When my husband and I got married we decided that if we were lucky enough to have children that I would be a stay at home parent. When im eldest came along she was a total nightmare for the first year. She would only sleep for a max of 20mins and she screamed all the time. I have no idea how I didnt go insane….oh wait…i think i did because I was crazy enough to have another one. Thankfully baby number 2 was a dream baby who slept 8hrs through the night from day one. Anyway…..we had 3 children in total and I loved being a stay at home Mum. I really dont care what others think or dont think as its a decission that you make as a couple and as a family and its no business of anyone else. Actually years ago the judegement used to be against working Mums. Funny how things change.

I don’t think it’s just the responses you get from people but the ‘look’ as well when you tell people you’re a stay-at-home parent. I’ve been to coffee with other mums from my sons school & as soon I say I’m not working at the moment, I get the look of disapproval. Then I get asked ‘so what did you do before you decided stopped working?’ Ummm I didn’t decide to stop working but the company I was working for decided because I was a Mum now, it was too inconvenient for me to return.

I have been a stay-at-home Mum and part-time working Mum. I find comments condescending. I had a male ask me what I did all day and I felt guilty when I tried to respond. He is now a dad at 48 and realising how kids just don’t stop, he prefers to spend as much of his time away from the home so he doesn’t have to deal with it! Being a Stay-at-home Mum is not easy. It’s relentless, you never get a break, you’re on 24/7.

People sure can be ignorant !

Seriously? I don’t think any of those responses are clever or funny. Sometimes people come out with strange things while they’re just trying to make small talk and I hope the people who made those silly responses realise that mums and dads with children who work still have to do what stay at home parents do once their work day is over and on weekends. Some of those responses seem like the parent has an almighty chip on their shoulder. My advice to any comments like those above is to smile and play nice in the playground.

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  • • mom19782016 replied
    • 13 Feb 2018 , 8:28 pm

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  Agreed! I don’t think any of those responses would adequately cover how hurt the mother is or ignorant the person is.

I am climbing the walls ready to get back to work but if isn’t worth it moneywise, I would be working purely to pay childcare fees

Such a pity that these things are still being said in this day and age.

I have the greatest admiration for stay at home parents. My late husband and I decided that on our low incomes we couldn’t afford both kids and a decent lifestyle with spare money for the “unexpected”. Subsequent circumstances justified our decision though we did have a few regrets over the years. We were both great believers in the importance of one parent at least staying home full time initially then perhaps part time when kids were older.

yeah these are just thoughtless comment hey! don’t put down mums! we do the best job and we raise people!

Some people are just plain ignorant.

ha ha love the sarcasm as always

stay home Mums do best job in world caring for our next generation. I realise some mums have to work to pay bills or for bricks and mortr but you cannot cuddle and tell stories to them.. Hard job when taken seriously so no put downs PLEASE!!!!!!! mE AS GIRL IN SWITZERLAND LONG AGO ANOTHER LIFE

I have 5 kids ( my eldest turns 7 next week, and my youngest is nearly 2.5yrs) No one would ever dare say to me “What do you do all day”. But I do hear “you look tired all the time” everyday.. lol

Yep this is all too familiar with me! I’ve had comments like ” What do you do, sit down & drink coffees all day? “, “I had to go back to work, I had to use my brain again” and my favourite, ” Lady of leisure”
OMG!

My OH still thinks I have it easy and asks what I’ve been doing all day when the housework hasn’t been done!! I have a 6 week old baby… enough said!!

I have been in both of these situations. As a working mother, I clean the house less often and rely on my mother-in-law to help with the cooking (I am extremely fortunate there). But on my non working days, we spend quality time together and have lots of stories to share.

I don’t think I’ve ever really had anyone ask these questions except for the “when will you go back to work” question – I often want to smack them about the head when they ask that one.

I can so relate to this people are so stupid

Ooh yeah. I had a male ask me what I did all day!!! He’s now a Dad and has no idea. I recall thinking I’d return to work after 3 months because I’d be bored. What was I thinking? I remember having one of those days when my hubby returned home from work to find me in my PJs. I remember saying “now I know what they’re talking about”. At different stages of childhood – baby, toddler, preschooler there are so many things to do and ways to fill your day. Going to work is the easy part! Being a stay at home Mum is the hardest job in the world. It never stops.

Pull your shoulders up and shake it off !!