. Only do it because I have to, feed family and pay for mortgage. I would work on a garbage truck if I could pay the college bills.

I get beat up daily. we are a punching bag for other groups.

I work with a bunch of people that are experts are duck run and hide. It permeates the culture so that all the managers think the same. only people with the instinct to do this survive and still exist. I am just plain stupid. obfuscate, confuse, push it to someone else's problem, act like you can't speak english.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I only asked because I seem to come across women who work and bemoan their jobs and wish their DH made more so they could just be a SAHM.

I also know women whose entire goal in life is to be a SAHM.

Yikes!!

What a ridiculous question.

I do!

I own my service-based business which gives me the flexibility to make my own schedule and be available for my kids. Most people still think I am a SAHM.

I'm a SAHM, but I live my freelancing career, and hope to dive into it more deeply when my DS is in school full-time. (He's in part-time preschool currently.) I teach drama, and have done so in various venues, as well as working with playwrights and directors, developing new plays and productions.

Yes. I am proud of my intelligence and of the work my industry does for the world. I don't want to waste my education. I like using my brain. I also have a significant inherited net worth, and I absolutely do not "need" to work in the traditional sense. My job is flexible and does not pay as much as I could probably make if I were working more for the money. I realize I'm lucky in that aspect.

I know many, many women who feel the same way, and to a higher degree even. Do you really think there are no professionally motivated women in the world?

I take a lot of satisfaction in working, and that I've built up a pretty interesting career. I like that I earn as much as my husband, and have the potential to earn more. I adore my babies, and apart from my crappy maternity leave (I would have loved more time!) I just always expected to go back to my job. My best friend stays at home and homeschools, and that's her thing, but it's not my thing. I guess it really just comes down to what works for you financially and emotionally.

What I think is the most interesting part of parenting at this time is that dads seem to be so much more involved in child rearing than in the past. This seems to have changed the dynamic, so that it doesn't have to be a dad work, mom at home model. Parents can come and go from working as works for their family, and that is great progress.