Stay-at-home Parents

1. 69

   Frenchie Kissesposted 7 years ago

   With Mother's Day and Father's Day around the corner I'm hoping to gather information/feedback regarding stay-at-home parenting.
   
   This is what I would like to know:
   
           - How many of you came from a household where there was a stay-at-home parent and were there "home-makers" in previous generations; how far back?
   
   Thank you!

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   1. 69

      Frenchie Kissesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I come from a long line of women who were "housewives". I am one myself.

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   2. 98

      theraggededgeposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      My mother was born in 1938. She worked outside the home from age 15 until she retired at about 67 years old. She also helped my step-dad in his accountancy business. The only time I don't remember her working was when she was on maternity leave for a few months after having my sister. Her own mother, my grandmother, stayed at home but ran a B&B for half the year.
      
      My father's family was far more traditional. All the women were home-makers.
      
      We are in the UK, I don't know if that makes a difference?

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      1. 69

         Frenchie Kissesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you theraggededge.
         
         About locations: I intentionally did not ask for one, in part because I'm old-fashioned and feel if someone wants to share, they may. Mostly, I felt keeping the question open to interpretation would help aid me in the creative process; direction I want to go with the hub, or possibly hubs, depending on the feedback.
         
         Thank you for sharing your story with me. If I may ask, would you say that the UK is typically traditional, with the women being homemakers? Has economics or other factors changed that, like it has here in the us.?

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         1. 98

            theraggededgeposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Grrr... just wrote out a reply and it's disappeared.
            
            There are not many sahm in the UK. Most women are encouraged to have a career first, have babies, and go back to work as soon as possible. Makes me wonder why they bother having children. It's mostly for social and economic reasons. Couples don't want to sacrifice one wage these days. The government helps with childcare costs.
            
            This has led to two things: 1. women are having babies much later in life and 2. the birth rate is falling among native Brits.
            
            I stay at home because we decided to home school the kids. Not a common thing here. We manage because I also work from home.

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            1. 69

               Frenchie Kissesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

               Interesting. In your opinion, based on your interactions with people in the UK, would you say that things may be different if there was no government help with childcare?

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               1. 98

                  theraggededgeposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                  Fewer children!

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                     Frenchie Kissesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                     How many children would you say the average families you interact with have?

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2. 93

   FatFreddysCatposted 7 years ago

   I grew up in the 70s and 80s. My mom was a stay-at-home housewife till my brother and I were in our teens (in the mid 1980s), when she took a part time job at a store in the mall near our house. I am still not sure if that move was due to financial necessity or if Mom merely needed an excuse to get out of the house and away from us surly teenagers for a while....

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   1. 69

      Frenchie Kissesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      FatFreddysCat, thank you for sharing.
      
      When you look back on that time frame, do you recall if your friends' mothers took to working outside the home when they were "grown"?

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3. 0

   calculus-geometryposted 7 years ago

   Here's some statistical information on SAHM(D)s in the US to help you out.
   
   http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/04/ … e-mothers/

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   1. 69

      Frenchie Kissesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for the information calculus-geometry.

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4. 74

   Anna Marie Bowmanposted 7 years ago

   My grandmother worked outside the home for most of her life, and so did my mother.  I am a stay-at-home mom, and very proud I am able to do that.  How long I am able to do that, well, that is another matter.  I think I might go back to work once my youngest is in school.

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   1. 69

      Frenchie Kissesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Ann Marie Bowman thank you for sharing with me.
      
      May I ask what your grandmother and mother's ages are? What is their opinion  of your status as a SAHM?

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      1. 74

         Anna Marie Bowmanposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         My grandmother is in her 80's and my mother is in her 60's.  They are happy that I have to opportunity to stay home with my kids, but they know, and have told me, that it is also rewarding to work outside of the home.

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         1. 69

            Frenchie Kissesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            There is always reward in doing for your family

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