Comments on: Tips on Staying Home and Staying Sane

By: Minnesota Mamaleh

Minnesota Mamaleh — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:48:32 +0000

i really love this post. i worked part time for my first few years of motherhood but my heart was at home with my kids, for sure. what i *have* learned is that staying at home isn’t for everyone and that’s okay. as long as people are following their hearts and are doing what works best for themselves, their kids and their families, then it truly *is* best. i’m fascinated by the “mommy wars.” doesn’t it seem that we moms have enough to focus on and juggle without beating each other up? thanks for another great post.

By: mother in israel

mother in israel — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:53:59 +0000

Chicken Coop (just saw this comment) I hope you managed to subscribe!
ima2seven. Thank you. Links are always welcome.

By: ima 2 seven

ima 2 seven — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:45:00 +0000

Brilliant post. I am posting the link as a separate post on my blog. I hope you are glad. I wish I had this advice around when I started. I learned many of the same lessons — but all the hard way.

By: Chicken Coop

Chicken Coop — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:44:04 +0000

great post(why i keep getting an error when i try to subscribe to your feed)?thanks

By: mominisrael

mominisrael — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:18:51 +0000

Thanks for the tips, Charles.

By: mominisrael

mominisrael — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:14:02 +0000

Abbi, I was responding to Shorty’s reaction, not to the article itself. That’s very interesting about your mother.

By: Success-Marketing Work At Home

Success-Marketing Work At Home — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:48:50 +0000

I was never our primary care-giver, though I’ve worked from home since 1983. But one suggestion to those who ARE the primary care-giver who stays at home: start a blog on a topic you enjoy. Once you’ve posted to it for a while, you can make it start to pay for you… and you can work at all different hours (as long as you keep posting and keep attracting people to it). Share your story because so many others will want to read it as well… and have fun. Oh, and more more thing (since ONE of the things I do is I’m a pro photographer): take LOTS of photographs as your kids grow up. You can’t use it if you don’t create it… and they grow so quickly (mine are now 37 and 26). Bless you all.

Best,

Charles Seymour Jr
http://twitter.com/UltimateWAHDads

By: Abbi

Abbi — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:41:17 +0000

She actually regularly recounts how grateful she was that I played alone in my playpen when she was very sick during my brother’s pregnancy (we’re 14 months apart). She certainly didn’t ignore my brother and I completely- she was definitely very affectionate and loving-but I’m not sure how she would be judged by today’s mothering standards.

I only have one brother and many times she has said that she had considered having more but then she started working when we were in preschool and there was never a great time to take a break, since at certain points she was supporting the family. Through the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that it wasn’t the working that prevented future kids, rather, she just wasn’t that into little kids. She gets very anxious at times with my little ones and truthfully, doesn’t have all that much patience, so I’m glad she made the right decision for her.

She’s still a wonderful mother and grandmother and truly adores her grandchildren. She’s just not that into little kids.

I read the article shorty linked to. I didn’t see her say anywhere that she doesn’t like being with her children. She just said she didn’t want to stay home with them full time and I can’t understand the logic in the response of “Why bother having them at all?” As far as I know, mothers and fathers are still responsible for the other 14 hours a day, even if the kids are out of the house 10 hours a day- that includes afternoon/bath/dinner time/ night wakings/ night sickness/ wake up, getting dressed, breakfast and sick days in general. Unless you have a live in nanny, which I guess some families do, it’s the parents who are dealing with all of this. I find the suggestion that it’s 1-2 hours simply insulting.

I fully agree with the woman in that article: my kids have only blossomed in child care and I’m much happier working and having a break from them.

By: mominisrael

mominisrael — Wed, 20 May 2009 08:36:18 +0000

Tesyaa and Abbi,
Shorty asked about a mother who sounded like she didn’t enjoy being with her children. I have heard women talking like that about their small children. Fortunately it’s rare. I wouldn’t presume to judge anyone. I can’t see into their hearts and know how they really feel–everyone has bad days. But if someone doesn’t enjoy small children I also wonder why they have them.

Abbi, you’re right, the issue isn’t about one activity or even any activity. But your mother must have had to spend a lot of time with you before you were old enough to go outside until dark. Did she feed and change you and ignore you in your playpen?

By: keren

keren — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:42:44 +0000

As far as I know the only gan called Hova (compulsory) which is also supposed to be free, is that of age 5-6 (year before starting school)

Fascintaing post.