Do you consider yourself.....

GentlerBirth · 09-26-2008, 12:41 AM

a working mother if you are a mom of young kids who doulas???

I'm conflicted. I have always considered myself a stay at home mom. I have 3 little ones... 5, 3 and 7 months. I homeschool my kindergartener. I'm about as SAHM as you get, LOL! But affter having my newest, I have been repeatedly asked if I've gone back to work yet. I don't like that question! I tell people that I've doula'd a couple of times with my infant (and a sitter) in tow. And that I have some mamas due in a few months/weeks.... But not that I've "gone back to work".

So... what about you? Do you consider yourself a working mother if you are "only" birth doula and have small children at home????

bellymamadoula · 09-26-2008, 01:01 AM

yes, but I also consider myself a SAHM.
I "only" go to school PT but I "still" consider myself a student, I only Homeschool when I'm home, but thats doen't make me any less of a homeschooler, heck all my babies have weaned years ago and I still consider myself a breastfeeding mom.

I don't think the issue lies in how you define yourself but how other people seems to be trying to fit you into a new mold. It's OK to be wrapped up in your kids, even if working a 50hr week.

MamaMichelle · 09-26-2008, 01:18 AM

I do consider myself a SAHM who is a doula. I guess technically I "work" but it's not a typical M-F 9-5 job. I work around my husband and my children for prenatal and postpartum visits and they function just fine when I'm away for births. When people ask I simply answer that I am a SAHM.

Cecily · 09-26-2008, 03:22 AM

I am a full time nanny atm and I also consider myself a SAHM, because I am home with my son all day. I think it really is a personal thing. I spend a large majority of my day in my home and with my son, I just happen to be lucky enough to get paid for doing it!!

doularina · 09-26-2008, 05:01 AM

I agree that it's personal. So many women today feel the need to accomplish something outside the home, but my biggest accomplishment will always be my family. I always tell people that I'm a homemaker and then I add that I'm a singer and a doula.

Radish4ever · 09-26-2008, 03:24 PM

I am a doula, massage therapist, and occasionally work online...........

I consider myself a SAHM who works veeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrry part time if someone asks

Supermomma · 09-26-2008, 04:05 PM

Ya, the problem is what most people consider work. I totally work, between laundry, and cooking, and homework with the kids . . . seriuosly, I am a SAHM, who is a doula when people ask. But I tell them both, because I am proud to be nothing but a SAHM (ha), and love spreading the word that there is such a thing as birth support.

b'earth angel · 09-26-2008, 04:17 PM

I've considered myself a SAHM for these past 5 years, but I think that it would be much more appropriate to call myself a WAHM. My BIL told me a few weeks ago that I'm the "busiest non-working person" he'd ever seen. To which I replied I work plenty, I just don't get a pay check every other week.
If people ask me about working outside the home, I tell them that although we do sacrifice in order to do so, it is a huge blessing for me to be able to stay home with my children, nurture them and watch them grow. HUGE blessing.

helpinghands · 09-26-2008, 10:53 PM

I consider myself a SAHM mom who also doulas.. I am pretty busy between homeschooling, helping dh run his business, volunteer work, all my errands, etc. (Many of my friends say that they don't know how I do it all..truth be told, I don't either!!) I say..all moms are working moms!

I realize that many people don't think you are working if you aren't drawing a paycheck.. but I guess it just depends on your POV.

MamaAshley · 10-03-2008, 08:49 PM

I consider myself a SAHM also, however I am also a doula and a college student. I also have people tell me "I don't now how you do it!" And seriously, I don't either. I still have a lot of down time too though. I work just as hard, even harder, than my DH, lol, I just don't get paid to do it! And I know this for sure, he works from home and I see what he does day in and day out, lol. Talk about cushy job!

Precious_Partum · 10-03-2008, 11:13 PM

Every mother is a "Working Mother."

AussieDoula · 10-04-2008, 11:12 AM

When asked, I explain that I have my own business that allows me to work from home. I am extremely fortunate to have a job that I enjoy and is also flexible enough for me to spend the majority of my time with my DC.

AmandaB · 10-04-2008, 11:46 AM

I have never considered myself a SAHM, as I am extremely focused on my business. Does that mean my child, husband and house suffer? NO! I just feel more comfortable considering myself a WFHM (work from home mom) then a SAHM. I was never comfortable with the housewife role maybe because of what I saw it do to my mother, that I refused to be that. My husband and I equally share the responsibilities of the running of the household ... there are certainly chores I HATE and I wait for him to do them (like dishes!).