SAHM vs. Working Mom

Disclaimer - not looking for a debate about which is harder or anything like that

I was just curious, what do you enjoy about being a SAHM or a working mom?

For me, as a working mom:

I enjoy using my college education and my licensing that I worked very hard to get.

I enjoy being able to enjoy dd 100% on the weekends (I do chores after she goes to sleep during the week)

I enjoy having my own money

I enjoy interacting with adults daily

Please add yours

ETA: I love knowing that dd is being watched by family that love her as much as I do and take GREAT care of her

Message edited 11/26/2007 2:53:26 PM.

Re: SAHM vs. Working Mom

I love raising my own child! Yes i miss having adult interaction sometimes but i would much rather be with my son 24/7
JMO

Re: SAHM vs. Working Mom

What I absolutely love the most about being a working mom is being a role model to my daughter in showing her that she CAN have it all - a family that she loves and adores, AND her own hopes, dreams and aspirations that she can pursue, successfully.

Other than that, I really enjoy using my brain on a more intellectual level, everyday - I feed off the challenge and stimulation. I like interacting with adults everyday on that level, brainstorming and bouncing ideas off one another, but then coming home at night, and having a 30 minute giggle fest with my daughter.

And, I love that I have something outside of my family and my role as a wife and mother, where I feel like I'm contributing to the greater good, so to speak. Knowing that I'm helping other children pursue their dreams is one of the most fulfilling and satisfying feelings in the world. I think it makes me a more well-rounded person, and better able to focus 100% on my daughter when we have our time together.

Message edited 11/26/2007 2:55:59 PM.

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I love having adult interaction and getting away from it all for 6 hours a day.

I also love the fact that my family is bonding so much with him because they watch him while I work. They all have such a special relationship with him.

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I consider myself a full-time SAHM, but I also work PT at my old company (avg. 10 hours a week). I feel like this gives me the best of both worlds.

I love being with my kids all day, having no set schedule and just playing with them. I like having the alone time with my DD a few hours a week while my DS in in school. I even volunteered to be class mom

As far as working, it helps keep me in tune with the real world. I have a Bachelors and Masters Dregree in Chemical Engineering, along with my PE license, and I like to keep up with my field of work. I work in the office one day, and that day DH gets his time with the kids (he works crazy hours at work otherwise).

I give a ton of kudos to the working moms who do it all so effortlessly. I give kudos to the SAHM's who don't go insane

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I love that he is learning SO much at daycare - intellectually, socially, in every way.

I love that my role is more than mother and wife; because of that I feel I am a better role model to my child. I contribute to society in additional ways and I have experiences outside of the home, in the working world, that I learn from and can then share with and teach my child.

I love that I have independent financial security because I work. If, heaven forbid, something terrible were to happen to DH or he just up and left me, I can support myself and, more importantly, my son.

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As a working mom, what I enjoy most is dropping my son off and having a few hours without him, in the company of adults. I could take or leave the actual work...its the adult company and my co workers not having complete tantrums all the time. The working...eh, thats not so great really.

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As a working mom, I enjoy looking nice every day and being able to afford nice things for myself and my family. I enjoy a break - a whole hour for lunch! And the look on my sons face when I come to pick him up at night :)

I love how every minute I'm with him is quality time.

I like being able to support my husband in owning his own business by carrying benefits for our family. I also like knowing that I am not losing career skills I gained over the past 10 yrs, and I enjoy the adult interaction. I have made some great friends at work and I enjoy seeing them most days and going out for dinner/drinks once in a while.

I will not say it's easy, but it has it's perks.

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I absolutely LOVE my job- working with teenagers, helping them make decisions, talking to adults about them- it is really a fun job.
I love having time to go on the computer, have some quiet time too on the less busy days.
I love that my DD is happy at her daycare and loves going there everyday.
I love that I get home by 4pm in order to still have a few hours just to play with DD.
I love having my own income- I know we are married and share everything but it still feels like its mine when I get that paycheck.

I miss staying at home too though. I loved taking DD on long walks to the Farmer's market every Thursday and going to the park. I miss watching her eat breakfast and lunch and fall asleep for naps. I miss watching her play, learn and just be. But I have no choice so I would much rather look at the list above.

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I love being being the one that DD spends the most time with. I love having the freedom to do whatever I want with her, when I want to. I love being the one who sees all of her milestones.

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I'm part-time and I feel really lucky to "have it both ways" to a degree.

For working:
I love having time to myself, chatting with adults and keeping my skills sharp.

Being at home:
I love spending time with DS, going shopping, to the library, to playgroups, even just laying down and taking a nap with him.

What I don't love is that it feels like the work never stops -- I'm working when I'm at work and I'm working when I'm at home (endless chores). But I can't complain, life is good.

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right now i am mostly a SAHM but do work p/t as a public librarian- i am normally a school librarian with great hours and right around the corner. right now i have the best of both worlds being at home with DD and keeping my hand in the hat with work
however....as much as i LOVE being with DD i really do miss my regular job. i give so much credit to SAHM b/c it is so much harder than i thought it would be! i will go back in september- b/c i desperately miss the adult interaction and feel very lonely as a SAHM. i also miss the "routine" of my day and hope that if i am happier as a working mom that DD will be happier too....we'll see!

