@merekas Controversial and feel like I can’t even tell anyone I’m a SAHM because it’s seen as such a privilege. And I agree! I feel so incredibly blessed and it’s a privilege, absolutely.
But what they really mean is that
they wouldn’t be able to afford their current lifestyle if one person stayed home. That’s quite different!
For reference, I quit a job that makes more than double what my husband will be making. We can’t afford the rent of where we’d been living, and are making huge changes to be able to afford this. But there’s absolutely no number in the world I’d accept to make up for missing these early years. And I know our children care most about having their parents in their lives as much as possible, happy and healthy, with a secure attachment. We’ve always lived far below our means anyway (ironically right until we moved in my third tri; wanted a nicer space for baby that was also close to a daycare), and eating healthy, cooking, being outside, etc along with all the free or low cost activities make it a no brainer for us!
I’m not going to judge others for feeling differently, but it is indeed a choice.