SAHM survey - Page 3

[Avonlea]

Originally Posted by onlyzombiecat

1. How long have you been a SAHM?I was a SAH wife pre-kids. I've been home for roughly 9 years.

2. How old are you? I am 30


3. How old is your oldest child? My oldest child is almost 6 years old.


4. How old is your youngest child? My youngest child just turned 3 years old.


5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? Almost 24/7, up until my son started Kindergarten this month . My daughter will also be going to pre-school soon.


6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children? Hmm. Not much. I almost always with the kids.


7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly? I am starting a book club this month, with a few of my Mommy-friends. I have not had much to do 'for me' out of the house, and I really didn't mind it. I am starting to feel the need for some intellectual stimulation, and some fun. I though a book club was a good idea , and hopefully we will all enjoy ourselves. I also go to church , and the kids go to the nursery for an hour, so I have that time to sit, and breathe, and contemplate things on a higher plane..so to speak. It really helps. I also have a large array of animals(( chickens, horse, cow, goat, ducks, rabbits. ), and I garden( both flower, and vegetable, plus I have an orchard) as much as I possibly can. I am working on developing a whole new bed system in the kids play area, and am thinking about adding a water feature this spring. I like to cook, I like to can food, and I like to read a lot.

8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? What I like the best about being a SAHm is that I am in charge. I can create what ever routine or schedule or what have you, and we can sort of come and go in the way that works best For Us.

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? Um. Well, when i reach the end of my rope, and it is 8 pm, and not quite time for bed, but time for ME to be left alone ( I am not the greatest at night ) ..that is hard. I hate when I've reached mylimit and I make stupid choices and use bad judgement and it really affects everything. I feel like I've failed and we all suffer from it.
10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? Gosh, I really do not know. I enjoy being home so much. I don't know what else I really want to be doing. I know I'd like to go to college in the next few years, but as far as which job I would choose..Well, shoot. I haven't worked in so loing that I have no skills anymore !

I'd love to teach pre-school though. Or work in a library . I really nejoy books and sharing them with people and kids.

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? Well, I haven't gotten that far yet ! I want to be free to be able to focus on helping the kids and being involved with their schools. I know that as they get older they will want to do certain activitys..but I just can't say.

But, Like I said above, I';d love to go to college. I would also like tot each pre-school. I think I'd really enjoy that.

Ok..gotta get kids to bed.

[mata]

Originally Posted by Linda on the move

Oh thank god! I was starting to get freaked out about being so much older than everyone else! I'm 41 1/2

glad I could help.

[MamaTaraX]

Originally Posted by mamabain

\11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? i wanna be a realtor, counselor and ballroom dance instructor

Ballroom dance instructor? Really? Ya learn somethin new about somebody every day! Somehow, I can see you doing that.

Namaste, Tara

[Sharlla]

1. How long have you been a SAHM? Off and on since 1998 (when I did work it was either opposite days as DH or DH was a SAHD, DS was never in childcare)
2. How old are you? 26
3. How old is your oldest child? 7
4. How old is your youngest child? 15 months
5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? 72 hours (awake)
6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children? 10ish hours (hanging with friends, going to the gym etc)
7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly? Going to the gym, hanging out with friends
8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? That my kids are with me and not someone else most of their waking hours
9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? Feeling guilt free about the time I do spend away from them, esp the baby is is totally attached
10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? a couple more years at least, DH will eventually stay home again I'm sure
11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? Maybe go back to caregiving?

[mummy marja]

1. How long have you been a SAHM?
4 years--wow that sounds longer than it felt!

2. How old are you? 27

3. How old is your oldest child? 4

4. How old is your youngest child? 2

5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? Pretty much all of it!

6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children?
Not a regular weekly thing, but once in a while (maybe twice a month) I go out by myself to shop, see a movie, just be alone and refuel
7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly?
Alone--I teach piano lessons to about 10 kids-LOVE it.

With kids--We go to playgroup and story hour at the library. We just started homeschooling so we are involved with different things with that as well.
8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? Not missing a thing, being involved in every aspect of their lives, really knowing my children

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? getting burned out (trying to fix that!) not enough "me" time

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? For about 3 or 4 more years

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life?
I want to go to university to become a midwife--a 14 year dream for me!

