4 Stay-at-Home Mom Money Problems -- and Solutions

i am a stay at home mom right now because of being laid off. While I am planning on returning to work, I am looking at the silver lining of this whole situation by being able to watch my baby say her first words and walk for the first time. Stay at home moms are very underappreciated but I feel all moms are because Mommy's never get sick days!

I work part time, was the breadwinner. At 24, I dreaded the thought of a stay at home mom. The image portrayed here are single mothers at home because they're living off the state. Thought I couldn't afford to stay home, when we SAVE money each month. I breast feed & make baby food; we don't pay for childcare. My husband spends time with our 6mo. old son while I work in the mornings, then I'm home with our boy every day after 11am. I am VERY proud to be a stay @ home mom.

Thank you for this (especially rkingers comments). I have felt torn between staying home with my almost four year old daughter and missing my former teaching job (our school system is on a freeze). You have helped me feel better about the benefits that it's giving my daughter. My daughter once looked around, seeing me working in the kitchen and everyone else relaxing in front of the T.V., she said, "Mama, YOU'RE the one with the JOB!" Of course, I had to keep that secret smile to myself.

I agree with everyone's comments about the importance of stay at home moms and the priceless value of their work. As a stay at home mom now for over 5 years though, I am wondering how I can find the joy in it again. It is so hard to stay motivated. Any advice?

My youngest is 14. My 2 sons are grown with familys of their own. I was a stay at home mom with my boys, and worked full time with my daughter,(My husbands plant pulled out). Take it from someone that knows, being a stay at home mom makes a difference! Be proud that you can do this, treat yourself once in awhile. You deserve it! People say they would die for their children, yet they wouldn't sacrifice their lifestyle for them? Know that you have a JOB that most women would love to have.

I, too, am a stay at home mom. Although my husband appreciates all I do (I think!?), all the house cleaning, cooking and child rearing won't pay our mortgage and taxes. And even though we thought this all through when deciding what we would do once we had kids, it still is a source of stress for us. I know it kills my husband that I don't bring home any money. I know he feels the weight of the world on him. I applaud any mom/wife who knows how to balance it all!

I work part-time and yet am still a fulltime Mommy. I appalaud the fact that you are able to stay at home. My spouse feels that because I don't contribute financially that I am not an equal and that I should be his maid on top of Mommy duties and working part time. Kudos to those women who have found good men who have the right sense in taking value in a Woman's/Mommy's work even though she may not get paid for it.

Hi Olivia, for me housewife is a work. Just count the number of ours you do on cooking,cleaning,fixing,helping in homrwork,taking the kids to their activities.... it's more than 8 hours per day. You'll pay how much if you get someone to do all that work for you. Just do whatever you do for your family with love.

Kudos to Olivia and Amy! Managing a household and rearing children is a time-honored vocation which has elevated and brought honor to both the wife and husband. It is still the most valuable way women affect change and reinforce values in society (the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world). There is no one more qualified to love,educate and nurture a child than it's own mother and no hired help can be an acceptable substitute.