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With DD #1 I enjoyed going to work so i can work, socialize and get paid. She was in day care and they were wonderful with her. I felt satisfied. When she turned 5 and started schhol, I started hating working full time. For me it got worse instead of better.
Now that I had DD #2 and I am a SAHM I don't miss working, or socializing. The only time I miss getting paid is around DH's birthday and Christmas. I won't be a SAHM forever. Eventually I will go back and work school hours. but for now I am loving it and wouldn't want it anyother way.

Re: SAHM vs. Working Mom

Posted by Dragonfly75

I'm part-time and I feel really lucky to "have it both ways" to a degree.

For working:
I love having time to myself, chatting with adults and keeping my skills sharp.

Being at home:
I love spending time with DS, going shopping, to the library, to playgroups, even just laying down and taking a nap with him.

What I don't love is that it feels like the work never stops -- I'm working when I'm at work and I'm working when I'm at home (endless chores). But I can't complain, life is good.

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What I liked when I was a SAHM:
- Being with DS all day.
- Not missing on his milestones
- Have my own schedule
- Being able to rest/nap

What I like about working:

- Financially independent
- See adults
- Use my degree

I am leaving my FT work to a PT work. I am hoping to be able to have the best of both Worlds.

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What i love about being a working mom is that i feel like I'm contributing financially to my family, that I'm independent, that i remain sane and that i'm able to continue school so that in the future, I can provide my family a better life.

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I hope to always be a SAHM.

I like the security that Josh gets.
I love our morning walks together. We love to watch kids get on the school bus.
I like attending playgroups.
I like that I have time to cook and bake from scratch. Since having him I am very weary all of the added ingredients in prepared foods.
I like napping with him.
We like to go surprise Leo at work.
I am now watching another little boy, it is priceless to watch Josh hug him every morning when I take him out of his crib.
I like that I am home to see Leo, he works crazy hours.

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I'm a full-time working mom. What I love about it is that I am sharing a part of myself with other people. I have loved music and wanted to play professionally since I was a child. By teaching, I get to share that love of music with way more people than I ever thought I would.
I also love that, for ME, working helps me keep a sense of who I am. Because what I do is so personal to me and my history, I cannot separate my identity and my job. They are one and the same, as far as I'm concerned.
I also like that when I leave for work, my husband is the one who is forming a bond with Ava at home. She's building a special relationship with her dad that I don't think all children get.
I also love how much fun I have at work. I love my friends there, I love the kids, I laugh a lot all day I'm fortunate to have my job.

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I truly like my job and the people I try to help on a daily basis.

I like having my own money and not having to depend on DH when I want to buy something.

I like how being a working mom keeps me socially balanced. A happy mommy makes for a happier family.

I like being challenged by my job and putting all my energy into it while I'm there.

I love the look on my son's face when I go to pick him up. You'd think he won the lottery!

I like how his social development is starting at such a young age. I was terribly shy as a young child and hope being around others from an early age will make DS less shy.

Working during the week makes me even more aware of how truly precious my time with DS and DH is and we all try to make the most of it.

I know that DS is being taken care of by people who truly care for him (he's in an early learning center owned by my sister-in-law).

Message edited 11/26/2007 6:17:07 PM.

Re: SAHM vs. Working Mom

I love that my son gets to bond with his grandfathers while I work. They have such a special relationship.

I love helpng to support my family financially.

I love teaching my little first graders and making a difference in their lives.

I love the time off that my occupation affords me.

That being said, if it was possible financially, I would stay home until DS entered pre-K. But, I would definitely go back to teaching.

ETA: I have to add because some people mentioned milestones. I have seen them all so far. My DS is so good to wait for me to do anything new.

Message edited 11/26/2007 6:43:03 PM.

Re: SAHM vs. Working Mom

Well I help support my family financially by working from home...BUT...I wouldn't ever have felt like i wasn't "contributing" had I not worked PT from home. A SAHM moms job is tough!!

Pretty much everything Janice said hit home for me :)

I LOVE that I have been the influence in his daily life and I get to witness every minute..the good, the bad and the ugly, lol!!

I will never regret this time...you can't have it back, so I'm happy I made the choice to stay home. I know its not for everyone but I would never have it any other way. Even living paycheck to paycheck and not having the luxuries many others have. To me this job is priceless!!

Re: SAHM vs. Working Mom

Posted by maybebaby

Pretty much everything Janice said hit home for me :)

i think we live very similiar lives.

I love the title SAHM, I feel like I am part of some grassroots movement

Message edited 11/26/2007 7:27:11 PM.

Re: SAHM vs. Working Mom

i like that i can work full time 36 hours a week and only have to do it in 3 days.. giving me 4 days off a week

i love what i do.. i save lives! babies lives..

i love making a difference in people's worlds..

i love using my mind.. hanging out with my friends at work.. and having breaks.. god knows you don't get them at home!

i too would love to not work until my youngest is in school full time.. but i'll take what i have