[Robin926]

1. How long have you been a SAHM?
I stopped working when I was 7 months pregnant, since we were moving cross-country. So a little over two years now.

2. How old are you?
23

3. How old is your oldest child?
Only one child -- he's 23 months

4. How old is your youngest child?
N/A

5. How much time do you spend with your children each week?
Quite the majority of it. I'd say 90% of the time.

6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children?
I have a night class one night a week, which takes about 4 hours with driving time, etc. And then I usually get at least one other night to either go out or stay home alone while DH takes DS out.

7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly?
Nothing right now, unless you can't class. I just joined a Yahoo group for other moms in my area though, so I'm hoping to start going to regular playdates.

8. What do you like best about being a SAHM?
Knowing that all my parenting wishes for DS are being respected. I would be afraid that if he had to go to daycare, he'd be spanked, fed junk, and disrespected. (A friend of mine works in a daycare so I hear all the things they do there. The director even keeps a paddle in her office. )

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM?
Sometimes I feel a little selfish and want to just do something on my own for a while. Go poop alone, yk? But then I think those are things that all moms feel whether they WOH or not. So I guess teh biggest one that relates to being a SAHM is that people keep pestering me about job openings (thanks mom, but I'm not getting a job right now!). Or they assume that since I'm home during the day that I don't mind running their errands and need to be gotten out of the house whether I feel like it or not.

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM?
Until I finish my nursing degree (about 2 more years). Then DH will SAH and go to school, like I'm doing.

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life?
Work as an RN while DH goes to school. Once he gets his degree and gets settled in a job, I'm planning to SAH again and have more kids. Then midwifery school.

[uberwench]

. How long have you been a SAHM? almost 5 years
2. How old are you? 39
3. How old is your oldest child? 4.5
4. How old is your youngest child? n/a
5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? almost 24/7
6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children? 2-4hours.
7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly? i'm a homebody.

8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? learning with my DS and watching him grow and change. also, i don't think i have the energy to be a WoHm, so i feel lucky that i can do this now.

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? Feeling guilty when i want time for myself.

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? until DS is in school and comfortable there. probably another year and half or so.

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? take a part time job for starters, somewhere where i can get a discount on books.

[trmpetplaya]

1. How long have you been a SAHM? Since April 2006

2. How old are you? 23

3. How old is your oldest child? 10 months

4. How old is your youngest child? 10 months

5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? Almost all the time and we co-sleep too

6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children?Some weeks dh watches dd while I teach piano for 1.5 hours

7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly? Walking around town with dd slung, reading, visiting friends, going to one playgroup a week

8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? I'm there for dd whenever she needs me

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? Dh's a better cook than I am so he still tends to do a good deal of the cooking... :

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? We're planning on home/uncshooling so probably until all the kids (we want more) are grown

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? Hopefully we'll be living sustainably by then and I'll be spending time gardening and canning and playing with grandchildren I have never wanted a career.

love and peace.

[Amys1st]

1. How long have you been a SAHM?
4 years and 6 months or so

2. How old are you?
34 , turning 35 in Dec

3. How old is your oldest child?
DD1 is 4 years old

4. How old is your youngest child?
DD2 is almost 7 mos

5. How much time do you spend with your children each week?
most of it

6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children?
avg 7-12 hours (that factors in preschool mainly for dd1)

7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly?
on my own- scrapbooking, moms night out, ccd teacher, getting out alone, dates w dh

8. What do you like best about being a SAHM?
being with my children- best reward

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM?
realizing that it is a reward but its the hardest job I have ever done and its also the easiest decision I ever made.

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM?
until Maggie (DD2) is in 1st grade and then I will do consulting

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life?
I would like to do consulting of some sort. I do miss that part of my life a bit but right now, this is more important. I dont think I will ever go back full time plus like I did before children but consulting free lance since there is no finanacial need in our lifestyle and dh gets benefits etc. Plus he has 5 weeks plus of vacation etc so if we want to go somewhere, we can. IF I take on a "job" I wont get that right away. So I would rather be my own boss down the road.

Besides, it started that I was a sahm because its best for my baby (dd1) at the time, now I am a sahm because I need to be one for my family, dh included. After I stayed home, dh got several promotions etc and took on more work, thus more $$. If I had been employed, he would have never been able to dedicate to his job like he does now. Since I left my job almost 5 years ago, we now make a few thousand less than w both incomes back then.

