Work Vs. Stay at Home

I am a school teacher so have the whole summer with my 2 young children - I have come to realise that I make a better working mom than I do stay at home mom. I love being with my kids and have so much aspiration for them and us as a family but I do find I am much more fun when I work. Now that I know I make a better working mom than full time stay at home mom we are all much happier. Sometimes we all need something going on in our lives that is special to just us - it can be work or a class, or exercise. Whatever - a family is built on relationships and it has to work for everyone so remember it has to work for you too. If you are happy then everyone else is too.

Hello. I am also a SAHM of an 11 & 17 year old. I worked outside of the home and now am home. I realized that I had more patience when I working. I have no patience for the little things. I think that even if it is part time us mom's all need our space. Our own thing that is just us. I am finding tht I need something to call my own away form being mom and wife.
I am currently looking for soemthing outside the house so I can get my sanity back. I know the kids are going back to school but I need be out of the 4 walls.
I dont think it makes up bad mom;s at all. I think we all need something.
Just my thoughts.

Hi C.!

My kids are 6,5 & 2 also!

My opinion is that 1 parent should stay home with the kids. No one, no matter how much they claim to love your child, will ever love them as much as you or raise them the way you want.

With that being said, being an at home mom does not mean you need to be on the go constantly. It is not necessary to take them all over the place or bend over backwards while home. Just be there. Involve the kids in your daily routine. They will learn bunches from just seeing you do what needs to be done. And it is perfectly ok if you just give them time to play alone without your constant attention so you can focus on yourself.

Good luck. You are not alone!
A.

Stay home if you can afford it, you'll never get back these years so it is well worth it. I stayed home for the first 18 mths, then went back to work. It is much harder to spend quality time with your children, meet the demands of daily living (cooking, cleaning, laundry etc) and have a happy marriage when you work outside the home. I am far more tired and grumpy now then I ever was as a full time mom.

As far as being frustrated, try doing some things with other moms w/ kids. I always enjoyed playgroups as much as my kids did. I chatted with the adults while my kids were off playing. Even though I was still with them, it was almost like having time off.

Speaking of time off, try hiring a babysitter every once in a while just to give yourself a break. Even a few hours every few weeks can make you feel refreshed. You can use this time to go out to lunch, walk around Wal-Mart or deep clean your kitchen. What ever makes you feel good.

Finally be sure to split time with your husband for things like putting them to bed. You could alternate nights or just have him do it every 3rd night; as long as you aren't doing it all the time. Also ask him to take the kids out for a few hours on the weekend. Use this time to read a book, take a nap, whatever.

The point is whether you are working outside the home or inside, you are still working and need time off too. AS I explained to my husband: I am a better mother and wife when I get some time off. In my house my husband gets some "time off" on Saturday and I get some on Sunday afternoon. This way everybody is happy. Good luck to you.