Poll: Do Both Parents Have to Work in Your Family?

[Ceres]

This came up in the political forum while talking about education and taxes. I know there are many families where both parents work because they have no choice and some where they both work because they want to. What is the case in yours?

[Zoritsa_Nepenthe]

For a while after my first turned two or so,we both worked...thinking we had to to make ends meet.It wasn't like we could give much else up,since we didn't have much to begin with.After we moved to our first home,I stayed home and continue to today.

We look at like this....if I were to work,we'd still be living paycheck to paycheck,because we'd have daycare,or we'd find something else to purchase and make payments on that we don't really need.

We get by just fine and we like it.I get to be home for my 4 year old,and I'm home when my 12 year old gets off the bus(or I pick him up).We can still save up to go out and do things we enjoy....just not all the time.

[DragonsChest]

Both of us work - no other way to make ends meet.

[Lunacie]

People who do the math, especially those who have more than one child, spend most of the second income on day care and transportation and clothing and meals. Once the kids are in school it makes more sense money-wise.

Parenting-wise, I think in most cases kids are better off at home when they're little. Take them to play dates and story time and to the park to play or to PlayLand at MickeyD's or BurgerKing so they get some socialization, but let them be kids and have mom or dad's attention for a little while.

My daughter stayed home for a year with her first and then went to business school and went out to work. But she had me - gramma - to take care of the little one at home.

[SSanf]

Both of us work - no other way to make ends meet.It is a heck of a thing when both parents must work.

I don't know a single darned thing about your situation but are you absolutely certain there is no alternative?

I was watching a movie last night about a family that lived in the desert on $320 a month from his disability. Dang! Looked kind of good.

Being a wage slave sucks big time. Where is the life you should live? Where is your freedom?

To me, beyond very basic food, water, clothing, shelter, sanitation, health care and some electricity all else is disposable. Although, I would miss my computer I would garden more and have hobbies that I lack now.

To me, the best is if both parents can either work part time or on one money making endevor together that can be kind of a family thing.

We all need to leave the cities and geT cozy shacks in the woods (maybe a FEMA trailor, LOL). Bet we would be happier.

How many children do you have?

[Loralienn]

I work a couple hours a week at the library, mostly for sanity rather than money. It is a nice break from draining toddler action! :) I still put only 1 parent works. Grandma takes my daughter a day or two a week while I work and get my class work done (I take a couple classes a semester online too, trying to finish up BA.)

We struggle a bit more than we would like every month, but my daughter is already 3 and it won't be much longer until she is in school full-time and I will have more time available in the day to finish school and/or work more hours. Since we can (barely! lol) afford it, I really think it is the best for us all.

Of course, with both of us so busy, the housework really suffers! :lol:

[DragonsChest]

Yep, we do both have to work, but it's our own darn fault, too. We have credit card debt that we are paying off, and a son entering college this fall, and four years after that, our daughter. Our children are 15 and almost 19, so none of our income goes to childcare.

Actually, I really like my job, and the kids don't need me as much as they did when they were smaller. Hubby's work is a bit dicey right now, so we may be forced down to one income, in which case, let the panic ensue. He'll have to get another job toot sweet.

I don't mind having to work, and when the debts are gone, then we'll be rolling in the dough! :woot:

[KaidaMidnight]

I said other. Hubby is a full time manager, and I am a full time house mom. BUT I do have a part part part time job just to be able to get away by myself. I'm a bookkeeper for a small business, so I get to make my own hours, as long as I get the paper work that needs to be done, done. I still consider myself a stay at home mom though, as I only work maybe 5 hours a week. :)

[Tzhebee]

Right now, we are both working because we need the income. Hopefully, within the next 4 years, my SO will be able to stay home with the kids, or only work because he wants to. :)

[Nighthawk]

Yes, because I went for so long begging the ex to get a job..
Now, in this relationship for sure.. I do not have near the toys I think I should have.
Oh well. that sounds spoiled.. sorry, it really is not.

[Kalika]

Yes, because unfortunately, its the only way to make ends meet. :p

If one of us stayed home, though.. it would be him, because I am trying to build a career, and he doesn't know what he wants to do. :) (Well, he actually wants to stay home with the kidlets)

[Catiana]

I said other because I'v been a single parent for almost 16 years and I have to work.

[Ceres]

I think the poll should have had more options because its not going to be very accurate as it is. The topic came up in a discussion of schools and how they need parental involvement to work, which is hard to do when both parents work full time. Of course many families need two full time incomes......

[pawnman]

My wife stays home with the baby. Of course, right now I'm waiting for a class date, so basically we're both staying home and I'm getting paid for it.

[pawnman]

I think the poll should have had more options because its not going to be very accurate as it is. The topic came up in a discussion of schools and how they need parental involvement to work, which is hard to do when both parents work full time. Of course many families need two full time incomes......

Only because people will overcomplicate it, like they do all the polls. You could have thirty options, and the second reply would be "I put other because X wasn't an option on your poll".

