Is staying at home and watching children really work?

Sometimes my wife and I will argue about how works as well, but not for the reasons you might expect. I know that my wife does work around the house and I never give her grief about it. I do, however, want my wife to recognize that I pay the bills that keep the house running financially. Sometimes it seems that she doesn't respect the work that I do. I get up. I go to work. I do what the boss tells me to do. I go home. I try to relax. I do what the wife tell me to do. I hear her complain that I don't do enough around the house. I just can't seem to get her to understand that I don't want to come home to a second boss. I would like her to ask me to do things but to understand if I don't feel like it. Around the house, I try to be helpful to my wife. I often cook dinner. I read to my daughter. I play with my daughter, too. I do dishes. I take out the trash. I mow the yard. I rake the leaves. I take the cars to get the oil changed. I run to the store.. yada yada yada. There are days when I get up, do things other people want me to do, and go to sleep. At no point during the day do I seem to be choosing to do something for my own interest. That gets very old very quick and I don't think my wife understands that.

Three kids! Wow! I have enough trouble running around after my one kid. I can imagine that I'd be pretty much in the same situation if I had three kids. Sounds like you have a hard worker in your husband. And, you're lucky. I used to feel the same way about my own spouse not cooking or cleaning. My spouse used to work 13 hour days, seven days a week and I'd still got mad at him for not cleaning up around the house. But I had to let it go. Most likely your spouse is just tired. Really tired! That was the case for my spouse. He didn't want to help out cause he physically was exhausted. You can find some really good crockpot recipes online. Put all the ingredients in the crockpot in the morning and go about your day as usual. By dinner time, you can serve up a hot stew or meal with bread. Prep time is minimal and you don't have to take your eyes off the kids to do the cooking. It's perfect for moms who don't have time to cook but still need to serve dinner. Your kids are your number one priority and your spouse should understand that. And, even if he doesn't, you shouldn't have to apologize or feel bad about that. You're doing the job of three people and most moms do the same. Best of luck with your situation.

You are working twice as hard as your husband ever thought possible. Find out how much a housekeeper makes and a babysitter then combine the total and present your husband with a bill. Tell him you are working for free and also taking care of him. Or better yet next time he has a vacation Leave him alone for a few days with the kids and the house. Let him see how hard it is to take car of both.

Being home and watching the kids all day is the hardest job! Alot of men don't understand that it is a constant~ you pick up one room and move on to the next, only to have the children come and mess up the first room you just cleaned up. I'd talk to you husband and say that once a week you would like to not have to worry about dinner and cleaning up..tell him that you need a break. If he doesn't want to cook, suggest that you order in for that night. Yes, our men do work hard, but they have 9-5 jobs with days off. We work 24/7, no vacation days to look forward to.

It's not easy to take care of children, I would rather work in the office than be a full time mother/wife. It should not be who has more work or receive more income, as husband and wife you should work hand in hand.

I am so tired of people thinking being a stay at home mom is not hard work. Unfortunately I am not a stay at home mom but I would love to be. For a GOOD mother, it's a lot of work. On the weekends my kids have me sweating I'm getting so much done with them and around the house. Besides taking care of the kids you are managing the household, managing the kids schedules, make sure your man is happy, and all of those things entail so much. I would challenge someone that doesn't think it's work to see a list of everything you do all week every week. And you don't get a day off to be sick. YOU have to stick it out. A man is fussing and crying when he's sick and wants us to baby him. I don't see that getting done for me. My husband also complains anytime I ask him to do something. Very frustrating since we both work and it should be 50/50. Don't feel guilty about being a good mother... somebody has to do it. I envy stay at home moms. Not because I think I could stay at home and sit on my butt all day but because I could take care of the house, my children, and my husband 100%. Don't let anyone tell you that what you are doing isn't important. Those kids will look back on these days and appreciate that their mom was always with them. They will have memories and teachings that will impact the rest of their lives. Maybe you could cook in advance a couple meals at a time so you don't have to cook some night. With my husband, I've learned to do for myself things I know he will never do. It makes me less bitter about it to just accept things the way they are sometimes. Don't get me wrong... he does get a piece of my mind sometimes, but I have to pick my battles. Oh and I don't remember the last time my husband cooked for dinner. You're not alone. Hope that helps!

its too bad your hubby isnt a bit more supportive of you. perhaps you should go out and get a job and get him to stay home! seriously, i stayed home for 10 years (and am home again even though my kids are at school, but this time, its because of a disability) but my hubby is very supportive and even helps around the house!

You do work ALL day just as he does. I know...I'm a mom. You both work all day. So in the evening...you should share responsibilities on the cooking, kids' bedtime etc....weekends should also be shared responsibility. You guys need to work together on this. As a stay at home mom, I'm sure that you go far beyond just taking care of the kids. I'll bet you plan meals and shop for meals and pay bills and clean more than just the kitchen. Your husband's stance on this is typical but it isn't right. He should be more involved with the kids and household. You both are parents here...not just you. you both live there...not just you and YES..you both work for the benefit of the family....not just him.

I feel for you, I personally feel that staying at home and being responsible to domestic chores and taking care of the children is a job in itself. Though you might not receive monetary pay on it - still you are augmenting in the expenses by not hiring other people to do what needs to be done at home. I am a WAHM - and my husband works at home too. But there will be times that we still fight over household chores since we are both physically tired from work and we don't have a maid or helper to tend to the chores. I hope everything will turn out well for you- and do reward yourself at times, okay :)

u may not walk out the door to go 2 work but stayin at home and looking after children is def hard work.yeah u dont get paid 4 it and my not get alot of thanks but hey look at all the things that u have taught the kids 2 doand all the smiles hugs and kisses u have been given.all in all ur a teacher,cook,cleaner,dogs body,nurse and all the other things that go wiv being a mum.

Ask your husband to pay you the going wage for a babysitter or day care center as well as that of a housekeeper and a chef. Stay at home moms work from the time they get up until the time they go to bed. Most men work 8 hours a day. There is always something to be cleaned, washed, put away, picked up. I'll bet money that if you switched roles for a few days, he'd be begging to go back to work. I'd also bet that if you asked him to take a few vacation days to try out this little experiment, he would say NO!