Is it better to be a.....

When kids are little it is best to be a stay at home mom. Once they are in school, I don't have a problem with the stay at home parent going back to work during school hours. However, I feel like someone should be at home when the kid gets home and children should not be put in before or aftercare.

Better??? I think it is better to stay at home BUT most people can't financially do that. Most people can't afford that like myself. My husband and I do pretty well with both incomes, with out my income its "rob peter to pay paul". So we have the best of both worlds. We arranged our schedule so that I work days he works evening and our daughter goes to grandmas for about 2 hours a day. So although my daughter has 2 working parents there is almost always a parent there for her and if not a parent - the next best thing a grandma. If I could work part time I would but in the job I'm in part time isn't an option. I am hoping that once back to Florida I can go to work part time. Things will be a little easier there, as we have more people to help. We will see what happens - the realty is my family will want my daughter at there house all the time so I might as well work full time! I can see the fights now on who is going to watch her!

i think its whatever is best for your situation. not which one is a better choice or lifestyle

Hi pixie, [i]I want to be a working mother in the future..but when my child is ready like she is already 5 or 6 years old! I am used to work so I can't see myself staying in the house for my entire life! LOL! I adore my Mother for being a full time housewife, she did all her best to raise us to be a good people and responsible individual~![/i]

I don't hink there is a one size fits all answer. For me it is better to be home with my kids. But I must say, when I do get to go to work without them it is a nice break for both sides. The kids get a sense of security when they have a parent with them most of the time. But if they don't get some time apart, there will be some serious separation anxiety issues to deal with later on in life. I think the key to either choice is a nice balance. The time that you do spend with your children should be positive, interactive, engaging, encouraging, and rewarding for bot you and your children. If you can accomplish that while working, wonderful...if you need to stay home to do it, thn that's wonderful too.

I would prefer a wife, a mother, a home parent for my partner. In that situation, she can take good care of the kids. I will let her work, I guess, if the kids are already grown-ups that can already stand on their own. (neildc @ red/89/1683)

I am a say at home parent but i also do some work from home o earn the family some pin money. i think it depends on the mother and the job they do as to what they decide to do. i have four children so unless i have a job in school (which I would hate) I would have huge child care costs. But i want to see my children grow up and to be able to chill out with them and have fun. i am lucky that i am able to do this, some mothers don't have a choice

I think it depends on the specific family's needs and wants. For some its ideal for one of the parents to be at home. For some families its not an option for financial reasons. In my particular situation, I chose to work. Even though I enjoy motherhood, I would rather be part of the work force instead of a stay at home mom. When my son was younger I had a full time live in nanny, and this situation served my family best.