https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:19:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2423227 Fri, 15 Jan 2016 10:22:14 +0000 BandDmommy 2423227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a SAHM for 1 year and I think it depends on your personality and what you make of it. There were things I enjoyed: being able to go to the gym whenever I wanted, lots of time with LOs, etc. Overall, though I missed the challenge of work and the enjoyment of making money and providing for my retirement and my kids college funds. I also missed "me" time for appointments, etc. I am a CPA and to keep my license active I need 40 hours of CPE a year. I worked very hard for my CPA and I didn't want to just lose it. I'm very lucky I found a flexible part time arrangement I love. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2423226 Fri, 15 Jan 2016 10:21:05 +0000 jedeve 2423226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: oh I totally get that. I just really miss the freedom of having daycare, more specifically. When I was working I would've said I only used it for when I was work, but now I realize how much it helps for non work related stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2423192 Fri, 15 Jan 2016 09:58:54 +0000 Greentea 2423192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awesome, fun, love it; sometimes long, crazymaking, exhausting, all encompassing (as you give all of yourself all day), frustrating.</p> <p>Mostly I love it, but I think it is hard caring for someone else all day and not having the freedom to concentrate on yourself/your own life/bettering yourself/furthering yourself or career. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2423097 Fri, 15 Jan 2016 09:04:28 +0000 sleepybear 2423097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all for reminding me that most days are fun and I am lucky to be able to spend so much time with my little guy and for the flexibility I have in our days. I read the start of this thread yesterday and thought there was no way my day could be described as fun or relaxing (and I only have 1 kid) - yesterday (really most of this week) was hard with a lot of screaming and clinging and not enough nap time. But I need to remember that the good days do outnumber the bad ones and even when things get overwhelming I will find balance eventually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2423029 Fri, 15 Jan 2016 08:07:36 +0000 Cherrybee 2423029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a SAHP but I wanted to chime in and say that Im blown away by the responses on this thread. How anyone can say its fun or relaxing is beyond me! I hate being stuck home with LO all day, alone. I find it completely boring and utterly frustrating. Each activity (play doh, painting, playing doctors, playing with dolls, making a fort) lasts about 15 minutes, before she's bored - so you have to do activity after activity. And, oh my god, I really don't want to change a dolls nappy 20 times, or draw the millionth picture of a house on her magic drawing tablet so she can "make it disappear". And the Peppa Pig theme tune is like torture to me!! Then theres all the food you have to make, only to throw it away again when its refused. </p> <p>Now, for me, because I only have her all day solo at weekends or nursery closures/ sick days, I can afford to take her to the zoo, the aquarium, soft play, swimming etc every day, and we can eat out three meals a day if I want. Heck, I could feed her nothing but cake and it doesn't matter because its only two days. But if I was a SAHP, id have to live today (she's off sick today) over and over and I might not survive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2423026 Fri, 15 Jan 2016 08:01:47 +0000 looch 2423026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: Exactly. I decided on a whim, basically, that I was going to go and visit some family so I literally called them up to tell them I was coming and went to the airport. I stayed for two weeks, lol, and I didn't have to concern myself with how many vacation days I had or if I was leaving work that wasn't done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2423017 Fri, 15 Jan 2016 07:51:26 +0000 Truth Bombs 2423017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: ditto to everything you said. I'm flying home to visit my parents while I'm on leave and I picked my travel dates based on when the flights were the cheapest. Didn't have to worry about any other scheduling issues. That freedom to just go and do what you want whenever you want doesn't exist when you're working. Also? Yoga pants all day if I want to? Yes please. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2423004 Fri, 15 Jan 2016 07:39:25 +0000 looch 2423004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: What it came down to for me was the feeling that hey, if I didn't want to do something on a particular day, we could change the plans. I didn't have to ask for time off, I didn't have to spend the entire weekend doing laundry, prepping lunch, etc. I also had (and still have) the Sunday Yucks, you know when you're having fun and then you realize, OMG, I have to go to WORK tomorrow!?!?! I didn't have them the entire time I was staying at home. I hadn't had that feeling my entire life between school for 16 years and then working another 15.</p> <p>But I also had the kind of job where I'd be problem solving all day and I'd suddenly wake up in the middle of the night, thinking about my job and freaking out about something I needed to do. I didn't have any of that either, when I was staying at home. So, that's where I am coming from. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422676 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 20:16:50 +0000 SweetiePie 2422676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The words Id use to describe it are liberating, fun, relaxing. I am WAY less stressed than I ever was at work. Right now I really enjoy it. It took a while for me to truly enjoy it (like 6 months). I hated it at first. Like I was MISERABLE and begged my employer to take me back (I had resigned). But now that he's older and fun and we have a great routine I love it.<br /> I went back to work a couple of months ago and that also helped me realize how much I enjoyed being home with him for the time being. I still think I'll eventually go back but I don't know when.