Thank you all I AM needed right here at home :)

**Sheila Q** · 11-03-2006, 01:03 AM

Hi,

After my post here I went out and talked to dh. Since I lost my dad I tend to get cranky as the holidays roll around and it seems I am a grouch starting right about now. I don't mean to be but I am. My dh feels like you all do I have an important job right here. Dh said people under estimate a woman that is either a sahw or sahm. They really don't know how much we do do. Which is true. He said one of his co-workers wife is a sahm and his co-worker got some crap about it the other day when he mentioned something about his wife being home. The other co-worker that asked was astonished in this day and age women stay home. Then that same one complained after bashing the other co-worker whose wife stays home that if he is brought in for overtime it isn't beneficial bc overtime pays the daycare. Hummmmm how ironic. Dh said the other co-worker said that is what is nice his wife is home and no daycare for his little girl or daycare cost. I asked my dh what the one said whose child is in daycare and dh said he just looked.

Then my dh did an example. We adopted our little Chihuahua Daisy from the pound two years ago. At the time she was named *Beky* and as cute as she is when I got her home after waiting for her for 2 weeks bc of her having to be fixed and she ended up getting sick afterwards my happiness of finding a chihuahua at the pound no less went fast as I realized she was nasty. I was heartbroken to say the least and began to think what did I do? Her prior owners didn't want her anymore bc she was too little she walked funny we were told she had rear patella that was gonna lock up on her and she would run around yapping and the final blow came when we took her to our vet and the vet suspected Daisy aka *Beky* had been abused by her prior owners. Me being home I worked with her daily and took so much time with her and now you would never know she was this little fragile dog who noone wanted. When I began to cry maybe she wasn't meant to be mine my dh disagreed and said with my love and attention she would come around and boy did she. She is loving and attentive. Sure she has the yappy bark and goes after peoples ankles well ones she don't like like my in-laws...........did I mention Daisy can sense evil too LOL!!!..........but she is the biggest love bug. She no longer cowers when you go to her like she did at first and never once did her leg lock up on her. She is the best. I took so much time with her and gave her so much love.

So that is one of many examples of things. I am useful. I am gonna hold my head up high when people tell me my "ass should be working". My ass DOES work in this house.

Thank you guys sooooooooooooooooo much. I feel so much better. You are all so sweet.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 11-03-2006, 03:04 AM

Shelia, if you read some of the articles, you can see what you're "worth". SAHM/SAHWs doing jobs that could easily cost over $50,000 a year. Think of yourself as a personal assistant to your DH and proudly tell everyone, "My DH is where he is today because of what I do for him. this frees up his time to do well at work". THAT should shut them up!

**Nada.Leona** · 11-03-2006, 06:57 AM

Exactly. That's a wonderful example and you should be proud of all you accomplish in the run of a day. It's no one else's business what you do, as long as you and your DH are happy, what concern is it of his co-workers, family members, etc? Let them waste their miniscule brain power fretting about it -- save yours for positive thoughts and the feelings of joy you experience from the lifestyle you've chosen. Congrats!

**yankeegal** · 11-03-2006, 08:09 AM

A wise frugalite,( one that posts here, but I can't remember who it is?) once said that when she is asked, "What do you do all day?" or similar phrases, she responded with, " What ever I want!" People who question your choices are really just showing their insecurities with their own.

**PrairieRose** · 11-03-2006, 09:45 AM

From one sahw to another

I love being at home, shudder to think of getting up and going to work everyday. I spend my time much like you do, lots of it working, lots of it being with and doing for those I love so much. Never ever let anyone else steal your joy. If you do, they win.

**ewokgirl** · 11-03-2006, 12:36 PM

I'm glad you're feeling better! I'm a SAHW, too. I used to be a teacher, and this fall, I started doing some substitute teaching here and there. If I work, I usually only work one or two days a week. I agreed to fill in most of the week for one of the high school English teachers (my former subject), and DH and I learned that week just how valuable I am at home. With my working all day, our evenings were stressful. I was trying to accomplish all the things I normally do during the day, in addition to working outside the home all day. I was exhausted each day, and DH was having to pitch in after work, too. We both remembered exactly why I quit teaching years ago!