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In another thread it was pointed out that since I don't have kids I can't know how difficult the job is, so here we are. My question is, with respect to school age children and a SAHM or SAHD, what is the difficult aspect of raising kids? I tried to get a response, but the most detailed response I received basically stated that the cooking, cleaning, laundry, & dishes make kids difficult, but those can all be outsourced for <$15/hr and none of those tasks are terribly difficult to accomplish.
Tireless, time consuming, & thankless are given attributes.
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Originally Posted by lycos679
Because I would like to know what is so difficult.
Get them up. 7am?
Feed them. 7:30am?
Drop them at school. 8:30am? (delete if bus service is available)
6-7 hrs later pick them up 3:30pm? (delete if bus service is available)
3:30 -8pm? fix snack, take to park, take to museum, go over homework, bathe, dinner??
...................................
She will probably be tired. Babies sleep in increments and then want to be fed.
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Originally Posted by Ms.Mathlete
It does sound easy if you leave out the mountains of dishes and laundry, as well as the routine up-keep of the home. Assuming there are no unplanned events, such as sick days, snow days, school breaks (remember, there are only 180 days of school), medical appointments, someone up all night puking, extracurriculars, or school functions. Babies are a walk in the park compared to the chaos of school-age children.
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Originally Posted by lycos679
There are 7+ hours to do laundry and wash dishes. Dishes practically wash themselves and laundry can be done by a wash N fold place. Even if you do all that yourself it's more time consuming than anything else. I mean, what have you actually mentioned that is difficult?
In another thread it was pointed out that since I don't have kids I can't know how difficult the job is, so here we are. My question is, with respect to school age children and a SAHM or SAHD, what is the difficult aspect of raising kids? I tried to get a response, but the most detailed response I received basically stated that the cooking, cleaning, laundry, & dishes make kids difficult, but those can all be outsourced for <$15/hr and none of those tasks are terribly difficult to accomplish.
Tireless, time consuming, & thankless are given attributes.
If you think that cleaning is the hard part of rising kids you are either going it wrong or are clueless. ...probably both.
I have 3 kids, ages 4, 7, and 10. They're healthy, they're happy, and I'm a SAHM, happily married, solid middle class. So, really a fairly ideal situation.
Raising kids is both a great joy and a great responsibility. I don't think I'd call it the most difficult or stressful job I've ever had, but I haven't really been that challenged by mine yet. They're good kids, for the most part. Managing their care and all their activities takes some juggling, and as a parent you're always "on", trying to set a good example, being available, trying to do your best for them. You put your needs and desires behind theirs. At least, that's what I'm doing...certainly you can turn on the 24-hour cable news and find examples of those who are not.
The physical and emotional demands of someone completely dependent on you, combined with the feeling of responsibility to them and the community to do it right. Even though no one can really provide definitive answers on what that looks like and how it's accomplished since every situation and every child is different. And no matter what you do, there's someone telling you you're doing it wrong which will result in the child either being a psychpath or useless and living in your basement forever. The constant anxiety resulting from thinking every mistake or bump in the road will result in screwing them up forever and it will be all your fault.
Oh...and all that while maintaining a healthy relationship with your spouse, doing a good job at work (or volunteering or whatever else is expected in your life) and a lovely and clean home.
Other than that....easy peasy.
Last edited by maciesmom; 03-19-2015 at 08:17 PM..
So very grateful to have all the expert non-parents here set all the real-life parents straight. Kinda like having candy-stripers performing open-heart surgery.......
I have 3 kids, ages 4, 7, and 10. They're healthy, they're happy, and I'm a SAHM, happily married, solid middle class. So, really a fairly ideal situation.
Raising kids is both a great joy and a great responsibility. I don't think I'd call it the most difficult or stressful job I've ever had, but I haven't really been that challenged by mine yet. They're good kids, for the most part. Managing their care and all their activities takes some juggling, and as a parent you're always "on", trying to set a good example, being available, trying to do your best for them. You put your needs and desires behind theirs. At least, that's what I'm doing...certainly you can turn on the 24-hour cable news and find examples of those who are not.
I also believe in leading by example.
So out go the booze, cigs, junk food, vegging in front of TV, gossip...
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