Hellobee Boards

At least in my circle, working is more common. This just my personal perception, jaded or not... It seems like either people who are really well off as a family, or women who don't have a strong career (income vs daycare cost), or more than 1 young child (again, income vs daycare cost) are the ones who will stay home.

@Foodnerd81: Interestingly, I'm also from Seattle, and everyone was surprised to learn that I planned to return to work, and that I actually did. (Although, I did quit 4 months after returning from maternity leave when X was 7 months to go to law school, and everyone assumed even then that it was to stay home with X-- but that's a different story.) However, it may be because not working-- especially not full-time-- was the norm with moms in that particular community in that suburb (Bellevue). Most families were really well-off and there was no need for both parents to work or work full-time. ETA: So people expected I wouldn't return to work, UNTIL in that conversation, I mentioned that my husband does not work for Microsoft. Ha.

I've made it clear for a long time that I want to be a SAHM - not because I'm not motivated or don't like working (I have a master's degree and have been very successful in my chosen profession) - but because I truly believe that no job in the world is more important than being a parent. And for me, being the best parent I can be means staying at home with my child and spending these formative years with her.

So because of that viewpoint, everyone knew I would be staying home and there was no expectation to return to work. It is unusual amongst my American friends to be a SAHM but it is the norm amongst my Aussie friends. DH has always been on board as well but left the decision to work up to me; he was very happy though when I said I would rather be home with our baby. We are also fortunate enough to be in a financial position where I can stay at home without us having to alter our lifestyle.

I think my family expected me to want to stay at home because of how much I've always wanted to be a mom. However, the nature of my husband's job means that I need to help contribute to the income (even more so for the benefits than the cash). My coworkers seemed a bit surprised that I kept saying I'd come back to work, although this could be because the last woman to get pregnant in the office quit on her last day of maternity leave.

I have heard both sides. Growing up I was raised by a very career driven mother. She always worked and it was just the expectation that is what you do- you have a baby and return to work. DHs mom stayed home until he was in middle school and he always saw this positively. I work in a career where it is normal to take leave but to always come back to work. But i have never particularly felt passionate about what I do and I plan to stay home at least two years. My MIL and DHs side understands and supports this- they think I should stay home even longer. My side of the family really doesn't- particularly my mom. I feel like she is almost threatened by me staying home like I am inidvertently saying how she did things was wrong.

A lot of people in my circle were SAHMs at least for a bit after their first child. But nobody has asked "Are you going back?" - just "when are you going back."

Someone just said to me, "Have you thought about what you're going to be doing ... aside from taking care of LO". =_=

I have never spoken to this person about any of my plans, she has never asked about my interests, and she is younger than I am. So yeh.