What did your mom do poll

TommysGirl56

Was your mom a SAHM, or did she work? Did this affect what you chose to do or want to do as a parent? (I know money is often a factor that has more influence on the decision than we would like, though).

Lopo

My mom was a SAHM until my dad left with another woman.  Then working was unavoidable.

I would LOVE to at least have the chance to be a SAHM, but it's just not possible right now.  Someday hopefully.

Mrs.Hizzo

She taught school until she had kids, then was a SAHM. Yes, I think that made me want to stay home more, because it's how I remember my childhood and it's something I wanted for my children.

Ambeerose

My mom SAH until I was 7th grade and my youngest sister was 7. She's been working ever since then. But I think her main reason was because my parents couldn't afford a babysitter/daycare for sure. I think her doing that makes me want to be home with my kids but it's not logical for us and I actually love having my own time away even if it's at a job I don't love (for now! I hope to get a teaching job next year so I don't have to stay at my current job.)

Squishycheeks*

My mom was a SAHM, but she worked nights on and off throughout my childhood and she home schooled us. She's actually still teaching my younger siblings who are a senior in high school, freshman in high school, and in 5th grade. She works outside the house more now than she did when I was living at home.

I have no idea how she's juggled it al! 

mxpxgirl13

My mom was never a SAHM, she always encouraged us to work and have a life outside of the home.. I think either way I could never be a SAHM because I just like working and money is a huge thing, it takes a dual income to raise a child in our house.

12bailey18

My mom always worked, as did both of my grandmothers. I'm a first generation SAHM. However, I'm also a military wife and it's very common in our circle to SAH. I will probably return to work once the LOs start school but for now it works for our family.

Ivana_Stolichnaya

My mom was a SAHM until I reached about the 4th or 5th grade and then she became a teacher's aid in a 2nd/3rd grade class at my elementary school.  She was able to bring in a little money and be home by the time my brother and I got out of school.  My dad was a fireman and gone for 24 hours every-other day.  I never spent one day in DC.

Shayna0182

My dad left my mom when I was 7,  she had to file banckruptcy and we lost our home.   She worked full time as a secretary using nothing more than her paycheck and child support from my dad to raise my sister and I.  I have nothing but respect for her for all those tough years she had.   Now she works as an assistant in a real estate advertising company.

easyBreezie

She stayed at home for a couple years and then started working and has ever since.

sunnyday016

My mom was a SAHM until we were both in school all day. Then she started substitute teaching and renewing her teaching certificate, then went back to being a teacher.

cla40749

My mom SAH till I was old enough for preschool at the church where she was a secretary. After my dad bought his own business, she was the secretary for the business, but she only worked part time until I was old enough to drive. The rest of the time she SAH and worked very part time for our church, again as a financial secretary. 

I know that her being a SAHM has made me more committed to staying at home. I can clearly remember one time in particular when Dad lost his job and things got really tough until he found another one, but she didn't look for work then. Being home with me was important to her, just like my being home with Jacklyn and the new baby is important to me. Especially remembering that one hard time makes me better able to stick this out even when money is really tight, like now.

I don't plan on working outside the home till the kids are grown, since I want to homeschool. Then I hope to have my masters and teach at the college level. 

kimthgrt

my mom worked. all. the. time. She did something in a medical office before my parents got divorced when I was 8, then she was a paramedic since then, so she was gone most nights and we were left with my verbally abusive stepdad :-(    I dont ever want to put my kids through that..even though my DH isnt abusive and I was never and will never be a paramedic. 

But I guess looking back, I dont think i will be a SAHM when they are 8 yrs old..I dont know. 

Jocelyn0415

My mom was a single mom who worked retail 12 hours a day, so until we were old enough to watch ourselves (which was around age 9), we were in daycare. It sucked.

It definitely was the reason I chose to only work part time and have Evie go to a sitter rather than daycare. My mom watches her 2 days a week and my mom's neighbor watches her 2 days. 

nmr79

My mom was an accountant, but has been on maternity leave for 31 years:) (I'm 31-the oldest of three).  She then SAH with my brother, sister and I.  She had three of us in three years, and my dad traveled a lot for work.  I don't know how she did it with three of us, we were very active kids. 

I would kill to SAH, but it's not in the cards for us for a few years:(  We won't ttc until I can afford to work 2 days per week or less.

jenna0627

My mom did both through the years. She worked part-time when I was little then SAH when my brother was born. We are five years apart so when he finally went to school she went back part-time and then eventually full-time once the dental office expanded.

Honestly I like to work. I know I am not cut out to be a full time SAHM so even if we win the lottery for some odd reason I will still work at least part-time. I know that my parents were able to provide a lot of extras since my mom worked and overall she was happier when she was out in the working field and I know it is the same situation for us.

smilelari

My mom worked until my sister was born (when I was about 2 years old) and then was a SAHM until I was 10 and my sister was 8 and she went back to work full time.