[**guest**]

1. How long have you been a SAHM?
Since I was 28 wks pregnant

2. How old are you?
39

3. How old is your oldest child?
Almost 4

4. How old is your youngest child? N/A

5. How much time do you spend with your children each week?
98% of the week

6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children? 8 hrs on Saturdays and 2 hrs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays.

7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly?
Um, er....I'll get back to you when I have a regular social life.

8. What do you like best about being a SAHM?
Being there for my son during these important younger years

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM?
No money

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM?
Don't know.

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life?
Not sure.

[fireshifter]

1. How long have you been a SAHM?
6 months
2. How old are you?
28
3. How old is your oldest child?
7 months
4. How old is your youngest child?
N/A
5. How much time do you spend with your children each week?
All the time. I don't leave home without 'im, usually
6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children?
I ride my horse twice a week and give two riding lessons in which my ds stays with dh.
7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly?
I belong to a play-group. I do some transcription work. I go to a lactation support group that helps new moms with breastfeeding.
8. What do you like best about being a SAHM?
The lack of schedule, the flexibility, the quiet
9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM?
I desperately miss my job. I loved it and the people I served.
10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM?
Until the last one is either in regular high school (we plan to homeschool for the first part of their lives) or in college.
11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life?
I may go back to school to be a nurse, but what I really want is to start a non-profit horse rescue and be a foster parent.

[sarahf7]

1. How long have you been a SAHM? 5 months

2. How old are you? 26

3. How old is your oldest child? 13.5 months

4. How old is your youngest child? n/a

5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? pretty much all day, except for the time away in the next question

6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children? I go to the gym or run outside about 4 times a week. I also work for 4.5 hours every other Saturday, mainly to keep up with my friends at work (I work at an animal hospital)

7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly? We go to storytime at the library and gymnastics once a week. We also go the park, children's museum and zoo often and have scheduled playdates.

8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? Getting to watch my son grow and change on a daily basis. Taking him to do fun things.

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? I guess housework, I just don't like it!

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? Until all of our children are out of high school.

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? Maybe go back to school or start a business with DH. Or maybe just relax and wait for my kids to give me some grandkids.

[Getz]

1. How long have you been a SAHM? 7 months, a bit longer since I left work 7 months pg

2. How old are you? 28

3. How old is your oldest child? 7 months

4. How old is your youngest child? 12 wks gestation

5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? all day, every day! But DH has been GREAT with spending time w/ DS so I can take a breather

6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children? Well, none really. DH will take him into another room to play and I get to sleep in on weekends.

7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly? We do Gymboree and I have a mommy's group I enjoy. I babysit 4yr and 2yr old siblings a few hours a week. It is great for pocket money and DS loves the kids. I think it is really good for him.

8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? Being with my son, all day every day!

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? It was hard to get used to one income and it was several months before DH was really helpful. Both have gotten better. I am nervous about having 2 under 14 months though I am so excited about it!

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? Forever! I have NO desire to go back to work!

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? Probably go back to some in my old field, accounting. Nothing too stressful though. Maybe finally do all the traveling DH and I want to do.

[Kidzaplenty]

1. How long have you been a SAHM? 17 Years
2. How old are you? 35 years
3. How old is your oldest child? 16.5 years
4. How old is your youngest child? 2 years
5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? 24/7 minus the 2 hours
6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children? 2 hours a week
7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly? Reading, MDC, MOMYS
8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? Being there for my children
9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? Lack of income
10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? at least 18 more years
11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? SLEEPING!

[daniedb]

1. How long have you been a SAHM?
2 years, 8 months

2. How old are you?
30

3. How old is your oldest child?
2 years, 8 months

4. How old is your youngest child?
In the womb

5. How much time do you spend with your children each week?
I'm guessing 70 hours per week, those are waking hours

6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children?
Probably about 14

7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly?
Playgroup, my women's Bible/book study, exercising (walking and yoga), visiting with other SAHMs spontaneously during the day, library visits by myself and with DS, dates 1x per week with DH

8. What do you like best about being a SAHM?
Being there for all of Henry's milestones, being the guiding force for most of his decisions, from small to large, just *being* with him as often as I am

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM?
Feeling overwhelmed at the intensity of emotional engagement it takes to stay connected to him every day, all day

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM?
At least until the kids are out of school full-time, into college

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life?
Hopefully, DH will be retiring around the same time, so we will be able to travel, relax, volunteer

[CrunchyKat]

Good Thread!

