NickRivieraMD
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Be for real.
I'm a single father. I work 9-5 and raise my 2 year old daughter full time since her mom relapsed for the second time since her birth. I'm all for acknowledging the hard work that goes into parenting well, but let's not be silly for the sake of sounding nice.
Days at home are way better than days at work. Sure, there's a lot of real work in raising a kid, and the stakes are high, but in the end, you're calling the shots, and you can go out, take care of chores, look like crap, have fun, enjoy the sun or stay in, do things more or less on your schedule, and in general have a fuller life than while at work. Also, naps, yo. NAPS.
KenjiMuyo
Your comment goes out the window as soon as more than 1 kid is involved
shenanogan
To each there own, I work and my Fiancé stays at home. she looks way more stressed than me some days.
xenburnn
sounds like you need to work somewhere you don't feel trapped
onlylivingirl
Work from home 9-5 or is child in care center full time?
PikaBooISeeYou
If you think a stay at home spouse works to their own schedule you are wrong, he/she works to the kids and the working parent's schedule.
snoozywomble
I think it does depend on what you do. I love my boy and I love my job, but dear lord looking after a toddler or newborn 24/7 is hard
snoozywomble
there is a bit in between about 6-14 months old and they are glorious.
snoozywomble
my child does not nap, what are these magical things you speak of?
TheSpeakerOfTheHouse
It depends on the child(ren) and the job(s).
TheSpeakerOfTheHouse
Oh, and the person. I'm more suited to being a parent than a programmer.
randomgibberish
I have a nice cusht desk job - no way that's harder than dealing with a kid all day
randomgibberish
Pretend I can spell - can't edit on mobile :/
PurpleDocsAndEarlGrey
Its the loneliness that sucks. Id enjoy it if I had more parent buddies.
Cheomesh
Yah pretty much my last friends bailed as soon as I had a kid. Ironically I now have *more* free time than before.
ICanHasJava
Well, congrats to you OP. This is not the reality for everyone. People are different. You can't judge others by your strengths.
sillyblackcat
But you have a job. You are not stay at home dad. You get to have a break from your kid which makes you appreciate the time with her.
SuperSunshineRainbow
Yup. He's not actually caring for her full time. He's paying someone else for 8+ hours a day while he works.
somanyjessicas
1000 upvotes
pelusita35
1001 up votes
BoozeHound001
Yes, but when you work full time you are able to get away from the little bastard.
PikaBooISeeYou
That is assuming you only have one kid. My mother was a stay at home mom for 5. do you know how hard it was for her?
voguemouse
Try this while being entirely dependent on your spouse's paycheck though. Different story altogether.
Canileavenow
I would much rather go back to 12 hour shifts than watch my toddler all day. At least with a real job you get a lunch break and poo privacy
agluuo
If you don't get a lunch break with watching your toddler then you're really parenting wrong somewhere.
DamnNeville
It's the scheduled lunch break I miss. Sure I'll have lunch during a nap.... If the nap happens.
bella16885
Talk to me after you've been doing it by yourself for years. Being locked in a house with a child is not a vacation. I miss my job everyday.
NickRivieraMD
It's harder with a kid but not impossible to socialize.
Cheomesh
Only you are locking yourself in.
luukzs666luukzs
Serious question, but why then have a child without the means to retain your job?
Notfiryew
Yeah, social isolation is a real thing and not something you'd notice if you haven't been doing it for a long while
Macharli
I second this. I feel isolated and miss my job every day too! Hang in there. The years are short and it's not forever xx
DamnNeville
Staying at home with my toddler means a 12 hour work day- caring for him while he is awake and trying to do chores/cooking/cleaning(1)
DamnNeville
When he naps to compensate for not earning. Never switching off because you can physically see the next task.. I was happy to return to work
NickRivieraMD
My work day is well more than 12 hours between work and caring for my kid. I'm up at 6 and she's down at 9 and it's all tasks (1/2)
NickRivieraMD
Apples to apples.. Because even if you're parenting together and one is working, that one should be sharing responsibility for kid when home
Mentok
I work, my wife stays home with our 7 month old. I've stayed home, I prefer to be at work, way easier and quieter.
mynameisnotalice
Yeahh... no. But congrats on having sweet, little angels as kids, @OP.
NickRivieraMD
no kids are sweet little angels, lets be real.