<br /> It also helps that he is a great napper. I NEED that break and if he wasn't a good napper I would feel very differently about staying home.<br /> And because I finally feel so content with being home and the ease we have fallen into, that's exactly why I am terrified to have another! Being home with two kids sounds so scary and hard to me. And that's also why I kinda want to wait until the first one is in school for a full day so I'm only dealing with one at home! But time isn't on our side so...maybe I'll have another and that's when I go back to work 😄</p> <p>ETA: obviously I have days where it's not fun or relaxing and I don't feel liberated 😜 But those days are definitely the exception and not the rule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422667 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 20:01:34 +0000 SweetiePie 2422667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: @looch: Exactly about the freedom. That's what I disliked most about working in a traditional office environment. I hated feeling trapped. At home (especially now that he's older) I love that I can mostly do what I want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422659 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 19:57:38 +0000 ineebee 2422659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only have one (10mo), and it's pretty great. It took some time to find a groove, but now we have a pretty good routine so the day doesn't drag like it used to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422655 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 19:54:44 +0000 pinkcupcake 2422655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's lovely now because I only have one and she is so independent and easygoing. I'm sure once #2 comes along in the summer, I'll have many more moments that are frustrating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422559 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 18:13:47 +0000 sarac 2422559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I generally quite enjoy it. It's harder now with two, because I have less energy to get out and do things, and I hate just sitting around at home. But even then we usually have a nice time hanging around and reading and cooking. I'm eager for my baby to be a bit older and sleep better so that I'll have more energy to bike around and spend the days out. I'm also dying for the nicer weather to return, I can't stand winter. </p> <p>It would be so much harder for me to get my needs for exercise and downtime met if I had to work full time. I really value being able to be at home. My daughter also understands that some times we play together, and some times I sit and read a book, so that's great. I also really value having the time to do the basic house management and cleaning and cooking, so that we have evenings and weekends mostly free for fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422519 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 17:33:03 +0000 Cole 2422519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Normally, it's fun and fulfilling. We have a great mommy group with lots of activities to keep us busy and usually someone is up for doing something. We try to get out every day plus my lo is still on two naps so that eats up a big chunk of the day. Right now though everyone is sick and it's cold out.. We normally walk a lot but it's hard when it's snowy and cold. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422504 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 17:22:05 +0000 HLK208 2422504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fun, crazy, long, and tiring. </p> <p>My older two act WILD together when they haven't seen each other while at school. They're very loud and they aren't very cautious of my youngest who gets knocked down a lot. There's just a lot of play yelling. Then there's the arguing. No matter how many times I remind them that we share, use inside voices, etc., they don't always listen. I just get tired of repeating myself.</p> <p>We have fun together though. My oldest loves to help me put away groceries and cook dinner with me. We usually play music and dance while we clean up. That's usually what I look forward to. I also love laying in their beds and reading with them.</p> <p>By 8pm, I've been alone for 14 hours and I always feel like I'm ready to collapse while rocking the kids to sleep though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422472 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 16:52:26 +0000 youboots 2422472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I enjoy it as long as we have company or have plans out of the house. I'm getting sick of the rain, it makes it hard to get out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422376 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:55:15 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2422376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: totally. I definitely don't feel completely free as I would if I were just a Stay at home wife or something but there is still a nice level of flexibility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422363 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:49:39 +0000 jedeve 2422363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @Mrs. Sunshine: I get what you are saying - I like not having to deal with anyone else's work/school schedule. But in so many ways I feel like I have less freedom now that I'm not working. I can't schedule a doctor's appointment or haircut on my lunch break. I can't run into the grocery store on my way to daycare pick up. I have two kids on me all.the.time. Or take the kids to daycare and then go home when I'm sick! I really miss being able to have a backup. I find being the one who is solely responsible all day long to be hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422354 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:47:12 +0000 fancyfunction 2422354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of it is fun. Sometimes hard and days when my husband gets home late make me start looking at the clock around 4-5pm. We go somewhere everyday whether it's school, library, classes or just shopping. We have play dates and usually twice a week get a visit from our parents so that's a reprieve for a few hours for me. Wondering what it's going to be like in March with the new baby but I'm sure we'll find our groove. