For those who became a SAHD, how did it compare to your actual job?
SAHD = stay at home dad
We often hear that raising a child is harder than going to work. I had the opposite experience and I wanted to ask how men feel about this.
When I was a SAHD for 5 years, it was the best time of my life. Watching a baby and a toddler was among the easiest things I’ve ever done in my life.
After 5 years, I went back to work and man did it suck. Commuting for an hour and working for a minimum of 8 hours, all while my brain has to be “on” was so much more tiring. I would come home complete exhausted with barely enough energy to entertain the kiddo until bed.
When I was a SAHD, I slept when the baby slept until he had a normal sleep schedule. Then I would just do chores when he napped. He played in his pen while I watched tv or played games. When my wife would come home exhausted, the house was clean and dinner was ready. None of this was ever stressful or difficult to me. Raising a baby was among the easiest jobs I’ve ever had. We even got a head start on reading and writing before kindergarten.
I’ve never met a woman who didn’t say being a SAHM was the hardest job she’s done, and it just seems…ridiculous after having experienced it. I’d trade my job for raising a 0-5 year old anytime. And I had a cushy desk job. I can’t imagine if I was a blue collar worker breaking my back every day.