stay at home dads

Maybe you should not imply that your wife is impatient. My Husband and I are both impatient in differnt areas. But we admit to that and compliment one another in the raising of our children. I am sure you and your wife do the same.
In Christ Angie

 

Okay, I see where you are going with this now. You mean is it okay for a man to switch roles with the woman. Take care of the children, clean the house, do the shopping etc., while the woman goes out and makes all the money. Well, That wasn't what I was talking about at all.

My husband's company is doing quite well because He works hard. Why is it that when someone hears that a person works out of their home, they assume it makes them shiftless? My husband is one of the hardest working people I have ever met. It's built into his personality. And his staying at home wouldn't mean that he was going to become "Mr. Mom". There is no ambiguity about our roles.

Sorry I didn't understand what you meant to begin with. When you titled this thread "Stay at Home Dads" I replied according to that title.

 

Doesn't matter which is easier, but which is biblical. We raised two children on less then poverty level. It has to do with how much extras and name brands you want.

 

Katie, I usually agree with you on things, but this time I'm afraid I disagree.

Here are some of the expenses from this home here.

No mortgage, no car loan -- everything is free and clear

When all six kids were here, here is the way the average basic minimum per month went:

food, diapers, detergents, etc $300 a week minimum, that's $1200 a month. I tried to keep it down to $1000 a month. Sometimes I was successful.

utilities -- (no air conditioner and we have a wood stove) -- water, gas, garbage, phone, electricity -- $350 a month

transportation -- gas, upkeep on van -- $100 per month

medical insurance -- $400 per month (we belong to Kaiser Permanent, an HMO)

dental and other medical costs (such as prescriptions, glasses, etc.) -- average about $50 per month

clothing, shoes, etc. -- average among all of us was about $100 a month minimum

House and car insurance, property taxes -- required by law -- pro-rate to about $500 a month total (this is California and most the time I had at least one teenager who was learning to drive or had a license)

This does not include ANY yard or house upkeep, no allowances, no monies for field trips or other school expenses, etc. In other words this bare bones basic budget -- and we were growing our own vegetables and had our own chickens and fruit trees -- amounted to about $2500 a month. Times 12 or a year's bare bones budget is about $30,000 a year.

Now, most people do not have six children or live in California, both of which will keep costs way down. So let's knock a full $10,000 off for those two luxuries and you still have a bare bones budget of $20,000 a year, and I can guarantee that is not enough because things break and there ARE field trips and birthdays and the yard does need to be kept up, and when the wind blows an oak over onto the chainlink fence....that HAS to be repaired. $200 easy.

I just called the garage door repairman today. The spring on one door busted and the other is just as old. Getting them both replaced tomorrow will run about $150.

There are very few people who do not do the best they can with what they have got. And the decisions a family makes when raising a family are individual to them. It really is best not to judge, but just help out when you can, if you can.

 

Helen, I agree... every family does what works best for them.

So, California living is a luxury huh? Expensive to live here that's for sure. Our gasoline expense is about $400.00 a month at least. Another reason for getting this home business making enough money to support our family of 5. Stop having to drive so much. That's more than the rent on my first apartment which was $365.00 for a one bedroom...which was a good deal at the time. Our house payment is just under $1,000 a month for living out here... I understand it's at least twice that in the San Fernando Valley.