What do you think a stay-at-home parent likes, or doesn't like, about staying at

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   Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years ago

   What do you think a stay-at-home parent likes, or doesn't like, about staying at home?

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   thumbi7posted 9 years ago

   We can meet and interact with a lot of people if we go out for work. We come to know about local society's trend in a number of matters like managing the household, getting domestic help, cooking different food items, fashion trends etc. For this reason I dont like to stay at home.

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      Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I like that interaction that I had at work thumbi7 and I miss it.

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   btrbellposted 9 years ago

   I think one of the hardest things about being a stay-at-home parent, would be the "judgement." There are so many good things and so many difficult things in either being at home or working, that I find it a shame that people always feel they have a right to judge whatever decision you make. That being said, having both stayed at home and worked full-time at different stages of my kids lives, for me, the hardest part was in not being too lazy. I loved the "everyday is like a Sunday" feeling of not having to clock in to a workplace! Of course, being able to laze around with my kid was also the best part!

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      Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed about not being too lazy.  Many times, especially when I just have to clean something, that I would rather do something fun.  I respect everyone's decision to work or stay at home.  It's so highly personal.

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   The Examiner-1posted 9 years ago

   If they CHOOSE to stay at home then they enjoy their privacy. On the other hand, if they are the opposite and HAVE to stay for unwanted reasons then they may want to be out and about.

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      Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I think you are right The Examiner-1 - it is probably difficult for people who don't want to stay at home.

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      The Examiner-1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I do and I have no problems. Except since I do not drive I have to wait for when my ride has time to take me somewhere - usually once per month, but I have learned patience.

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   dragonflycolorposted 9 years ago

   Sometimes we need that "adult" conversation.  There's only so many times I can discuss the need for rainbows in all Disney movies.

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      Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I agree dragonflycolor - I always got really tired of cartoons.  My daughter is in school now so I do volunteer work.

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   Traci Ruffnerposted 9 years ago

   What they do NOT like is for people to insinuate that what they do is not work.  It very much IS work.

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      The Examiner-1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Especially if they work FROM home, which many do.

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      Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed Traci Ruffner!  It can get quite hectic too.

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   Jackie Lynnleyposted 9 years ago

   What I loved was more time with my kids. I did both too, worked and stayed home and even had a business and taught my kids for awhile so I was with them at work and at home. It was all good and I am sure after they got older they didn't like so much of mom but they had friends outside to have enough freedom and they both grew up solid, both very intelligent.

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      Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Jackie - I am finding that as my daughter gets older she wants more freedom, but I still have to drive her around, pick her up etc... I can imagine it is really difficult when both parents work, but everyone seems to make it work.

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   sheilamyersposted 9 years ago

   My sister-in-law said the worst part was not having adults to talk to until her neighbors and my brother got home from work.

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      Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      As my daughter grows up I have been doing more volunteer work which gets me out and talking to adults.  When she was younger that was much harder and I missed it.

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   duffsmomposted 9 years ago

   I loved being at home. When I was a little girl all I wanted to do when I grew up was to have a home and to be in it.
   
   I was lucky enough to be able to stay home to raise my children and did not regret it for one minute. We had a ball.
   
   But I will share that while I enjoyed being at home with them--I also experienced a great amount of guilt because I felt I wasn't doing something  big and important outside of my home.  My kids loved it, i enjoyed it but did I wonder if there was more--yes I did.
   
   I enjoyed it because my time was my own. There was no one telling me what to do, when to do it...so it really can be a very independent feeling.

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      Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting duffsmom - As my daughter has gotten older I do get that guilty feeling that I could be out there doing something more and, like you,  I like not having someone tell me what to do and I really love summers off!

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    Hendrikaposted 9 years ago

    I have also worked as well as stayed at home when the kids were small. I think staying home is very good for the time you can spend with them, but the worst thing for me was that I missed the stimulation of a job.

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       Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       I agree with you Hendrika.  I miss that stimulation of a job too.

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    ChristinSposted 9 years ago

    I loved being home with my sons but I also kind of felt trapped by it at the same time.  I was happy to be available to give my oldest what he needed, but I was in an unhappy marriage and so I felt absolutely beholden and stuck there. 
    With my youngest, I am remarried and very happy with my partner.  I also work at home freelancing while my boys are in school and I feel more like I am my own person and that I am contributing in more ways than just moral support.  It is a much nicer balance.  I feel more fulfilled and as a result, I am better able to meet the needs of my family.

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       Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       That must have been hard while in an unhappy marriage ChristinS.  Ideally for me I would love to work from home so I could have the best of both worlds.

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    Sadiq Busuriposted 9 years ago

    I definitely think that staying at home is a full job in itself and one perk of that type of work is the idea that you are your own boss although sometimes it can feel like your toddler is.

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       Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Even though I no longer have a toddler, my daughter still thinks she is the boss sometimes, but staying at home is definitely full time work.

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    cat on a soapboxposted 9 years ago

    I had my only child in my mid-40s, and staying home was a choice both my husband & I agreed was best. I considered it a privilege because we would bond, and I would be able to witness all of the milestones rather than hear of them from a nanny. The hardest thing was never getting a break. If anyone ever thinks being a full-time mom is a cop-out, think again. It's HARD work w/o income or mental stimulation. Among other professional women, I was made to feel like a second-class citizen. Would I do it again? YES!!

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       Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Hi cat on a soapbox - I had our only child in my late 30's and my husband and I agreed that I would stay at home.  We were lucky to be able to and I don't regret it at all.  Some of my friends changed after I had my child and that still makes me sad.

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    teaches12345posted 9 years ago

    When I was a stay-at-home mom, I enjoyed being there for my child before and after school.  I loved being able to clean my home, do chores, run errands, etc. all before my husband returned home in the evening.  The evennigs were free to spend with family.  What I found difficult, was not having extra money to spend and help support the family.  I also felt a little left out when we went out with friends who worked outside the home.  Sometimes, they looked down upon your status.

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       The Examiner-1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Do not see yourself the way that they feel, see yourself the way that you feel.

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       Glimmer Twin Fanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Hi teaches!  I really love being at home when my daughter gets home.  I also love being able to help out at school if needed.  I also agree that there are many who look down upon our status.

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