8ismyfavoritenumber
It depends entirely on the kids, the job, and the family income level.
rattlesnail
I have 4 kids one with ADHD. mornings are my slow time (unless i have stuff to do) and after 230 are my rush times. Plus I am starting a
rattlesnail
Business from home (trying to anyway) I would much rather work.
TheLetterKay
This. Mine has ADHD and ODD. She is a fucking demon spawn. Id rather work.
archirat
And the state of mind of the parent.
13thDukeofWybourne
I notice you have only 1 child....
LadyWidebottom
I have two and it makes me want to stay at home more than having the one did. But there's 4 years between my kids, so that's why.
KrazyKatWoman
I have 3 and I keep begging to quit so I can be at home with them
pelusita35
Sometimes, even one child can be difficult. It depends on the child, too.
LuckyMami
This was my thought exactly!
NickRivieraMD
good point, yeah
TheCobb1
How can you make such a biased opinion with just one kid. Better hurry up and make at least three more before opening your whore mouth again
NickRivieraMD
heh. sweet jesus.
Cheomesh
One child best child.
PoopFrosting
different strokes for different folks. also probably depends on the career in question tbh.
Natsumori
And the kid in question.
moxymox
And the answers in question.
Kysimir
And the number of kids.
Tiberiuz
And the age of the kids.
CuriouslyRecurringTemplatePattern
And if there are kids
PropainAndPropainAccesories
And the texture of the kids
spazum888
Naps are the shit.
IKnowThisLlama
ArtOfKarolMichalec
Unless you're like me and after an hours nap you can't sleep for next twelve years
Davedavedavedavedave
I nap everywhere. In the car in front of the school, in front of the tv, on top of the wife...
Attaroo
I've napped at work. Of course, that was during a 24 hour shift...
6313326
1. My experience: Being a SAHP (even of 3) is way easier than being a parent who works full time but can (depending on circumstances) be
6313326
2. more taxing than working full time w/o kids, though I'll def grant that PJ days are a definite perk.
NickRivieraMD
https://media.tenor.co/images/572ed79c2e45eb0193558d062ecffca5/tenor.gif
spazum888
My wife works from home, and Im a Stay-at-home dad, been doing this job for about 5-6 years. You dont get a paycheck but its great work.
NickRivieraMD
The paycheck is a big factor that I'm not factoring into this puffin for sure.
spazum888
well your in a unique situation, and im glad things seem to be working out for you guys. Just remember, its a marathon.
Arrrrgggggghhhh
Depends I guess. I'd rather be at work than look after kids...
RespectfullyDisagreee
I'd rather be at work than look for kids... Jk same thing
jeandolly
Yeah, going to work felt like taking time off for me when my kids were little. Ofcourse, I did not have a very demanding job. Even did naps.
ICanHasJava
Same. Being with kids is boring and exhausting at the same time. Work is fun.
CoBr2
Then why have kids? I mean I agree, but that's why I'm not planning on reproducing.
kellogleo
As a father of two, I agree with you.
luukzs666luukzs
I'd rather be at home without kids
ISupportYourViews
Did you get stuck with some bad ones?
Aibell125
I work from home with baby 4 days and go into the office one day. I much prefer the office. Mama needs a break
pelusita35
I've done both. Staying at home filled me with absolute panic. Like a caged animal. It was not an easy thing to do mentally. Physically, yes
PrincessDonaldTrumpBANNED
As a father, being a dad is easy. Goto the park, play legos, and watch cartoons. Literally what I wanted to do ever since I was a kid
GoodGraces
I assume you mean full time Dad? No work?! A lot of people can't do that. Consider yourself lucky that you're still sane.
PrincessDonaldTrumpBANNED
No, I work, full time nights. I just don't do much outside of work and family
thepriceisrightbitchez
Same! I hated it! Now I work from home but have a nanny so I can still be there for them. But I sucked at being a stay at home mom... SUCKED
spookyu
For many this is true, but as far as difficulty goes....I still gotta agree with OP regardless of preference.
ICanHasJava
Sometimes preference is born out of difficulty. It's not as easy for everyone.
HadMeSomeChickens
Sometimes it's difficult to get people to see the difference between things like preference and ease.
NickRivieraMD
http://imgur.com/8sh2NLN
Arrrrgggggghhhh
Are you saying you want to see my 30yo hairy man butt?