[Broken Babydoll]

My husband is the "bread-winner". I teach private music lessons, but that really doesn't bring in much money and it is very minimal hours, only a few hours a week. I teach because I love it, I obviously don't do it for the money. I basically earn my step-daughter's allowance plus some mad money for movies, music, clubs, clothes, etc. Step-daughter is 12, so she would be fine home by herself until dad gets home, but she is in alot of extra-curricular activities and often needs transportation.

[Yvonne Belisle]

Well I am a stay at home mom. Soon I will be a student and mom. I am hoping that by the time I finish college my boyfriend and I will be living together which will mean I don't have to go back in the job market but if that isn't the case then I will just go to work part time if possible. I am hoping to have a home buisness before then that we can do together but sometimes what you plan isn't what you get.

[Amethyst Rose]

I'm a stay at home mom, and probably will be until such a time that my kids are gone all day, at which point I intend to go after my PHd. That still a long long way off yet, though.

[misschief]

i stay home and go to school, he works and goes to school. but really, we both SHOULD work.. i'm just planning on being home during the day until the kids are all in school... we'll squeeze through on his pay til then.

[lynn271]

No, I stay home and educate my daughter. We planned it that way.

For a couple of years before I got pregnant, I worked every second of overtime I could get and used every cent to pay down our debts. The student loans, car loans, and credit card balances were all paid off by the time my daughter was born, so we were easily able to live well with one income.

[Athena-Nadine]

Nope, I will be staying home by choice.

[skyy_blue8278]

I am a SAHM to 4 kids. My dh has a great job and would have it no other way. I offered to get a job but he told me no. So I did not complain. LOL I couldn't see myself away from my children for that long anyhow.

[brymble]

i voted other because there is no option available for single parents.

i am currently trying to learn how to make money without a traditional job, in other words, self-employment. options in the rural area are very limited, and i think i'd be happier running my own business anyway.

when i was still with the ex, i was a SAHM, but eventually this began to cause problems, when my ex began teaching the children that i had *no* other purpose to my existence than to cook and clean for the rest of them, and that it was wrong/selfish of me to want any other fulfillment beyond my family. when i tried to get a part-time volunteer position at an arts center for a little personal fulfillment it caused so much stress there were fights. when i left him, he would send me threatening emails or phone calls telling me i had no business working to support myself and that i was "abusing"" the children by trying to do so. it caused a lot of tension, to say the least.

i don't think this is the case with all single-income arrangements, however. if a family can make it work so one parent stays home with the kids, i think that's wonderful. and personally, i think stay-at-home dads are sexy!

[LadyCanine]

I stay at home with my children. Other than a few jobs here and there that were short term i've always stayed at home with the kids. Sometimes it is hard, but we get by. I have a balance on the money and we make it work. With my first marriage I got alot of nagging from my husbands parents about not having my job, and my ex made me feel bad about it sometimes, but at the same time, when I did have a job, things werent as orderly at home and that ticked him off too. He wanted it both way, hehe....one reason he's my ex now!

Jacob, my husband doesnt mind that I stay home, actually he kinda likes it alot better. He wouldnt mind if i did get a job, he understands if I did, things would be different than they are now around the house. He doesnt make me feel bad about it or give me a hard time over it. He says he does kinda prefer me staying home, and it does make more sence. By the time I got my pay check, all the money would go to a baby sitter and gas. Even though it would all go into the same account, it would be like not putting any in at all.

Plus we are trying to have a baby, so it just works out better for use this way. I probably will start working sometime in the future when my kids are older, for something to do. But not at this time.

My husband makes enough money that we live comfortably, but were not rich. We rent and are hoping to buy a house in the future. (someday)

[Jolixte]

Yeah, but given the divorce, it only makes sense.

[Thunder]

I am the sole source of income for our family. My wife worked up until about five years ago but hasn't since. Our kids are grown, the last (my baby girl) being 19. Most of our expenses are history.

[illusi0ns4u2luv]

My fiance and I don't have any children but we recently took in my 16 year old nephew. Right now we both work full time and we both go to school full time. My nephew also works part-time but I figure he is still a kid and his money goes to the things he wants that we just don't have the money to provide such as video games, cd's, etc.

We have discussed how it will be when we have children of our own and thus far the only real decision that has been made is that I will put my schooling on the backburner when we have a child because he is going to school to set us up for after he retires, which will be many years before I do. (I'm 24 and he is 37). I don't know about the working situation. Depends on our financial status when the time comes I suppose.

[pawnman]

I am the sole source of income for our family. My wife worked up until about five years ago but hasn't since. Our kids are grown, the last (my baby girl) being 19. Most of our expenses are history.

Wait until they start moving back in. :lol:

[Thunder]

Wait until they start moving back in. :lol:

I rented out their rooms. :yayah:

[Haruka2077]

I answered that one of us worked, but right now it should really be other because neither of us does. Hubby is finishing up his engineering degree full time and we have been living on his G.I. Bill and student loans since Eowyn was born. If I had stayed at the job I was in when she was born I would be making $40 a MONTH after childcare. Bah!
I do some writing at home as well as take care of baby, house, and finances. After she leaves home I am planning to go back to school to become a U.U. minister (the seminaries are too far away from here to go sooner). When she goes to school I am going to devote more time to my writing.
I like being a SAHM but sometimes not having alone time drives me bats. And hubby has a tendency to treat me like a servant.