If you are a SAHM, do you.....

[abunchoflemons]

If I had extra I would pay off house & other big loans not waste on daycare if I'm art home.

[AnimalHouse]

We sent DS1 to preschool at 3 years old, and will be sending DS2 in September. It's three days a week, and it's much more than "glorified daycare.". They follow a wonderful curriculum, and DS1 got so much out of being around the other kids. Also, DS2 has speech delays and other issues, and his therapist thinks preschool will have substantial benefits for him.

I choose to stay home with my children, but I also enjoyed the one-on-one time that I got with DS2 while DS1 was at preschool. And I will enjoy that time with DS3 while DS2 is there. And then when DS3 goes (at 3 yrs old), I will enjoy the time with DS4.

ETA - we have no help from friends or family. No one to watch the kids for a few hours, or anything like that.

[sisu]

I don't, but I can understand why some people do. It's draining to be on-call 24/7, what's the harm in taking some time for yourself?

[danner]

No, but when my daughter was 11 months I tried to have a Mother's Helper come once a week for 5 hours because I felt a bit overwhelmed. I feel the same way now (I hate the 12 month developmental stage) with my son but it's more trouble than it's worth to have someone come in. Daycare though? No way.

[Mama*Kim]

I don't think I would, but I've never been in that situation.

I have a good friend that is a SAHM; her husband is a contractor in Iraq. She is on duty by herself 100% of the time. She put her kids in daycare 6 hours a day two days a week when they were 2 & 3. I couldn't blame her. Toddlers are exhausting. Two toddlers, alone, 24/7 is craziness. That was her time to shop, pay bills, clean the house, schedule appts for herself, or maybe even just relax. Her family was ruthless about it. They called her lazy, said if she couldn't handle being a SAHM, she should just get a job like the rest of the world, etc. Because of her family tormenting her so much about it, she pulled them out after a few months. The boys are 3.5 & 4.5 now and will be in preschool this year. She's so excited. I'm excited for her!

[JennTheMomma]

No I wouldn't. I homeschool

[danner]

But... my daughter is turning 4 and she is going to a program designed for 4 and 5 year olds and they call it play school. Not glorified day care, lets not be too judgey here. I am not going to be able to get my daughter ready for the big shock that is Kindergarten like this gentle program can. Not all of us are cut out for homeschooling our children. And furthermore, I don't want to!

[Brandy1010]

No. I struggled sending ds to the sitter for the first 1.5 years of his life. I stay at home to be with and teach my child. If I do need a break, dh will watch him while I take an hour or so to do what I want!

[3 ladybugs]

If I had enough extra money for that I would have a housekeeper come 1 day a week or even every other week. I would also have my son in other activities (dance, swim, karate, T ball or whatever).

Having said that I used to work as a nanny and that child would go to "preschool" one day a week. I have my 2 year degree in Early Childhood education so I could have done it but this is what they wanted.

[babylove921]

I wouldn't put them in a daycare setting ever. But, DS1 goes to his cousins house twice a week for a few hours just to get out of the house and help me be able to get things accomplished.