WingedGopher
https://tenor.co/EB0D.gif
ThePunchline
Did he stutter?
luposlipaphobia
I'm not op, but uhhm, yes?
Aersbaers
Who wouldn't?
DrArtemis117
Are you fucking kidding me? I'm a doctor and that's still easier than being a stay at home mum. I'd rather die than not work.
pelusita35
This. So much this. So much of me died not being able to work or grow a career.
luukzs666luukzs
but, then why have children? honest question..
DrArtemis117
Because you can do both. I had my first in medical school, now I'm a doctor I'm about to pop out my second.
pelusita35
Ours was a surprise. But why do men want to have kids and a career? I honestly never wanted kids.
Cheomesh
Is abortion not legal in your state?
pelusita35
Our family is deeply religious. I have no idea if it was legal 25 years ago--it just wasn't a possibility for us.
luukzs666luukzs
I never really got why people would ever sacrifice all that freedom to be replaced by whining and chores.. I like kids, but max for an hour
Cheomesh
That's how I feel about work in general, and dogs.
pelusita35
Me too. I don't know why you're being downvoted. You asked a serious heartfelt question. I upvoted you.
DrArtemis117
Seriously, both. Coming home to your kids is amazing.
UnrulyBeast
I work 4 back to back 12hr shifts a week. I could not do 4 back to back 12hr days with my two toddlers.
HibiscuitsTea
You probably shouldn't be a parent if you can't handle parenting.
unicorninmypants
Amen
AntzInMyEyezJohnson
Naw the kids don't stay up all day. Wake up at 7am. Breakfast. Cartoons until 1130am. Lunch. nap from 1 to 3pm. Dinner at 6. Bed by 8pm.
panananda
As a former stay at home mom... Your kid/s watch 4.5 hours of cartoons every morning? Sounds healthy...
AntzInMyEyezJohnson
As a parent of 2 healthy kids who do sports all year round. Absolutely when they are home/out of school they are free to relax in the AM.
Notfiryew
Idk how I feel about this comment. On the one hand, suuuuper judgy. On the other hand.... like.... you're right?
AntzInMyEyezJohnson
Parent shaming is a huge problem in this society.
iwould
Seemed excessive to me too. But then again if that's the only screen time a day.... with iPads and all. Not so bad.
DrArtemis117
Seriously? My kid gets maybe half an hour of screen time a day if she's lucky. We haven't watched TV in my house in almost 10 years.
NickRivieraMD
I got leave when we had her (split up since). It's like rolling downhill once they stop shitting 24/7.
UnrulyBeast
Yeah, until they start running, jumping, throwing things, committing assault, theft, stalking strangers through Walmart over bananas...
NickRivieraMD
I'm intrigued about this walmart banana stalking case.
UnrulyBeast
My one year old has a crazy weird obsession with bananas. He'll legit fight you over them. The other day at walmart, he bailed on looking
UnrulyBeast
At toys because he saw bananas in the cart of man walking by, and proceeded to chase him, and hide when he was caught.
TheSpeakerOfTheHouse
It gets a bit harder again later if you have bad habits you have to work on. You're setting an example, after all.
NickRivieraMD
I don't doubt that, but I'm factoring in the fact that they're at school 6 hours a day once that comes into play too.
TheSpeakerOfTheHouse
At first it just disappears, it's like they were there 10 minutes. Later you start being able to make use of the time a bit more, relax more
TheSpeakerOfTheHouse
That lasts a while, grades 5 to 8, roughly, but then they start acting up and it starts to become hard decisions and conversations.
ifuckinglovesloths
My mom worked her ass off to take care of 8 of us, you have one kid. Don't over generalize bro.
NickRivieraMD
I was replying to a gentleman who has two.
Linnywtf
8 fucking kids. Did she rent her pussy out for storage space?
ifuckinglovesloths
Rude as fuck, dude.
Linnywtf
No sense of humour, must be from having 7 siblings.
RihannaPublicist
I uhh, can't imagine anyone expects 8 kids to be the norm. Congrats on your large family, but I think OP made this with 2.5 kids in mind.
Kysimir
Actually, he made it with 1 kid in mind. 2 kids is like 3x the work as 1 kid.
RihannaPublicist
Okay.
agluuo
Still not harder than a full time job. Don't kid yourself.
LadyCottonHead
Depends on the job. Oil rig, maybe. Office? Worse than running after 8 children? Nah,