Sunday Confessional: She Wants to Stay Home

November 1, 2009

We're scouring the juicy (but anonymous!) secrets posted on Truu Confessions and letting you weigh in. This week, a confessor admits that she wished she lived in a different era! She says:

"I was born in the wrong era. I would have been much happier as a stay-at-home wife. Yes, rights are good and women's lib or whatever, but it sucks to have to work an eight hour day, go home, and put in another eight hours."

Do you think this is a big deal?

Source: Getty

75 Comments

3 years 27 weeks

Very nice site!

dikke kus 3 years 28 weeks

I have experienced both sides of the coin. I am a graphic designer by trade and for the most part I've had no choice but to work full time. Then I got married. Still had to work. Then I had a baby. Then things got real tough. My parents didn't help out so when the small company I worked for told me I would have to come back in 6 weeks I quit. I stayed home two years. Then I sat in my house just barely able to make it. But I scrimped by. I was exhausted taking care of my son, but soon after again we needed money. I went back to work full time. Everyday when I dropped off my son at preschool he would cry and grab my legs. After that I went to work, upset. This wasn't about women's lib for me. This was about money. My son back then just wasn't ready to be away form home, and neither was I. But I had to work. There were no choices. Ever since I have worked full time. My son has been thrown into school and then aftercare for eight years. Then recently I was laid off. I can tell you, this year has been the best year of his life, and his grades have been better. Is it good for me to be home? Yes. For a while. Until the money runs out. Could I stay home? Yes. I would focus on my paintings, sell those and then focus on the children's books I illustrate and self publish. I could also focus on the freelance business I have and grow that as well. But I would need a rich husband. Which I don't. So I will always work.

dikke kus 3 years 28 weeks

I have experienced both sides of the coin. I am a graphic designer by trade and for the most part I've had no choice but to work full time. Then I got married. Still had to work. Then I had a baby. Then things got real tough. My parents didn't help out so when the small company I worked for told me I would have to come back in 6 weeks I quit. I stayed home two years. Then I sat in my house just barely able to make it. But I scrimped by. I was exhausted taking care of my son, but soon after again we needed money. I went back to work full time. Everyday when I dropped off my son at preschool he would cry and grab my legs. After that I went to work, upset. This wasn't about women's lib for me. This was about money. My son back then just wasn't ready to be away form home, and neither was I. But I had to work. There were no choices. Ever since I have worked full time. My son has been thrown into school and then aftercare for eight years.Then recently I was laid off. I can tell you, this year has been the best year of his life, and his grades have been better. Is it good for me to be home? Yes. For a while. Until the money runs out. Could I stay home? Yes. I would focus on my paintings, sell those and then focus on the children's books I illustrate and self publish. I could also focus on the freelance business I have and grow that as well. But I would need a rich husband. Which I don't. So I will always work.

kiwitwist 3 years 28 weeks

I would have no probs being a stay at home wife or mum. I would have more time to do errands, clean, cook, goto the gym, maybe take some classes or volunteer at the local animal shelter. Just because you are a stay at home type person, doens't mean you literally sit on the couch all day.

Kimpossible 3 years 28 weeks

So true, running all those thigs do happen and yes, many women/families don't prepare themselves for such scenarios.

runningesq 3 years 28 weeks

Fair enough, and a good point Kim :) My only really big concern is that ALL women support themselves financially -- be that from earing a paycheck or having open, honest discussions with the person that works outside of the home. Divorce, illness, death, etc. happen too often and most (not all) of the time women find themselves unprepared.

runningesq 3 years 28 weeks

Fair enough, and a good point Kim :)My only really big concern is that ALL women support themselves financially -- be that from earing a paycheck or having open, honest discussions with the person that works outside of the home. Divorce, illness, death, etc. happen too often and most (not all) of the time women find themselves unprepared.

Kimpossible 3 years 28 weeks

I think all I'm trying to say is don't feel sad for them if they are doing what they truly love to do. :-)

Kimpossible 3 years 28 weeks

running, but for some people staying at home and taking care of a home and family ARE jobs that they enjoy and are passionate about. "Job" doesn't always have to mean working in an office and/or getting paid to do something outside the home. Not trying to argue or debate, just trying to give you another viewpoint is all. I don't think you're wrong, I just think you're not looking at it from all directions.

Kimpossible 3 years 28 weeks

Briandiesel 3 years 28 weeks

My dream life would be to stay home and raise children. Make dinner, clean the house, have lunch with friends. And I'm a man. :)

3 years 28 weeks

I like staying at home and will stay at home after having kids but I HATE cleaning. HATE! If I could walk on glass to get out of doing dishes I would!

runningesq 3 years 28 weeks

I know everyone is different, but I think it's sad when people don't have jobs that they enjoy, that they are passionate about. Yes, some days really suck, but overall I enjoy going to work. I would be so freaking bored if I stayed home.

AujahAcorn 3 years 28 weeks

thats my dream......

AujahAcorn 3 years 28 weeks

thats my dream......

3 years 28 weeks

why are some of you assuming she is the only one who does work when they are home? she doesn't say in her post if her husband helps or not. For all we know they are both putting in 8 hours of work at home. OP if your family is able to live on just your husbands income then I suggest you talk to him about being a stay at home wife. I want to warn you though, if your relationship doesn't work out then you could be putting yourself in a tough spot. My aunt was a stay at home wife after she got married. She was very successful in her career before she got married and when she divorced her husband she had to go back to work. It was a struggle finding a job and even now 5 years later she is still struggling.

lickety split 3 years 28 weeks

im a stay at home mom/wife. my youngest is in third grade, so i have much more free time now. love it. thought if going back to work briefly about a year ago, couldn't even get an interview. darn, guess i'll just have to stay home :)

runningesq 3 years 28 weeks

I echo darc: if both spouses work, why is SHE putting in 8 hours at home? my husband and I split chores and household "to-dos"

GlowingMoon 3 years 28 weeks

Personally, I think it's no big deal either. My view aligns with Lilxmissxmolly and Theklalou. Any choice is fine. It's about what's right and good for that particular woman.

darc5204 3 years 28 weeks

My question is, why is she putting in 8 hours at home if she has a husband? If both members of a couple are working full time, then both should be contributing to the work at home. If she's single, living in another era would just mean working in worse conditions or having nothing.

Vanonymous 3 years 28 weeks

Back in the "era" she is referring to, the majority of families could get by with one income. It was normal for the man to "provide" and they were being paid enough to afford a house, children, etc. with their salary alone. Times have changed and now the majority of families need both parents working just to pay the bills. Today it has a lot less to do with woman's lib and more to do with the economy and the cost of living.

Kimpossible 3 years 28 weeks

Lilkimbo - thank you, I've been trying to collect my thoughts on this so I could state them clearly, it wasn't happening lol. I agree, not all marriages are like what many people here are describing. While I do not generate any income for the household, our money is just that, our money. Part of my job is to manage the household and that includes finances. I also agree that one should never kid themselves into thinking that it would be easy to fall right back into a well paying career after staying at home for any length of time.

Kimpossible 3 years 28 weeks

chloe bella 3 years 28 weeks

I don't see how being born in a certain era has anything to do with her so-called problem. If she wants to stay home, do it. We can all thank the "women's lib" movement that she apparently has no respect for for giving women the ability to choose whether they want to work or stay home. There's no need to mock the idea of women having "rights or whatever" just because she personally wants to stay home. Also, look at Mad Men. It might seem ideal to never have to worry about holding down a job, managing your finances, etc. But in a lot of ways, women were treated as second class citizens.

chloe bella 3 years 28 weeks

Link Love

75 Comments

You Might Also Like