SAHM - poll

[LauraB78]

** I HATE MY JOB...  A LITTLE POLL**

I was just wondering how many of you are SAHM's? And if so, are you single or in a relationship, and how do you make ends meet and what do you do for health insurance? Thanks!

[LauraB78]

Being a SAHM sounds so appealing to me, but like I said before, it's impossible. I am VERY lucky that my unborn son's Father and I are finally to a point where we are civil to each other, and seeing a therapist. I am hoping we can reconcile, but time will tell.. I live on an island where housing is impossible and it is a crisis. I currently live in a 4 bedroom home w. 2 room mates. One of which is my niece. My baby's Father is thinking of moving in w. us to be around 24-7 when our son arrives. He has offered to cover my rent throughout my maternity leave (whether he moves in or not).. Otherwise, I have NO idea how I would have paid bills just while on maternity leave!! I feel like that should be illegal (totally unpaid maternity leave).

In that sense, I am very fortunate.. I have been an emotional wreck lately (hormones!) and while I was washing and folding all Jaxson's clothes last night, I got all emotional. All the 3 month clothing is still so tiny and I just got really upset knowing that is when I will have to head back to work. I have (sh!tty) health insurance, and Jaxson will be added to my plan, so I have no choice... I just wish I had other and better options!

Thanks again for all your input! Quite a "hot" topic!

I have looked into options from home, but have yet to find ANYTHING.. especially anything w/ health insurance.. Uggh!

I am totally not crafty or into selling products.. I have thought about it, but would rather continue doing insurance than those types of businesses... They just arent my thing.. =(

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I was a sahm mom with my when my 2nd and 3rd kids were born.  I enjoyed it.  We were stationed over seas in the military so our housing was paid for and hubby made enough to cover the other bills and of course medical was free.  I would have continued to stay home with my kids however hubby was discharged from the military (medical issues) and it caused a lot of stress on us and we split for awhile...so I had to find a job to support me and the kids.  I found an absolutely awesome job working for a very good family that owns a construction company.  Hubby and I are back together and just had our 4th child.  I only took 4 weeks maternity leave and came back to wrok part time for 2 weeks becuase i was able to bring the baby with me.  I came back full time at 6 weeks.  We could probably manage if i were to stay home, especially since it would cut out the cost of daycare but it would be tight financially.  My other reasons for continuing to work are as follows:
a) when i WAS a SAHM hubby and i argued a lot...he thought that my job was just so easy and taht i didn't contribute as much as he did..(he since feels differently about all that) I just don't want to get into that situation again
b) I love my job, i will never in a million years find another one like it
c) i love my kids but i do need adult interaction.  I have no time to go out and socialize and meet people...i don't have friends that come over...therefore the only adult interaction i get aside from my husband is at work.
d)  i'm not a very structured person, i don't do well with routines and what not...so i feel my kids are better in an environment where things ARE structured and where there is a learning curriculum (2 are in school and 2 go to a learning center not just a daycare).

I loved being a sahm.  I know  alot of women who are/have been.  They do any number of things to make extra money...sell avon or do pampered chef or something like that...some make hairbows or jewelry to sell...others do home daycare ...there ARE some companies that hire phone reps but set them up to do things from their home....there are also websites that hire people and you can work from home.

[babyprayers]

OK I gotta throw in my 2 cents, I am sort of a SAHM I work as an RN but just do every weekend 12 hour shifts, and get paid full pay. It  S ucks giving up every weekend but it allows me to be home all week with my twins, and then my DH who is a teacher is home on the weekends, I get angry because over the summer, I applied for wic after the girls were born. my husband does not get paid over the summer,and I got pulled out of work 6 weeks early, we had money saved, but.. I ended up going back in the hospital after we came home, ( me and babies) I explained to WIC I just needed something for a few weeks till Dh went back to work, I explained our saved income went for additional gas expense, as DH was driving 22 miles to see me in hospital 2 times a day, and the cost of food, we were now a family of 5 etc.. they WOULD NOT help me, stated even though we now had zero income they had to take into consideration my husbands salery for the whole year. WTF!!! I work my A$$ off, I would be better off on welfare, no offense to those who need it, BUT there are some people out there that milk the system.      

[connorethansmom]

Wow, I pretty surprised you went there.  This is a heated topic for most moms.  I have a two year old and a 7 week old.  I don't believe there is a better choice.  I wonder if you are ever truly happy with the choice you make too.  I worked part time when my son was born, then in January went to one day a week, (We worked around each others schedules so he could stay home with us, but we never saw eachother.) and then a few weeks prior to my daughter I quite.  I will not be returning to work.  It is a struggle as my husband doesn't have a really high paying job and our family would never help in anyway.  

Kiplingers published an article and survey about can you afford to stay home.  It was great!  For us it was a choice to pay off bills and start living within one paycheck that made it possible for me to stay home.  That is tough!!!!

For those of you staying home or thinking about it, suggest you read "The Stay at Home Survival Guide"  you can google it.  The author has a pretty neat website too.

Good luck with what ever decision you make.  The best advice I ever got was make a decision and go with it 100% even if you have doubts - you'll be happy you did.  

[abbysmommy4]

I was a single mom for years and it was not easy.  I had to work but was blessed to have my mom as my babysitter.  But, since getting married and having my dd I have pretty much been a SAHM.  It's not easy financially.  We struggle and due to the lack of work here in FL, or should I say union work for my DH he ends up on the road to work.  Right now he has been out of town for 3 months now.  I am home with the 3 kiddos and 32 weeks preggo.  I am scared he's not gonna make it home for the birth.  But in order to have health insurance for the family this is what we have to do for now.  We so called middle class do get the short end of the stick.  We make too much to qualify for any type of help, yet live pay check to pay check.  It surely S U C K S!!!!

[ashiepooh]

LauraB78 -  Maybe ask for a raise, and complain a bit.  I wish there was something I could offer to help.  Hang in there though!