did you go back to work ?

I had e, no choice, there was a mortgage to be paid, when our son was still a babe in arms my husband was made redundant, and to top it all at around the same time the father-in-law decided it was OK to move himself in, sit around the house doing sweet FA all day except watch the TV, and expect to be fed, so an additional strain on already stretched small income. I would have liked to have been able to spend time with our little boy enjoying more of his early years, but it just wasn't possible.

I never went back to work after my children were born. Because of war injuries my husband was not a well man. I did all the decorating, gardening. Was a very active member of the WI. Went to various classes on cooking and handi,crafts, made all my own and daughters clothes. Ran a country dance group. In those days there were still mental hospitals so used to visit patients who had been abandoned by relatives.
If I had gone back to work in an office I would have been as my husband put it “sitting on my arse all day” and having to pay other people to do things I enjoyed doing.

I went back to work when my eldest was just 32 days old, I couldn't stand the thought of being stuck at home.

I didn’t have a choice as a widowed single parent in the 80s I had to work to support my children. I’d have preferred to have had more time to spend with them ?. My daughter is now married with 2 primary school age children and she doesn’t work. Her husband earns enough for them to live very comfortably. People often frown when she says she doesn’t work. But she’s not claiming any state benefits and they can afford to give the children a good life so why is she frowned on for not working. Also during the lock downs She was able to give them full time attention and education, which was a luxury that a lot of children didn’t get.

"Just a housewife" says it all. How to devalue such an important role in somebody's life.
I went back to work after 2 of my children were born, handing over their care to somebody else whilst I juggled full time teaching, part time youthwork and a role of cook in a geriatric home. As I was a single parent by the end, I eventually couldn't juggle any more and stopped working for a while.
When my third child was born, I had a husband who was happy for me to be a full-time mother and terrible housewife. The difference was enormous and I loved being at home with my boy, volunteering at his school, having time to pursue my interests and actually enjoy being married. The experience for my third child was so much better too.
Did I miss working? Yes, sometimes but overall I know which time was better and which children got the better deal.

Harmonypuss

I went back to work when my eldest was just 32 days old, I couldn't stand the thought of being stuck at home.

But your child had to be cared for by someone.

stuck at home ?

Some times it works, sometimes it doesn't. My main fear was marrying and having children before I was fully educated and the difficulties of getting back to work in my late 20s or early 30s with no job experience. I was very aware very young the problems women with children had getting work.

That marriage and children met the deadlines was chance. I never really expected to marry anyway.

Apart from that I have never planned ahead, beyond sensible prudent things like paying into a pension scheme.

But coming from a family with a multi-generational history of women being widowed young and left to provide for their families because they were so poor life insurance had been beyond their means, cuts deep, and my mother was so focussed on all her daughters, first and foremost establishing themselves in professions that it inevitably rubs off and meant I was very focussed on this imperative need to be able to be financially self-sufficient, before marrying or having children.

When my third child was born, I had a husband who was happy for me to be a full-time mother and terrible housewife. The difference was enormous and I loved being at home with my boy, volunteering at his school, having time to pursue my interests

Yes, there are so many opportunities when you're stuck at home!
I volunteered at school too and had other pursuits.

terrible housewife love it ?

Would have loved the option to work part time and have more time with the children but it wasn't to be. I had to work full time from when my youngest was 2. Was the main breadwinner through till they finished uni. Now I have retired, but do some voluntary work. Suffered constant guilt of failing on all fronts, not something I would wish on anyone.

I worked full time from when our youngest was two. DH had always done housework, cooking, shopping and getting up at night so we shared all of that and the children were in full-time nursery. Later he did a lot of travelling abroad for work so I did more at home and then when he was more home-based I was away a lot, so it balanced out. We still share all the household chores in retirement. It has worked well for us.