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422353 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:46:54 +0000 Littlebit7 2422353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>9 days out of 10 it is pretty balanced (albeit unproductive). I get a little tiny bit of quiet time (which I need) during a nap, maybe get the house barely picked up, and lots of playtime, exploring, walks and activity classes. I didn't think I would enjoy it quite as much as I am. It getting to be a bit more tiring now that she's getting more mobile.<br /> I cannot even fathom having more than one LO right now, though. I get tired just thinking about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422349 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:44:18 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2422349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: doing what I want when I want (more or less) is absolutely my favorite part. I work out when I want. I get to cook whatever meal I want whenever I want it. I can usually get to the grocery store whenever I want. There's a level of freedom there, which is nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422342 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:42:34 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2422342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's all the things. I get weird anxiety about not staying as on top of chores as I'd like. Like that's the measure of whether or not I'm doing a good job and I'm not hitting the mark. But it's also so much fun. But really long and boring too. I'm thinking of going back to school but then I wonder how I'd fit it all in and get cold feet. Parenting in general is a mixed bag, I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422262 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:12:16 +0000 daniellemybelle 2422262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most days it is fun. Some of the time it is boring. Lately it is stressful but I think that is just life with a 2 year old, SAHM or not.</p> <p>It's not chaotic but I only have one LO. I feel like we have a pretty nice pace to our life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422199 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:51:31 +0000 looch 2422199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was really isolating for me, but I think that's because I was in a country without my family and friends and I didn't really speak the local language. I believe my experience would have been different if I were in my hometown, for example.</p> <p>What I really liked though, was the freedom from the calendar and clock. If I wanted to do something, I did, if I didn't, I didn't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422185 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:45:57 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2422185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find it to be frustrating, long, and messy. </p> <p>Frustrating because there are so many moments when the older girls are fighting and the baby is crying and no matter what I do, I can't get anyone to be quiet. Frustrating because there are moments I am nursing the baby and the 2-year old spills chocolate milk all over our white rug. Frustrating because I swear all 3 kids poop at the exact same time every single day. Stuff like that. </p> <p>Long because my husband works nights, and after 5 p.m. I swear the hours just DRAG ON. It takes forever for bedtime to come. And then once bed time comes (for the older 2), I am still up with the baby because I can't get her to go to bed any earlier than 11 p.m.</p> <p>Messy because I don't find there are many moments when not one of the three needs me, so I have a hard time staying on top of cleaning. I can't stand the kitchen being messy, but it's so hard to find time to do dishes. If the baby is sleeping, the older two need food or a diaper change or a nap or attention. If the older two are occupied, the baby usually needs to nurse or be held and so on. Once the baby finally falls asleep around 11 pm (last night she didn't fall asleep until 1:30 am!), there's no time for cleaning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422136 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:27:27 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2422136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find it boring at times... No family around so I often find myself looking at the clock to see how much longer until DH is home and I get some adult interaction. </p> <p>But if I have a play date or something planned for the morning I find the day isn't boring and more fun:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422130 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:24:17 +0000 GoGoSnoGirl 2422130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm only frustrated by the fact that I really can't seem to count on being as productive as I'd like. I LOVE being home with my 7mo LO, though. Despite having been a driven career woman pre-baby, I was SO meant to be a mama &amp; love all of this so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2422085 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:08:49 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2422085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find it to be fun and only rarely stressful although I am not nearly as productive about getting other stuff done around the house as I would like to be. I just love getting to play and interact with DD all day long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/life-as-a-sahp#post-2421992 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 13:43:51 +0000 Bao 2421992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you find like as a SAHP is boring, chaotic, fun...all of the above on certain days? </p> <p>I always find that the days are kind of long and boring, and I really look forward to the days where we go to my moms and the days that DH doesn't have to go to his other job, so I get relief at 4:15. I don't find it too chaotic most days because we don't have too much going on, usually. The days can be fun as well when we have a few activities planned! </p>