I always thought of her more as a working mom and that definitely leaves an impression.  Even before being married or having kids I pictured myself as a working mom.

annibes

My mom went to grad school when I was little and then worked as a speech pathologist full time. We had babysitters, but never went to day care. It absolutely affected my decisions. In fact, I'm graduating in August with the same degree and planto work as a speech pathologist.

rebeccaontherocks

My mom worked, we needed the money.

I am a SAHM because it is what I want right now.

FerreraRocher

My mother was a working mother but I had a nanny. This did not affect my decision to work.

ivs112

My mom was a working mom until we were in our early teens, then she became a SAHM. It was all based on finances.

lovebug630

My mom was a SAHM until my parents divorced (I was 13, and my brother was 9).

We never spent any time in DC, because by that age, I was able to look out for myself and my brother. I was the classic "latch-key" kid. I hated coming home to an empty house, but my mom didn't have a choice, since my dad was very erratic in his child support payments.

I think it's probably affected my decision to SAH, and I'm just grateful that we can afford it right now.

katypresson

My mom SAH under I started school full-time.  It didn't affect what I chose to do as a parent.  I have to work FT ...no way around it until we get debt paid off (and by then our LO's will be in school so it won't really matter).   

TommysGirl56

My own mom had various part-time jobs while we were growing up, but dfor the most part was a SAHM. This affected my desires tremendously, which is why I wondered if others were influenced by their own mother's lifestyle. I have to work now due to finances, but hope and pray that before too much longer we will be in a position here I can SAH for a good many years.

blushingbrideoct07

My mom was a WAHM.  She was a nail technician and in the early 90's there wasn't a nail shop on every corner and fake nails were all the rave.  She set up shop in our homes study.  She worked her butt off but did very well for herself while still being able to stay at home with her children.  

 

ETA: When DH and I talked about having a family the plan was always for me to be a SAHM.  We both had our moms at home when we were little and if we could afford it we wanted to do the same with our family.   

AmyCC1980

My mom was a MD.  On one hand I am so proud to have such a smart and hard working mom, on the other hand it sucked that she was gone so much when my brother and I were young (although we did have an amazing nanny who is like family).  As much as I admire my mother, I never wanted to be a working mom.  DH and I planned on me being a SAHM. Of course the economy has forced me into being a working mom but I absolutely refuse to work more than 40 hrs.  It is my goal this year to find a way to at the very least cut back to PT if not quit altogether. 

Blackvelvet

I come from a long line of working moms.  My mom worked at a Dr.;s office she took x-rays and drew blood.  My grandmother worked as a telephone operator as did my great grandmother.  My dads mom was a teacher so she also worked outside the home.  I'm going to school now and will go back to work when I'm done

Tomkat8403

My mom stayed at home with us. We were poor but we never wanted for anything or felt deprived.

I work. I would like to stay home. Maybe one day, but right now our bills just won't allow it. We'll revisit the idea when this baby comes.

dragonsmercy

My childhood was a bit of a mess, as far as parenting was concerned.... and probably a lot of other issues, too, but I'll stick to the parenting question asked.

My mom SAH from when I was probably about 6 months (she went back to work when I was 3 months, as they only had 3 months mat leave back then)... just before I turned 4, we moved to this tiny lil hamlet in the middle of nowhere, and my dad opened up a computer store in the house (it was actually set up that way.. the house used to be a tv repair shop/home that my grandfather and uncle built), and he also still did courier work to supplement the income, so mom ran it whenever he wasn't home, or if too many customers came in. This meant that I spent 13 years putting up with random strangers constantly entering our house, helping mom do jobs for them, handling money from a very young age, and learning the ins and outs of customer service and the computer industry. By the time I was 7, I could independently take care of a customer who wanted things photocopied or faxed, and knew how to answer the phone professionally. It also meant that my brother and I spent 13 years in misery, as neither of us were well treated at school, and I remember several times when dad would be gone working, and mom would be wrapped up in a game on the computer. 

I don't know if this influences my decision as to whether or not I stay at home... It influences my decision to not marry a courier, or run a store out of the house, that's for sure. I don't want my children growing up in those kinds of conditions, as I don't have fond memories of them, myself. But for the stay at home part, it's being decided more out of neccessity than anything else. I stay at home as long as I can afford to, then I work. Or, as the case is right now, I stay at home as long as I have to, and when Becky settles on a better feeding schedule, THEN I'll go back to work and get enough hours to qualify for mat leave, and make a better decision after things settle down again.

A S-ski

My mom was a SAHM and it was a horrible experience for all of us.  (her, my dad and all 6 of her kids)  She was way bitter and very lazy.  She didn't want to work but she knew the only way she could get away with it was if she kept having kids so she'd pop one out about ever 5 years.  She hates kids and would not cook or clean either.  I remember being very young (like before kindergarten) and always having a dream of the job I would have.  My experience certainly shaped me.  As long as I can remember, I've been vowing I would never be the type of mother that my mom was.

emmared1986

My mom was a SAHM but worked side jobs to make extra income. She would clean the church and bring us with her. And have lots of yard sales. When my brother and I were in school she worked part time as a special education assistant teacher and then homeschooled us for a while. 

