Any SAHPs who don't want a career? - Page 5

[Maela]

Originally Posted by ltlmrs

Mr. Wendell Berry puts it much better than I ever could:



For a long time there were housewives and there was husbandry. I think we have lost something significant as a society by exchanging these for wages.

I love this.

[msmiranda]

Originally Posted by Qalliope

To the original question, I doubt I will ever willingly choose a career again. I despise our capitalist society. I think it runs on degradation and is mutually exclusive with any kind of healthy life. Participating in it on that level would be a last resort for me.

I know this thread is old, but I had to chime in because this has been a huge 180 in my life. I was brainwashed by second-wave feminism into believing that having a career was the only way to be a fulfilled and enlightened woman. So I went to college, got a prestigious law degree, and once I started working I realized I hated it. It took me three jobs, two of which ended disastrously, before I realized I was not cut out to be a lawyer and moreover I didn't have the slightest interest in being anything other than a mother and, well, homemaker. Everything I learned as a child and young woman was totally wrong and working for The Man didn't make me happy at all. Now that I am finally a SAHM, I know that this is the only thing I want to do. I've discovered interests in gardening, baking, and even housekeeping (in terms of wanting to keep my house nice) that I never knew I had.

I highly recommend the book Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes, btw, for anyone who's interested in a little validation re the point I quoted above. ITA with that, FWIW.

As far as support, my DH is okay with being the sole breadwinner. He loves being an attorney and would not want to stay home. My mom seems to disapprove solely because she returned to work when I was 4, and if I do something different then it is a slight to her. She's a big believer in "being able to support yourself" just in case (we have a hefty life insurance policy on DH). But yet we have discussed that having a stay at home parent can be a really good thing for children. So, I think she supports it intellectually, she just knows that she didn't want to do it and sees it as a bit of a reproach. My friends are all supportive.

Great thread, I am really enjoying it!

[pearl2]

Shhh, don't tell DH, but I have zero desire to go back to any "jobby-job" anytime soon, okay, as in years and years. He assumes I'll go back Fall 2011 and put both kids in daycare (one will be 26 months and the other 5 months) for teaching. I already told him I will never, ever EVER go back to high school teaching. I could "try" to get a job at the community college and then just not get hired. Heh heh. Hey, getting a job is tough these days, right?

Nah, I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Honestly it's up to me to sort of step it up and be a better home manager. I've let this pregnancy be an excuse to lie on the couch like all day.

[journeymom]

[mamaluvspirates]

I have no desire to have a career, but I have a Saturday job that I enjoy. I think a job and a career are two way-separate things: I enjoy having that little bit of extra money to spend on renos or to put into savings, but I have no desire to turn that job into a full-time gig. Ever.