Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I'm just curious as to the answer to this question.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

NOT AT ALL!!

That being said, in certain situations, a FAMILY should band together to deal with them. And that could mean staying home temporarily.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

No, but I believe that the family should come first. My husband and I are able to work opposite schedules so we are blessed that one of us is able to be home with DD every day.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

Depend of the situation.. every family is different and it all depend of the situation, the support you have, the strenght, and goals.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

No.

But, i do believe that it's both parents responsibility to make sure that their kid's needs are met. Or, if they're being raised by grandparents, then its their responsibility. I had a very unusual upbringing and i definitely think it's a team effort... but that's what family is to me- a team.

If i stayed home with our (imaginary) kids, i'd go crazy, they'd starve and DH would be miserable, b/c i'd be so unhappy that i'd make him unhappy.

In our relationship, if one of us were to be a SAH Parent, it would be DH, so i guess i'm as far away from agreeing with the woman staying at home as possible. That being said- i think everyone has to do what works for THEIR family. but across the board? No, not a proponent for the whole woman at home thing.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I think there is a huge difference between being home and being present in your child's life. And, I do think that its not just enough that the mother is present. The father must be a presence too.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

No never. Only if they choose that route. In fact I think some moms do a better parenting job when they dont stay home.

But I think family comes before career.

If I had to stay home with a sick child and calling in sick would for example have me losing my job and or I could call a nanny instead..I would stay home.

Message edited 9/1/2008 8:13:09 PM.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I think it is a personal decision every woman must make for herself. For some women staying home would drive them batty and are much better Moms because they work outside the home.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I said other because there are a lot of factors such as

- financial situation
- desire to stay home

Our society has changed. Most dads and moms now needs to work to make it financially.

Not everywomen has the desire to be a SAHM either.

I think it has to work for each family.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

No.

Do I prefer to be home with DD? Of course. In a perfect world, I'd be there. I don't thing because I have to work I still can't be the best mom to DD.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

Here is my answer, its naive and one sided.

Before this site, I never gave it much consideration that women returned to work after having children for any other reason then they financially have to.

For me and my DH...we could never function working opposite shifts. I need to see him. I need to enjoy him and his time.

As a daycare provider, I see a little boy more then he sees his parents. His parents are WONDERFUL people who he misses thoughout the day. No one will come close to loving him as much as they do...even if I tried all day everyday. So, in the end, I wish he could spend all his time with the people who love him more then anything in the world...what a great way to spend your days!

So, I did not vote. I don't know what my vote is.

My cousin is my best friend. She gets on the bus at 7 AM and gets off the bus at 7:30 PM daily. Its hard for her to accept that I moved since I did not feel this was fair to my family. She has a husband and 2 kids. I don't think less of her as a mom at all. I do think her life is filled with stress and heartache...a lot of it caused by daycare situations and missing her baby.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I voted NO
I don't think a mother "should" be home with her kids, but do what is right for the child. If working to be financially stable is what will make a better life for the child then thats what the mother should do
I also feel a happy mother makes a happy child, so whatever the mother feels best would be what she should do

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

No, I believe they should have the choice. But I also believe because I have learned that family comes first and career comes second. I don't think anyone on their death bed wishes they worked more. And I also know that sadly, the choice is not always readily available for those who desire it.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I don't think it's how things SHOULD be, but I do think it's a wonderful thing if a PARENT can be, whether it's the mother or father. I would love to be a SAHM, but we will never financially be able to do that because I make significantly more than DH. If a parent wants to stay home, great for them. If not, I don't think there's anything wrong with that either. What I don't like is when both parents work so much that the kid thinks his or her nanny is the parent. That is sad IMO.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I believe that each situation is different. A lot of women WANT to be home with their kids and can't. And some are working that prefer to work and that doesn't make them less of a mom.

I think a HAPPY family is the best kind. Whether that means being a SAHM, working out of the home mom etc...

For ME i needed to be home with my son. There was no choice. I did not want him in daycare for my own reasons. I would have moved to wherever I needed to move in order to stay home. May sound extreme to some, but I just could not have worked full time. Many women HAVE to work these days to get by and pay the bills that would love to be home and THAT i think is unfair.

But no, I absolutely do not think a woman "should" be home. I think whatever works for each family is perfect!

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I do, but thats only because thats where *I* would want to be, so its hard for me to understand why some would choose careers over their kids. I dont have a choice, and have to work FT, but I would leave it all in a heartbeat.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I work because I have to, not because I want to. However, from the day we found out we were having my daughter, I was given the opportunity to buy a house or live in an apartment, and I chose to buy a house.

After all my years of school, I felt that I could not discard that (and have my husband pay off my loans for degrees I would never use.) Not being a SAHM though gives me an unbelievable amount of patience with my children, I and I do not take any of the tine I have with them for granted.

Also, seeing my children come out healthy, smart, well nourished and well kept is contributed to ALL the caregivers in their lives, not just by me and my husband. We have a very close extended family, my mother watches my daughter, and a babysitter watches my son. At the end of the day, all I care about us that they know how much my husband and I love them, and that they are getting the best care possible in the situation.

When I was a teacher, I saw plenty of SAHM's that didn't show a 1/4 of as much love and attention to their children as working mom's. Whether you work or not, you have to make the best of the situation.

Just because you are a working mom doesn't mean you don't love your children.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

i alway wonder what "working too much" is?

where is the line?

if a kid is strongly attached to a nanny, I don't know if that is a bad thing....every kid should be told they are loved, beautiful, and smart all day long(IMO )

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I just want to state, in my own defense, that I know this is a totally gray question with black and white answers to the poll. I did that kind of on purpose so that people would explain their answers. I really am fascinated by how other people think adn view the world. Especially when it's opposite of how I normally think. I just find it eye-opening and interesting.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

Posted by Janice

i alway wonder what "working too much" is?

where is the line?

if a kid is strongly attached to a nanny, I don't know if that is a bad thing....every kid should be told they are loved, beautiful, and smart all day long(IMO )

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

I think there are SAHMs who don't pay attention to their kids, and kids in daycare who are well-cared for and provided for (and vice versa).

And I think there are many women who are mothers who don't deserve to be. So there is no right answer.

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?

Nope. My mother wasn't home with us...and I turned out pretty darn well!
And I'd go insane if I stayed home with Lily....I've been home with her for 2 weeks straight this summer and I am so ready to go back to work! I love her more than I love anything in this world. She makes my life complete....but watching her is sooo much work!!
If a woman, any woman, wants to work, go for it!
And if two parents don't want their child in day care, there is no reason that the father can't stay home with the baby just as easily as the mother!

Re: Poll: Do you believe a woman should be at home with her kids?