When I was in middle school she had a home daycare, and when I was in highschool she worked at an elementary school FT. I always had her around. It was nice. I hope to do the same for my children.

Poor lady works so much now though. My dad has been on unpaid disability for 3 months and she has been working 12-13 hour days every day except sunday. I feel bad for her. 

 

ohfour

Mine was a SAHM. It probably made me want to be a SAHM even more than I already did.

RedQueen1982

My mom did both during my whole childhood. I currently work because we can't afford for me not to, but I like working so I would probably keep working.

nolebride

My mom was a teacher so I went to daycare or stayed with relatives when I was a baby. Finances required her to work. I don't think I would like to be a SAHM full time but I definitely think working part time would be ideal. I'm hoping a part time opportunity will open up for me at some point. I don't think my mom's working had anything to do with how I've developed. I think most parents do the best they can with the tools they have.

hersheykiss

My mom is a RN, and worked most of the time in hospitals, but briefly has done some work as an Office Mgr for medical companies, and has done physicals for insurance companies. Now she is the equivilent of a Charge Nurse (nurse for an entire floor) for a hospital in Ketchikan, AK.

tabi_ja

I always had a SAH parent, but it wasn't always Mom.  Mom SAH with us until I was 7 - Dad lost his job, and they chose that time to change their lives in a pretty drastic way.  Mom went back to school, and Dad opened his own business.  They worked their schedules so that we never went to daycare or a sitter.  It had to have been quite a sacrifice for both of them. And I think the rarity of their couple-time later contributed to their divorce later on, but that's neither here nor there.  

And yeah, that definitely influenced my decision to SAH with my son.  I couldn't imagine being a working mom.  Luckily, DH was totally on board with that, and we planned on it (and saved for it) from before we were married. 

anarivera

My mom has worked since she was 16. My grandpa had three daughters and raised all of them as if they were men. All the three are professionals. He taugh them that they have to be independent in terms of money and not rely on their husbands for that, because you never know when he will kick you out.

My mother did the same with me. Being a SAHM  has never crossed my mind, and if we have to move because DH's job, I would find somthing to do anyway.

We were always in daycares or with a nannie. I don't resent that, but my mom would work a lot when I was a child and during my early teens, so she missed most of the school concerts and we never did a extra-cirriculum activity because of that. So I won't allow my career or work to interfer with the time I could spend with my daughter. I hope to keep both in balance

 

Sage Mommy

My mom was a SAHM and it definitely had an impact on me being a SAHM. I went to college to get a degree, but I never really wanted a career.

IronRangeBride

My mom was a SAHM until my youngest sibling went to kindergarden. She has worked ever since.

In a perfect world, I'd get to work from home. I am still making an income, yet, my kid(s) wouldn't have to be in DC for 9 hours a day. My day would be a lot more flexible than it is now. I enjoy making money for the family (it's a must right now) and there's the adult interaction that you don't get with a toddler or a newborn come February.

Luckily, I may have the opportunity to work from home starting in April.

MSUMamaof2

My mother was a police officer and worked full-time until I was 10 and my sister was 8.  She makes no apologies about her "inability" to be home full-time during the "baby" years.  She says she simply couldn't have stayed home with us full time when we were younger--it wasn't in her.  I had an awesome babysitter who watched my sister and I (and her own kids) for almost 10 years.

My mom says now that it was important to her to be home for us when we needed her when we'd remember it.  Shortly after leaving her full-time job, she was hired to teach part-time at our local community college.  She did that up until the time I graduated from high school.  She was also on our local school board.  The year I graduated from high school, she was hired as a magistrate and now oversees lower court arraignments, traffic violations, stuff like that.  She still teaches at the college on top of her full-time job, but she has no kids at home anymore.  

She didn't influence me toward staying home, but she definitely pushed me to have my education so that I had options.  DH's mom was a full-time SAHM and I think he really wanted that for our kids.  We were used to living on one income when DS1 was born, and when we weighed all the costs of me working and daycare, it wasn't worth it to us.  I have no idea how long I'll SAH.    

CalinsBride

My mom was a legal assistant. She worked after I was born, but then 3.5 years later she had my sister and decided to stay home. She operated an in-home day care for years, and then that became too much so she decided to just baby-sit a couple of neighbourhood kids during the day for extra cash. We also had a lot of foster children over the years, and plenty of them were babies and toddlers so she was home with them.

In a way, my mom's choices to influence mine. It was very important for me to have a decent amount of time home with my LO. I had a year's mat leave, and now I'm home while looking for a new job. Ideally I would be home until he's two (and I can explain to him why I'm leaving him), but in this economy you need to start looking before you actually want to find something.

 I definitely want to work, though. I want to be fulfilled, which I don't feel like my mom was, and I also want to be capable of supporting myself in an actual career, not just a job. I want to contribute to my family's financial success, to be contributing to my pension, and to have something to fill my days once my LO(s) are in school. If anything happened to DH and he couldn't work, I'd want to be able to know that we'd still be okay. None of those things, esp. security, are things that my mom had, and I want and need that.