re: thoughts on stay at home spouse?

quote:

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I'd have a hard time putting a baby in daycare.

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Yeah, I couldn't do it. Since we were fortunate enough for me to be able to stay home with the children, it was agreed upon, and I made it very clear long before I had kids, that I would be home while they were younger until they were at least old enough to stay by themselves for a little while in the afternoons if need be. Plus, I always wanted to be involved with them & their school & activities and be available to take them wherever they needed to go. I still do, & will always make that a priority, so my work is rather flexible in that regard. ... Having done both, I can say that when it's done correctly & thoroughly, being home with the kids & tending to all things domestic is much more difficult than any job I've had outside of the home. It's also the most enjoyable & rewarding, though. Additionally, it gave me greater peace of mind being there with them when they were younger. I don't think I would've been much of an asset to my employer while constantly worrying about the kids & stressing about what I was missing. My thoughts definitely would not have been on work, nor would I have wanted to be there, and I think I would've resented it, making me have a pretty bad, unmotivated attitude toward it. My staying home was the best thing for my kids & for me, and my possible employer dodged a bullet by not having me on the payroll at the time.