Comments on JDaniel4's Mom: I am Unemployed?

This drives me nuts. My husband always makes sure ...

2012-02-01T11:07:30.214-08:00

This drives me nuts. My husband always makes sure to tell my kids that "Mama works harder than all of us and she doesn't get paid for it."
I believe it is completely insensitive to list SAHMs as "Unemployed".

As a career counselor and coach for women I have h...

2012-01-31T16:41:35.887-08:00

As a career counselor and coach for women I have had women hang their heads in front of me and say "I've just been a stay at home mom." Careers are the sum total of your life experiences paid and unpaid. So, every Mom is always contributing to her career and therefore should not be labeled as unemployed. When and if she is ready to return to 'paid' employment she now has a whole host of other incredible skills to market. Maybe next time we all see a box like the one you encountered, we can challenge the oversight with a drawing a new box. Ladies, then place an X next to Employed as a MOTHER. The greatest job that enhances and advances our world. :)

It's not working for the man so in a lot of pe...

2012-01-25T06:36:36.391-08:00

It's not working for the man so in a lot of people's eyes it's not a job but you are helping to shape the future and therefore it's a very important, and probably the most rewarding, job:-)

Wow! You handled that better than I think I would...

2012-01-23T18:00:26.424-08:00

Wow! You handled that better than I think I would have. And I thought I had a hard time with handling the term retired!

Hardest (and most rewarding) job in the world!

2012-01-22T14:38:05.432-08:00

Hardest (and most rewarding) job in the world!

I can't believe a hospital or doctor would put...

2012-01-21T09:30:52.017-08:00

I can't believe a hospital or doctor would put something like that on a form! They should know better! It's nice to hear that your DH knows what a mom does, and takes part... {:-Deb

Amen, Sista! I'm 100 times more exhausted at ...

2012-01-21T04:59:01.381-08:00

Amen, Sista! I'm 100 times more exhausted at the end of the day as a stay at home mom than I was as a teacher or librarian. This is more than a full time job. Full time jobs only keep you occupied 40 hours a week. We are on duty for 168 hours a week!

Smart boy!!!

2012-01-20T16:40:54.739-08:00

Smart boy!!!

Lol. I've been a SAHM for most of the last 20...

2012-01-19T20:22:13.000-08:00

Lol. I've been a SAHM for most of the last 20 years and never worked more than realllly part-time jobs when I did in the last few years. I couldn't agree with you more.

It should be recognized and respected so more people feel like its something to aspire to.

I was told repeatedly in high school that I "couldn't JUST be a mom" I "NEEDED a career"

Then I watched as people told my own 16 year old the same thing over and over even up til now and she's twenty. Its ridiculous.

Of course being a mom is a job! A full-time, chall...

2012-01-19T19:22:51.360-08:00

Of course being a mom is a job! A full-time, challenging and infinitely rewarding one. It's a shame that not everyone sees that. I would have been upset to see "unemployed" on the form too.

I agree- We are definitely not unemployed. Y'...

2012-01-19T19:04:41.901-08:00

I agree- We are definitely not unemployed. Y'know what I usually put? Self-employed. Occupation: Writer Mom. :)

LOVE THIS POST!!!!!!!! I am a very proud SAHM and ...

2012-01-19T14:16:23.921-08:00

LOVE THIS POST!!!!!!!!
I am a very proud SAHM and would not for one second think that I was unemployed!

Yikes! I have been a working mom and now have the...

2012-01-19T11:24:11.441-08:00

Yikes! I have been a working mom and now have the blessing of staying home with my two boys...and I don't consider myself unemployed! Unemployed (the economic definition anyway) means you are actively seeking work...and that is something I am NOT doing. I have enough WORK at home raising and homeschooling two young boys!! I am out of the workforce. Not unemployed. I have a job. Mom!

In the past I have crossed stuff out on forms and ...

2012-01-19T11:10:09.039-08:00

In the past I have crossed stuff out on forms and put my own answers in, it also messes with the statistician's heads because they can't fit you in any box. I often refuse to conform to market research, evaluation forms, its the paperwork that is wrong not the individual.

As a stay home mom to two "strong-willed"...

2012-01-19T08:46:24.107-08:00

As a stay home mom to two "strong-willed" boys, you know that I agree wholeheartedly!

hmm ... i totally agree with you. there are many p...

2012-01-19T08:18:19.386-08:00

hmm ... i totally agree with you. there are many places and forms that still use the old term "homemaker" ... which to me would have been better then "unemployed". weird they dont have a code for it. [i love your writing in this post! - you have such a way with words!]

It sure is a full time job. I had four sons so I k...

2012-01-19T06:31:36.651-08:00

It sure is a full time job. I had four sons so I know what you are doing all day. Not nothing at all.Self employer you are.

Although I have "worked" my whole life p...

2012-01-19T06:27:32.100-08:00

Although I have "worked" my whole life plus raising my son, I agree with you. I think it's easier to work in an office whole day then staying home with 1 - 8 children ! That's not work that's hard work !! You should have written "self employed" !
In Europe it's exactly the same, when you stay home you don't work !

Totally agree with all above comments - you're...

2012-01-19T06:13:40.779-08:00

Totally agree with all above comments - you're NOT unemployed!

Thought-provoking post!

That would have driven me insane. I am a working ...

2012-01-19T04:45:35.727-08:00

That would have driven me insane. I am a working mother and I think stay at home mothers work much harder than I do! Seriously, raising a child is hard and important work.

You are most definitely NOT unemployed! In fact, m...

2012-01-19T03:45:55.424-08:00

You are most definitely NOT unemployed! In fact, my biggest reaction to parenthood (now that I'm past that stage of life) is that it's a good thing we have children when we are young because it's a lot of work!

Obviously a lot of women feel strongly about this,...

2012-01-19T00:04:35.164-08:00

Obviously a lot of women feel strongly about this, so I wonder why the business world doesn't "get" it???

I'd say that you are anything BUT unemployed!!...

2012-01-18T23:21:38.158-08:00

I'd say that you are anything BUT unemployed!! And from what I can tell, you're a mighty fine worker. You deserve a raise!!! :)

Ooooh Mama - this one still makes my hair stand on...

2012-01-18T22:03:22.326-08:00

Ooooh Mama - this one still makes my hair stand on end. I was a stay-at-home mum for two children, seven years apart. That's a long time to wear all of the hats you described. Both my adult children tell me (often) how lucky they think they were to have that sort of upbringing. If I had a dollar for every person (mostly women) who referred to our family's choice as doing 'nothing' I'd be rich.
Big kudos from me for your choice of profession(s).

As women we will never be considered equal to men!...

2012-01-18T20:54:55.609-08:00

As women we will never be considered equal to men! I hate school forms that ask Are you Hispanic or not Hispanic? There is no choice to simply say "White", Asian or Black, just Hispanic or Not Hispanic! I tire of the proactive and politically correct garbage. That is why our world is int he terrible shape it is in today! Now you have me fired up! I need to post something I have not seen in a while. Stop by this weekend to check it out! A mom is a full time job! Duh to the idiots who can't comprehend it!