So what does everyone think about working Mums?

[peanut56]

I think in an ideal world, a lot of us would stay home with our LO's. However, in the real world, that can't always happen. I have no choice - I HAVE to go back. Until my husband is fully done his schooling and gets a higher paying job (2-3 years), we cannot afford our mortgage and bills on his salary alone.
A working mother is no less of a mother. And a lot of us don't have a choice. We are not all blessed with the ability to live on one income.
Working moms, stay at home moms - we all love our children and do the best we can for them.

 

[bubbles]

I'm a SAHM and alot of people say that I'm lucky to have that but in all honesty it's because we put alot of hard work in to make it possible, we also give up alot of "luxuries". I don't think Mums are wrong for going out to work because alot of the time there isn't a choice financially, but for me personally I do think being at home with my children is important for them which is why we have worked out a way for me to stay at home. I'm not sure if I will be returning to work when they are school age yet as we may decide (if I can talk hubby round) to home school.

 

[bubbles]

Woah! twice now I have read about people wanting their children to have a work ethic (and this is just me scanning over the thread)
Do you really think that because a mum doesn't work a child isn't going to have any sort of work ethic?

 

[indy and lara]

Woah! twice now I have read about people wanting their children to have a work ethic (and this is just me scanning over the thread)
Do you really think that because a mum doesn't work a child isn't going to have any sort of work ethic?

Yip, this is irking me a little too. I may not work but I am university educated to postgrad level. I have also had a career for the last 14 years which has helped us to live the lifestyle we do now. My husband works a very demanding job with long hours. Emma will very clearly be able to see the benefits that come from hard work by looking around her. 'Work ethic' does not just come from seeing both parents working. She will also be brought up with our values and see us self supporting.

As I said before, Andy and I don't have separate money and haven't for more than 10 years now. It is not 'my' money or 'his' money but our money. I work hard, my job just doesn't bring in a salary.

 

[kerrie24]

Ithink they are very brave ladies,I cant imagine coming home from work to start with the house and children.Also I would find it hard leaving my child to go to work,so hats off to the working mums

 

[Lightworker]

Bubbles- I do agree, going back to work when your child is 1 or 2 or 3 is not going to do anything to impact their work ethic lol! I have been a SAHM and a working mom as well and I do know work ethic does not come just from seeing parents going to work, there's alot more to it and its more of an amalgamation of different qualities that can be fostered just as well by SAHMs eg traits like passion, independence, effort, having big dreams etc.

 

[gemabee]

Woah! twice now I have read about people wanting their children to have a work ethic (and this is just me scanning over the thread)
Do you really think that because a mum doesn't work a child isn't going to have any sort of work ethic?

if the mum was a single mum then my answer would be yes.
same if 2 parents where at home nd neither worked.
i think ur seein what u want to see here tbh - no-one has said that.

 

[chelle7]

I would love to be a SAHM and the idea of going back just upsets me, but in order to pay the mortgage I have to as Dh's wage just won't cover the day to day bills.

 

[KittyVentura]

Woah! twice now I have read about people wanting their children to have a work ethic (and this is just me scanning over the thread)
Do you really think that because a mum doesn't work a child isn't going to have any sort of work ethic?

if the mum was a single mum then my answer would be yes.
same if 2 parents where at home nd neither worked.
i think ur seein what u want to see here tbh - no-one has said that.

I second this. I think it's a lot harder to instill a strong work ethic in your children if they have no working parent to look up to as an example... perhaps not impossible... but a lot harder.

If one parent works then the child grows up knowing that what they have was worked for rather than (and I don't mean to offend because I know those on benefits are mostly there out of neccessity) just handed to them.

I don't think it's a coincidence that most of my school friends (my school was based in the middle of 4 council estates where a high proportion of families did not work at all) have hardly worked since leaving school and Ian's school friends (school in a much better and more expensive area where most families worked) went on to college, uni and now have pretty good jobs. Heck my own mother (I come from a single parent on benefits background) advised me to just "get myself pregnant to get a council house" as soon as I left school. Really it was only my desire to be nothing like my own mother that made me move out and work hard to better my position.

I'll be going back to work when our children are all in school

Sorry went off on one there a bit. Oops xx

 

[binxyboo]

I will be a working mum at the end of June.
I would LOVE to be a SAHM but I need to work or we can't pay the mortgage/bills etc.
Luckily, I can go back part time, so I will only be working 2 and a half days a week, and my Mum will have LO so I don't have to pay for any childcare.

I have no problems with working mums, and I have no problems with SAHM's.

 

[bubbles]

Woah! twice now I have read about people wanting their children to have a work ethic (and this is just me scanning over the thread)
Do you really think that because a mum doesn't work a child isn't going to have any sort of work ethic?

if the mum was a single mum then my answer would be yes.
same if 2 parents where at home nd neither worked.
i think ur seein what u want to see here tbh - no-one has said that.

