Simply put, I don't have a financial need to work and my children are more important than my career at this point in my life.
I worked from my teens until I had my first child at almost 39 years old. I had a terrific and financially rewarding career as a headhunter in the technology sector for many years. My husband also has a great career as an engineer in the technology sector.
After we'd been married 11 years, we had our kids. At that point we could comfortably live on one income. We made the decision that I wouldn't return to work. I've been home for almost 8 years now and I rarely miss working. My kids are interesting and challenging. I spend my time educating myself on child development and education. I'm homeschooling our boys. I'm constantly learning more about managing our home, retirement investments and budget more effectively.
Contrary to popular belief, being a housewife is not just for the uneducated and unmotivated. Like any career, it takes continuing education, practice and discipline to excel at it. Unlike many other careers, being a housewife and stay-at-home mother is not respected, the hours are long and the financial compensation is negligible. Staying home with my children and managing our home has been the most emotionally demanding and often physically grueling thing I've ever done. And it's totally worth it. It is the most rewarding thing I've ever done and will have the most long-term impact, hands down, of anything I've done in my life.
Given my age (almost 46) and the age of our children (7 and 5), the odds are pretty low that I'll go back to work when the children are grown. Both my husband and I are perfectly okay with that.
