SAHM definition??

[bananiem]

I am not trying to start a debate here so let's try to keep it civil, OK?
I'm just curious how y'all define a "stay at home mom". I have heard the following scenarios call themselves SAHM's and I'm curious if you agree or disagree.
1.) A mom who is home full-time and does not work outside the home.
2.) A mom who is home during the day and works the night shift or weekends while dad is home so the kids are never in child care.
3.) A mom that is home full time but has a very, very, part-time job- such as Tupperware, or Home Interiors, etc.
4.) A mom that works part time out of the home.
5.) A mom who works either part time or full time out of her home.
Again, not a debate...Just my curiosity!

 

[onecoolmama]

When I refer to myself that way, I mean a mom that does not work outside the home.

But I think a number of your definitions can be used for a SAHM

 

[Disfan1]

I would consider a SAHM as one who is available for her children. That would incule moms who have a part-time job during school hours or working from home. Like one of your examples said, if the kids are not in daycare, that is a SAHM situation. JMHO

 

[TiggerPiglet]

I agree with DISfan, if you're available for your children and they are never in daycare, you would be considered a SAHM. I'm a SAHM and I do volunteer work while the kids are in school

 

[binny]

yep I agree, I think Im a SAHM even though I work from home. I work my own hours and rarely leave the house without them.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

I think a stay at home mom is a:

psychologist, nurse, chef, maid, carpenter, financial analyst, rock star, princess, pirate . . . My role as SAHM changes as many times during the day as my children's moods.

All kidding aside, I think of a SAHM as a mom that doesn't work OUTSIDE the home.

 

[dizagain]

I consider myself to be a SAHM and I do work part time. I started teaching Pre-K with youngest DD and now teach K 8:30-1 while the girls are in school. I run a few errands after work and then I pick them up from school and I've turned back into a SAHM!! Plus, it's summer now and I totally fit the definition!

 

[olena]

I get that label a lot, but it doesn't really fit. I'm not a Mom, but I am at home. I say I'm a stuck-at-home-wife. I'm too blind to drive, so I am stuck here.

 

[Lewski709]

A mom who doesn't work outside the home and has children, not fur babies.

 

[PrincessaC]

I always thought a SAHM was someone who stayed home w/ thier children and did not work at all.


After reading some of the other comments I'm realizing that there are SAHM's w/ part time jobs or run a business or work out of their home.

 

[MosMom]

I consider myself a SAHM but I do have a PT job when Chris is home. I work an average of 10 hours a week unless it is busy. I don't work full time and I'm home with the kids during the day.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by TiggerPiglet
I agree with DISfan, if you're available for your children and they are never in daycare, you would be considered a SAHM. I'm a SAHM and I do volunteer work while the kids are in school

What about mothers who do not work, but send their kids to day care or some other preschool program?

What about moms who work full time, but their schedule coincides with the child's school schedule? (teachers, lunch room workers...) They are available for their children and in most cases don't need daycare services.

I think of SAHMs as moms who do not work at all. All others are working moms.

 

[Annette_VA]

I'm a #4. I WAH on a very part time basis (like 5-10 hours a week). So, since I work so little, I'm more likely to refer to myself as a SAHM instead of a WAHM.

 

[mommytutu]

I'm adding another scenerio here. I'm a SAHM and full time student. I've gone back to school and most classes I've taken are distance (internet or telecourse), but I've taken a couple of semesters of day classes and put my ds in Mother's Day Out up at our church. I've also taken night classes and left ds home with dh. I'm sitting out this fall and next spring, but next fall I'll be back in full-time and dd will be old enough to go to MDO and ds will be in 2nd grade and I'll still call myself a SAHM.

I concider myslef a SAHM (and wife) because of my availabilty to my kids and husband.

Crissy

 

[bananiem]

Good point, Crissy. I hadn't come across anyone in your shoes, so I hadn't thought to add the student scenario. Thanks for pointing it out.
I used to think a SAHM was somebody who didn't work outside the home at all. But then I saw my sil's job where she worked the night shift from home doing some computer thingy. She was able to eat dinner with her family, put her kids to bed, nurse the baby, even sleep! etc. Plus she was with them all day.
Then I thought about my friend that sold Creative Memories. She was gone 2-3 evenings a month. How is that different from my once a month Girls Night Out or going to the grocery store ALONE at night?
Thanks for the replies. Like I said, I was just curious.
ann

 

[Nancy]

I was a stay at home Mom for about 2 yrs.....no job outside the house. I used to be one of those Mom's that did the overnight shift so my kids were not in daycare. I did put them in nursery school though. Once I went back to work, even though it was night time I didn't consider myself a stay SAHM anymore. I wish I was a SAHM, but unfortunately we need my income if we want to eat.

 

[ElizK]

I consider a SAHM one who doesn't work outside the home, or maybe one who sells Tupperware or the like.

I work part-time 20hrs a week during my kids' school hours, plus my DH works from home. Our children are never in daycare.

I would love to quit my job and be more available to volunteer at the school and go to class parties and field trips. Since my job gives us medical insurance I don't see that happening. Still, I do have a very good situation for my family.

 

[BrerMom]

What about moms who work full time, but their schedule coincides with the child's school schedule? (teachers, lunch room workers...) They are available for their children and in most cases don't need daycare services.

Well, I'm a teacher and I definitely don't qualify as a SAHM. My kids have to go to "before school" daycare and "after school" daycare since I have to be at school way before the kids to do lesson plans, run copies, etc., and have to stay after school to tutor. I see a SAHM as a mom that is home when the kids are home to supervise and help. If the kids are latch-keying it or if mom is too busy with the work-from-home job to help with homework or talk or play, then the SAHM label doesn't apply. It's kind of ironic that I stay after school to tutor other people's kids while my own are simultaneously working on their homework by themselves. I love teaching, but I sometimes wonder if the sacrifices I feel my kids and my DH have to make are really worth it.

 

[shortbun]

I'd say if there's no child care, just school and preschool-the
parent is a SAH. I have a few male friends who would like to
be included in this discussion as they are the primary parent
and either students or have jobs from home.

I'm a summer SAH-would that be SSAHM? LOL!

 

[believe]

My DDs do not go to daycare, but I would not consider DH or myself SAH-parents. We work opposite shifts so our children always have a parent at home. I have a lot of flexibility at my job, but still would not consider myself that.

I see a SAH-parent as one who doesn't work or has very limited at home work hours (like 10hrs a week).

I think if you are a full-time student that is just like having a full-time job. You are locked into those hours each semester.