I don't think I am just seeing what I want to see, I'm not the only one who spotted it for a start. I'm also going to put a spanner in your theory as neither of my parents worked on a regular basis (many personal health issues) yet I was employed from the age of 15 and have only ever been on JSA for a couple of weeks. Even when I went to college I was working. My brother and sister are the same, apart from the fact that my sister is now a SAHM. If anything I would say that made us more determined to work and stick at it

 

[Lightworker]

Conversely, a mom who had two working parents may opt to stay at home and live on benefits because she felt that she never got to spend any real quality time with her mom and doesn't want her LO to feel the same. Work ethic is far more complex than just something that is learnt solely from observation, just as being a "lazy scrounger" is more complex than having parents who were the same.

 

[sb786]

Woah! twice now I have read about people wanting their children to have a work ethic (and this is just me scanning over the thread)
Do you really think that because a mum doesn't work a child isn't going to have any sort of work ethic?

if the mum was a single mum then my answer would be yes.
same if 2 parents where at home nd neither worked.
i think ur seein what u want to see here tbh - no-one has said that.

I second this. I think it's a lot harder to instill a strong work ethic in your children if they have no working parent to look up to as an example... perhaps not impossible... but a lot harder.

If one parent works then the child grows up knowing that what they have was worked for rather than (and I don't mean to offend because I know those on benefits are mostly there out of neccessity) just handed to them.

I don't think it's a coincidence that most of my school friends (my school was based in the middle of 4 council estates where a high proportion of families did not work at all) have hardly worked since leaving school and Ian's school friends (school in a much better and more expensive area where most families worked) went on to college, uni and now have pretty good jobs. Heck my own mother (I come from a single parent on benefits background) advised me to just "get myself pregnant to get a council house" as soon as I left school. Really it was only my desire to be nothing like my own mother that made me move out and work hard to better my position.

I'll be going back to work when our children are all in school

Sorry went off on one there a bit. Oops xx

I agree

 

[NaturalMomma]

Not all women have the option of working from home or staying home. Working is sometimes, and many times, a reality of having children. I'm a W/SAHM (work from home SAHM) but I dont' care if other moms work or not. That's up to them and their family, I don't look down on them at all. Most my mom friends work.

 

[MrsBandEgglet]

I was a working mum for just over three months and it was hard but I have to go back to work because we can't afford for me not to. My son only went in to nursery four hours a week and still does, the rest of the time I was working, he was cared for by my DH so we split the childcare. If people really do think like that - that once you become a mother you should stay at home to care for your child - I think that's an archaic attitude and it's not one I've encountered fortunately. My husband enjoys looking after our son just as much as I do and my son enjoys going into nursery so personally, I think we've struck the perfect balance. When I return to work I'll get time with the kids, my hubby will and they'll also go into nursey to interact and get prepared for their nursery placement. It suits us fine, other people's situations don't concern me, so long as it doesn't affect mine xx

 

[iHeartbaby#1]

I'm going to be a SAHM until my LO is at least a year old. But i understand that a lot of moms simply have no choice and must go back to work in order to support their family. IMO this is admirable because i know how hard it is to have to leave LO even for an hour or two much less 8 hours! Thumbs up to any mom who is doing whats right for their child whether staying home, or working!

 

[katieandfras]

I'm going back to work part time-my oh works full time. I wish I could be a sahm but to be honest, I think going to work will save my sanity and I will appreciate my time with her even more

The thing that upsets me the most is when I see people (not necessarily on here) saying there a "full time mummy" because they don't work, just because I work doesn't mean I'm a "part time mummy" ??! Iykwim? X

 

[Lellow]

I'm going back to work part time-my oh works full time. I wish I could be a sahm but to be honest, I think going to work will save my sanity and I will appreciate my time with her even more

The thing that upsets me the most is when I see people (not necessarily on here) saying there a "full time mummy" because they don't work, just because I work doesn't mean I'm a "part time mummy" ??! Iykwim? X

I agree with this bit

 

[marie73]

It's an emotive topic as many subjects related to parenting are. I'm in a job where I have to register each year to practice so if I chose to leave my job I would be unable to go back in at the level I am at now so it's not an option for me. Our house was bought on the basis of 2 incomes and I am fortunately (or unfortunately, however you look at it) in a position where my salary will not be taken up paying for childcare. My hubby works full time hours over 4 days so he will care for our lo one day a week and my parents another day so hopefully will only need childcare for 1 or 2 days a week. I think I will have the best of both worlds as I love my work environment and my colleagues but will also have time with my lo.

 

[bambino156]

I'm a working Mummy, I work 30 hours a week over 4 days. I find its damn hard work getting up early to go to work after having been up x amount of times during the night tending to lo. Agree with katieandfras, i'm no part time Mummy just because I go to work aswell! x