househusbands

[evelyne]

as feminists, i'm pretty sure we all know we're equally capable to do anything a man can do (barring sperm donor, testicular cancer survivor support group member or anything directly penis-related). however, it follows that a man can do any job a woman can do, including being a house-spouse (a term i made up on account of its awesome rhyming gender-neutrality - try to say it ten times fast!). so how did you guys decide you'd be the one to stay home, instead of him? as a couple, when you decided to structure your family with a stay-at-home partner, was the option of him staying home equally considered?

[Tracy!]

My husband has his own design business he's pretty passionate about and he makes the dough in the family so he's working but I am working on a book and the second I'm able to be the "primary" breadwinner I'll trade places and he can stay home and I'll work on my stuff. I can't wait to give him the opportunity to work on things he loves, and stay home with the bebe' like I do (although he does work from home so he's home all damn day)

[B]

It was fairly easy to decide which of the two of us would be home: he makes more money than I did and we could actually, with sacrfices, live off from his salary without too much debt; he loves his job and I was less passionate about mine.

If the situation were reversed, however, he'd be the one at home. It just so happened at the time we got pregnant, I had a "job" while he had a career.

[Marta Jespersen]

It was pretty cut and dry for us. I'm still a student and he has his own business. Traditional beliefs about family dynamics played a huge role as well. Not to mention, my husband has very little patience for whinning and crying while I have quite a bit. If it were affordable (in the long run) I would love to stay home! Odd as it may sound I am jealous that you ladies have the possibility to be at home.

[Aphie]

I'm the pregnant one, I was looking for work when I became so, and he's already employed in a position that pays more than twice what I was earning in either my retail or office positions prior to this point, so it was no contest as to who would stay home; we both don't like the idea of a tiny baby in childcare 5 days a week, and are lucky enough that with his wage we should be able to afford for me to stay home for at least a year or two.

[Alex]

I wanted to stay home with the kids, and we agreed before my wife got pregnant that I would. Now we have twin girls who are sleeping in a pouch around my neck as I write.

Aside from that: my wife earns more than twice what I earned in the workplace. For me to go back to work, I would need a job that pays more than $60,000 a year in my area to offset the cost of childcare. So it doesn't really make too much sense right now: maybe when they're older.

[Lilu]

The really short and sweet answer as to why I stay home is: I lactate and he earns more money than I could.

There was actually never any question that I would be the at-home parent, or that we would have an at-home parent. My husband's post-secondary education led to a reliable career in the computer industry, whereas mine enabled me to start an business in the holistic health field. Money wise, it was a no brainer.

Beyond that, though, I'm more suited to be at home with the kids. I have much stronger views on raising children and running a home. My husband's personality lends itself much better towards an organized work environment with very obvious goals and tasks.

[Marion]

Lost my job, we are still fine financially, so there's no reason to rush out and get another one. Not a huge discussion or anything.

[Amy V.]

Hubs just got a new position in a state where I do not hold a professional license (although I have it in 2 other states), so it will take money and time to get the license before I can really even look for a position. He will make enough for us to live on, so it's not a huge rush.