I've written a new article called The Anti-SAHM Salary. Check it out here: http://www.thechildfreelife.com/index.p ... ahm-salary

I know I'm a dude but I guess I'm entitled to a paycheck too for taking care of my own stuff. LOL at the computer operator. Also, unless you have a mansion the size of a small hotel or seriously lack organizational skills, a lot of those hour totals seem seriously overinflated. My mom was a SAHM and a total neat freak and didn't put anywhere near that kind of time in on the household chores. She also didn't let us trash the place either though.

good on you for highlighting this list. When I was 18 and doing economics, I remember being stunned by something called the "feminist" (???) model of the economy which suggested people be paid for this. It's a mystery. And not feminist, but mom-ist!

For a start, anyone who is, er, alive (!) and can't afford help - has to do Housekeeping, cooking, laundry and facilities. I would shove that all under housekeeping anyway, and it's really really easy so can hardly demand a high hourly rate.

computer operator presumably means organising kid activities, teacher and psychologist and driver are all things that happen when you choose to have kids.

I think the real concern here is the fact that some people still think they are doing the world a huge favour by popping out sprogs. I don't know whether that they means they really wanted them but it's bizarre regardless.

is it possible that having more of these meaningless chores in their life has rotted their brain and therefore they come out with this hooey?

and where is that waiter with my saucer of cream...!

Thanks! I loved this article, and couldn't agree more. Since when can someone demand to be paid as a psychologist when they have no training or education in that? Sure I'd take a paycheck to wash my own underwear. Why not pay me to wipe my own ass while you're at it!? I'm doing the world a favor, right? I love the way there's this unwritten assumption that all SAHM's are doing an excellent job at all of this. When I was a kid, it was pretty well known that there were good moms, and lots of terrible moms. Everyone is not a good mom. Plenty of kids are planted in front of the TV for hours every day, fed unhealthy diets, and live in messy houses. It's all about entitlement. The government does not employ staff mothers from what I understand.

Some people are so deluded, it makes me want to scream. Are there people out there who truly believe they deserve a paycheck for taking care of their own kids? It reminds me of the Chris Rock joke:

"I take care of my kids."

"You're SUPPOSED to take care of your kids! What, do you want a f***ing cookie!?"

I'm not sure that they REALLY think that they deserve an actual paycheck. I think they want recognition for everything they do. However, we ALL do that. We ALL are taken for granted. The thing with these SAHM "paychecks" is that they are seeking to elevate themselves above others - that what they do is MORE IMPORTANT than what others do - simply because they're a mom. And, like I pointed out in the article, it seems to be something that will potentially drive a deeper wedge between SAHMs and working moms.

Also, it reeks of needing to feel worthy. Again, that is YOUR decision. You decided to be a SAHM. If you feel that people think less of you for that, then you need to suck it up. Because EVERYONE is judged, regardless of who they are or what they do (and although this is apples and oranges, who knows that more than the CF?) When you try to validate your decision by pointing out how much you're "worth" (like SO many SAHMs I know do) it only shows that you are not comfortable with the decision you've made. If you truly enjoyed what you do, then you wouldn't get your knickers in a twist over what other people think.

And a lot of the judgment that SAHMs believe occurs is, I think, imagined.

I get what you mean about them not expecting an actual salary and I agree with you about the slights being imagined.

However, I think that the issue is attaching worth to any of these tasks because they are done for someone else. I don't expect recognition for doing my own housekeeping so I never understand why anyone expects recognition for it, if you see what I mean.

There is a tiny minority - the feminist model of the economy - who do think the state should pay a wage and compare themselves to carers caring for elderly parents, for example. There is some state help for that - but of course in the UK there's child benefit. given that and free education, free health etc, there's an argument that they are paid in a way.

When you challenge the cult of child worship you seriously piss off the mommies. Watch for them to get their knickers in a twist if they are feeling underappreciated or that their image is becoming tarnished.
There are some angry women out there.
Jane

I see that, BUT, it's different because it was their choice to have a child, and why would you have a child if you weren't prepared and willing to take on the basic chores of its upkeep. If you'd rather be paid to take care of a child, just get a job as a babysitter or nanny! Otherwise, it IS for yourself that you have children, isn't it? Otherwise, why??

I understand that they don't expect to actually be paid; I guess I didn't write my post very well. I just at anyone who thinks they deserve X amount of dollars for doing what they should be doing anyway.