SAHM survey
1. How long have you been a SAHM? 9 1/2 months
2. How old are you? 21
3. How old is your oldest child? 9 1/2 months
4. How old is your youngest child? Only have 1.
5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just about!
6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children? 4-5 hours
7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly? Belly dancing class, LLL meetings, we go walking at the Lake Trail about 4-5 times a week with other mom's and children. We go walking through our neighborhood about 3 times a week. We go to the library about 4 times a week (always by bus and walk all over downtown). We go grocery shopping once a week together. On Sundays dd goes to church with daddy. Among other things...
8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? Best...I don't know, I like that I get to teach my child what I think is important in life. I get to watch her take that guidance and grow into her own person. I get to feed her healthy, organic food all day. And breatmilk on tap 24/7! I get to proudly cloth wipe and diaper her, which most daycares would never do. I can let her fight illnesses on her own and be there to snuggle and give her antibodies.
9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? My arms get tired sometimes. But then dd smiles at me and giggles and I forget.
10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? forever, hopefully!
11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? Dh and I want to travel across the United Sates, in a van. We want to go to Italy. At some point, we want to take a journey by foot. We don't know where to yet, but it will be somewhere pretty far. We want to spend a month in the woods. I plan to become a licenced midwife.

[Rainbow Brite]

1. How long have you been a SAHM?

2 years.


2. How old are you?

27


3. How old is your oldest child?

2 years


4. How old is your youngest child?

same as above (one child)


5. How much time do you spend with your children each week?

Pretty much all day and night. Will go shopping or with a friend maybe 1-2x a week alone.


6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children?

Not very much, the most ever was about 4 hours, but saw her in between for about 15 mins


7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly?

We don't have planned groups, but go the park a lot, lots of outside stuff. Will be starting swimming on Tuesday.


8. What do you like best about being a SAHM?

Being with dd!


9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM?

I feel lonely sometimes when we are out at a park and she is enjoying herself. I just sometimes wish I had someone to talk to more. Need to find some more sahm friends

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM?

Till she chooses to go to school (planning on homeschooling, I figure she'll probably want to go to hs)


11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life?

Go back to teaching part time.

[my2girlz]

1. How long have you been a SAHM? 7.5 years

2. How old are you? 26

3. How old is your oldest child? 7

4. How old is your youngest child? 2

5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? 75% of the time

6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children? 10 hours a week or so

7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly? the only thing planned is gymnastics. all 3 of my kids go and really enjoy it

8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? watching my kids grow up and never missing a milestone they have

9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? being with my kids all day long and not getting the space that I may need

10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? probably 15 more years or so

11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? not sure yet

[lilylove]

1. How long have you been a SAHM? 4 yrs
2. How old are you? 31
3. How old is your oldest child? 4 yrs
4. How old is your youngest child? 22 months
5. How much time do you spend with your children each week? most of it, though, Dd is in preschool about 8 hrs a week
6. How much time do you spend each week away from your children? between 3 and 8 depending on whats going on that week
7. What activities or groups do you enjoy regularly? LLL, NINO, horseback riding, library storytime, and an irregular playgroup
8. What do you like best about being a SAHM? the closeness it allows me to have with my children, both physically and emotionally
9. What is your biggest frustration or challenge as a SAHM? money, lack of appreciation
10. How long do you plan on being a SAHM? not sure, it depends on if we start homeschooling
11. What are your plans for your post SAHM life? I've always dreamed of owning a family friendly coffee shop. But lately I've been toying with the idea of being a lactation consultant. Maybe both, get a cup of organic fairtrade coffee and breastfeeding help on the side

[Jennifer3141]

1. About 2 years now. I left work gradually so I don't really have an end date.
2. A hair's breath from 35.
3. 2
4. 1
5. All of it.
6. I get my hair done every 6-8 weeks. I leave the kids with their father and I'm gone for about 2 hours.
7. Walking, reading, shopping, my schooling and playing with the kids.
8. The relationship I have with the kids.
9. The neverending cycle of laundry and dirty dishes and picking up the same mess, time after time after time...
10. Forever.
11. More writing.