I went back to work when DS was 4 months old. Purely for financial reasons. In 1977 I was the first non teacher in our local authority to do so. We moved when DS 2 was 6 weeks old so I lost my job. However I did all sorts to help finances until I went back to work after yet another move. I was a supermarket till operator, shelf stacker, House saleswoman and medical abstractor . Needs must! ?

Seems to me it's a path determined by necessity on the one hand and choice on the other. Some wives had the freedom to choose because there was enough to go round, others had to do what was necessary.

Went back to work part time when my youngest were 2 years old then full time until I retired. Interesting Floradora9 that you have almost a full pension. Even though I paid a full stamp all my working days from when I was old enough I do not.

"Just a housewife" how very dare you

I had my two children in 71 and 72 I went back to work when they started primary school, first as a cleaner 7 to 9 in the evening and my sister in law looked after them, till my husband came home and then my husband took them home for their dinner, which I had prepared at lunchtime just needed heating up.
I was offered a job in the school where they went as a TA and meal supervisor. Which I did for 30 years till I retired.

I went back to work when DS was 18 months - part time to start with as DH was in the RAF and away a lot but longer hours when he started school. With DD I was part time till she started school then went full time with DH taking over responsibility for any childcare as he worked closer to her school with more flexible hours.

I went back when first born was 11 weeks old. That was the end of the maternity leave period. It wasn't a case of because I wanted to, more one of necessity! I seem to recall the local authority held back a percentage of your salary until you'd worked a certain length of time after maternity leave.
By the time DC2 came along, I was doing supply teaching and I went back full time when he started school.

Wish I’d had the choice. I was the main (almost only) breadwinner. Worked up to the end of the week before my due date and went back 11 weeks after the birth, would have been earlier but had an emergency c section and doctor wouldn’t sign me off. Worked full time until I retired. How I envy the women with choice.

I went back to work part-time when my youngest was 6, then became full-time when he was about 12 ( basically had to when I got divorced). Worked full time for another 22 years or so.
Prior to my divorce, I accompanied my husband to an interview for a post as a GP quite far away from where we lived at the time. I was told ( in no uncertain terms and by the wife of one of the GPs) that, in that area, the doctors' wives were not expected to go out to work.
Even these days, however, it is harder for a woman to work full-time and to gain promotion if that's something we want to go for. In general, the majority of childcare, housework, planning family events and other caring duties still fall to women with insufficient thought given to accommodating or changing this. Some will be sceptical no doubt and think that we are now treated equally. If so, try this fascinating read carolinecriadoperez.com/book/invisible-women/

Since the cost of accommodation has risen astronomically it has not been possible for many women to have this choice. During the time that I was 'just a housewife' my children were able to go to a minimal cost playgroup as all the mothers contributed time as support workers. We all benefitted. Now the preschool movement is all but replaced by expensive nurseries which mothers take paid work to finance. I also began work as a school governor which I continued until my grandchildren arrived.

I dislike the word 'just' when someone is describing anything.
I went back to work when my youngest was 4 then started my nurse training when my youngest was 7. I have been working full time since (now 63). NI contributions have been fine for a full pension for quite a few years now, but I'm still working full time.

there has been a similar thread on MN about this. I have no kids but DH's and my life choices meant that there were extended times in out time together when I didn't have paid employment. It was our life, our choices, they worked for us and were no one else's business.

I don't have children but I agree with your post .
Sounds good sound advice.

Mothers who work are "housewives" too,Idid all house and child related things as well as work ,my OH worked a 14 hour day during the week and often a 16 hour day at weekends .The joy of self employment

Callistemon21

Jane43

I returned to full time work when my children were 10 and 8. I couldn’t have done it without the help of my Mum as my husband worked very long hours. I wish somebody had told me to catch up with NI contributions though as the 10 years out of work affected my pension.

I don't know which years you were at home caring for your children, Jane43 but Home Responsibilities Protection started in 1978 so credits should have been applied after that date.

I know that but I was home from 1966 until 1976 so missed out.. Thank you for pointing it out though.