Did it influence your decision?
My mom was a WOHM and so were all women in my family so the thought of staying at home never crossed my mind. Now having M I do wish we have that luxury though!
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My mom was SAHM mom. I think a little part of her regrets being completely out of the work force because once we were old enough to do our own thing she was bored and it was tough to get back into it. But now she works full time at a job she really likes.
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My mom was a SAHM but she became heavily involved in some volunteer positions when I was in high school. She traveled so much my senior year, I almost never saw her!
Eta: She also got a full time paid job once all of us graduated from high school.
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I lived with my dad and my stepmom was and still is a SAHM. My mom was a WOHM.
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She was a SAHM and yes, it influenced my decision to be a WOHM to a huge extent. She threw her entire well-being into us kids, had no hobbies or interests of her own, and when my parents got divorced, she was really overwhelmed by trying to find a job, because she had had no experience (work, volunteer or otherwise) for the last 25 years.
Watching her really made me realize that I needed to continue to do things for me, which included working towards a career and staying in grad school. I don't think she is the typical experience; I think a lot of SAHMs have a much better time balancing their needs with their kids... she just didn't.
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I voted SAHM and WOHM.
She stayed at home from when my older sister was born until my youngest brother was in 1st grade (I was then maybe 12). She then WOH three days a week and still does now.
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My mom was a WOHM. Honestly, the thought of WOHM vs SAHM never crossed my mind until I was pregnant. I've been in school my entire life and I have a professional degree. I feel like if I didn't use it, why did I waste all that time? Now that I hae a Lo my ideal would be a part time WOHM around 30 hours a week. Hoping to get there in a couple years!
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My mom was a SAHM. I would love to be also when the time comes, but it's just not financially possible with our retirement goals and lifestyle.
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My mom was a WOHM. It was nice having an example of someone who had a great career but could prioritize family life. I always wanted to be a SAHM though, and she fully supports that.
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I voted both, because she was constantly switching.
I don't think her choices affected mine, because I made the decision based on the fact that DH and I need two incomes to maintain the life we want. I've always wanted to be a SAHM though...
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My mom was a WOHM and it didn't influence my decision to also be a WOHM. My bank account did though.
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My mom was a SAHM and she still had a lot of hobbies and did things with friends but was there for us after school and to be class mom and things like that. I loved that she was there when I was home so it definitely influenced my decision to stay home. Our situations are also similar in that my dad and my husband run their own businesses so they have flexible schedules so it was nice for my mom and now for me to be able to help out with the business and be home when they are home.
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Both. My mom was a SAHM until my sister and I were in full-time public school and then went back to school and then work full time and became a WOHM. I don't think it really influenced me beyond knowing when she worked, it didn't have any big effects on my sister or me so it wouldn't be that big a deal if I was a WOHM, which I am.
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My mom did both. When we were very young, she was SAHM. . When we were about 6 & 8 years old, she completed her master's degree. She started teaching when we were school age. She told me that she was bored while being a SAHM. I always thought that I wanted to be a SAHM, but after my maternity leave was done, I wanted to return to the workforce.
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She was a WOHM and admitted recently that she wished she stayed at home.
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SAHM, until we were both in full time school and then she returned to work part time so she was still able to take and collect us from school.
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My mom was a SAHM. I really appreciated her being around, looking back. That being said, my mom was really really sheltered, and I know staying at home contributed to that (she never got involved in any activities with other parents or groups). She never did anything for herself. That made me realize how much I wanted to work at least part time, and to keep some time for myself and my interests.
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My mom was a SAHM the day she married my dad! In elementary school, I frequently left my homework or textbooks at home and could call home right before class to have her bring it up to me, and still receive full credit for it! It was awesome. She was also always home when I got home from school and took us to all sorts of extracurricular activities (dance, gymnastics, sports, etc.), and having a parent there watching me even during practice made me proud. Even from that young age, I was like, I want to be a SAHM! Unfortunately, we get health benefits through me since hubby is self-employed so no can do. I would to at least spend the first year off from work since so much development and learning occurs that first year!
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my mom was a SAHM until we were in school. then she got involved with my dad's business. she "retired" last year to watch our babe!
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My dad wanted my mom to be a SAHM but she hated it. So, she became a WOHM when I was a baby. I don't have to work, we could easily afford for me to be a SAHM, but I like working.
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My mom was a single parent to 4 children so she didn't really have a choice but to work. When I was in high school she began working 2 jobs, so she was tired a lot. My sister and I had to pick up the slack on dinner & homework with our younger brothers.
Staying home didn't cross my mind until I became pregnant. I think the perfect thing for me would be a part-time job, say 3 days a week and 4 days of family time. I have often dreamt of staying home but I would be too scared of not having my own money. I was raised by a very independent (because she often had to be) woman and taught the importance of being able to stand on my own two feet in case something happens to DH or we were to separate. Of course if he was not a teacher but a really rich guy I'd stay at home!
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She was a WOHM. She worked long hours and my sister took care of me a lot outside of daycare.
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My mom was a SAHM. She recently admitted that she didn't really like being a SAHM for the same reasons I wouldn't want to be one. It was nice to have her around when we came home from school, but now that I'm an adult I wish she had been able to continue to work instead of giving up her career for us.
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She stayed home until I was about 6 then she went part time (sister was 5 and brother was 3). I think she went full time when I was 7ish.
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My mom was a WOHM. She was a nurse though, so her flexible schedule was nice. I wouldn't say she influenced my decision either way though. On the other hand, DH's mom was a WOHM who often worked 2-3 jobs at a time. His parents worked extremely hard to send their kids to private schools, buy them cars, etc. I think this heavily influenced DH. Me staying home was never an option to him. We could easily live off his salary and I'd love to take a year or two off but he won't allow it.
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Both. She was a SAHM once I was born. When we went to school, she started working part time. She was ALWAYS home when we got on the bus and when we got home. I want to do that for my daughter but know I won't be able to so I'm going to try to make it happen so I can at least be home with her when she gets home and she doesn't have to go to after school activities.
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My mom was a SAHM and I do think it's influenced my decision to stay at home, at least for the first few years. Part of the reason is, I just don't fully know how it all works-- like, I have no experience living with a WOHM so it's harder for me to picture it, if that makes sense (despite reading all about it!). I loved having her home and I really want to stay home as well.
However, my mom didn't really have a lot of friends on her own or hobbies or whatnot-- her friends were our friends' moms, and her hobbies were our girl scout troop or whatever other activity we did. Which would have been fine, if she was into it, but she really only did it for us. I hope to have a better balance of things for me and things for the kids than it seems like she did.
She went back to work after my youngest sister went to college, so she was home for about 30 years! She LOVES her job now, though, so I know she doesn't have regrets about staying home.
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My mom was home until we went to school, then she got a job at school! When we moved, she worked part-time until we were in high school and then she did full time.
I thought I'd want to be a SAHM but I know it'd put a lot of pressure on DH and our marriage and lifestyle.
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@MrsTiz: ditto!
My mom was a WOHM. She was and still is a nurse. She loves her job. Her decision did not affect mine, our financial security did.
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My mom did both, at different times in her life. But for the majority of my life (like say....after 4 or so), she was a WOHM. She was a teacher, like me, so it showed me that it's totally possible to have a career and still "be there" for your kids. Obviously, it helped that she had all holidays/summers off.
But even during the school year, she made dinner for us every night, special breakfasts on weekend, she had hobbies. She was really doing it all.
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I voted all three: my mom is a hair dresser, so she worked some days at the salon, one day out of our house, and the rest she was home.
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My mom was a SAHM and I loved being able to come home from school and tell her all about my day! I also loved that she could come and help out in my classroom and library when I was younger. I wish I could do that for my kids but I am a WOHM. I will definitely be changing my schedule so that I can be home in the afternoon when my kids get home from school....I can remember going to my friends houses after school whose parents worked and cringe when I think about my kids doing the same and getting into all kinds of trouble...
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My mom worked but it was my sister who influenced my decision to SAH. I saw what she did for her kids and I wanted that too.
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My mom always worked--she's a high school teacher. I was always jealous of the kids with SAHMs who got dropped off and picked up from school every day (I had to go to the YMCA before and after school). I definitely want to stay at home or at least work part time if possible.
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My mom was SAHM until my younger brother was born. Then she worked.
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My mom was a very driven, career-oriented WAHM/WOHM. It definitely influenced my decision to be able to support myself financially because my dad passed away when I was 17, and she was still able to provide us comfortable lives all on her own. I didn't think much of it at the time, but when I look back on how she did it all, I am amazed.
She has it ingrained in me to "never rely on anyone but yourself" because you just never know what could happen, and I may have to one day fend for myself. It's depressing I know, but it makes a lot of practical sense to me to make sure I have a safety net to fall back on under any and all circumstances.
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She was a SAHM, and that did really make me want to do the same with LO.
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SAHM until I started school.
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My parents owned a restaurant, and we lived on the second floor. Both my dad and mom were always working, and it did affect my decision to be a SAHM. I didn't get the attention or nurture I needed growing up, and I wish I had more quality time with my parents. I want to give my children 100% of me when they need me.
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My mom was a WOHM and I think it did have an impact. When I was little I was upset that she couldn't do the things other moms could - like drive me to school in the mornings or pick me up from after school activities that ended long before her work day did. So I asked her why she worked and I still remember her telling me that it was so she could help provide a better life for our family. And that really stuck with me.
I also have a professional degree and married in my thirties, so the dream of being a SAHM was just something I never contemplated. I'm also not very good at cleaning, I spent 4 months unemployed and still couldn't bring myself to clean the house, haha! If DH could make double his salary and I could still have a cleaning service, dog walker, and be able to spend all day doing fun (paid) stuff with our kids, then I might think about it. But then what do you do when they start school? I'd be so bored.
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41 comments