What's preferable? One parent staying home to raise the kids, or both parents working to role model the importance of work?

Question

I know that this option isn't available to everyone. It's not even available to me right now. Just looking for a discussion on a topic that I know is not black and white. 
Was chatting with some women at work who were strongly in favor of working but they are likely biased because they work. I would personally love to raise my children 24/7 if given the opportunity.

Answer

I think stay at home parents can also show the importance of work in a different way. I'm a stay at home mom with a college degree and work experience (in my eyes it was something I wanted to accomplish before kids) so I can share that with my boys. I can also share how managing a household can instill some of the same values as a job. Time managment. Staying on tasks. Meeting deadlines. Juggling multiple tasks. Striving to be better. Learning new methods for making a household run smoother. 
In the future I'll go back to work, but my husband and I love that I get to stay home to raise our boys and he gets to be the hard worker outside of the home. This way we're both not missing out. If people enjoy working or have to work that's also ok. Sometimes people don't have an option and that's ok. But I dont think it should be so much about "being 2 working role models to show the importance of work"

Answer

I really like my job, but if it wasnt necessary, I would love to be a stay at home mom until my daughter is old enough to be in school.
I hate leaving her with babysitters and daycare, but it's what I have to do.
I think it just depends on what works best for the family and some people even if they can afford to stay at home prefer to have work just to be busy and have a chance to get out on a regular basis.

Answer

I’ve done both. I prefer working because I was not a good stay at home mom. I was depressed, I never did anything, and I like being able to bring in good money. I went from staying home to working 40+ hours a week and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m also starting school soon and we are going to try for another baby next year. That’s where I’m nervous to keep working but we will figure something out.

Answer

Personally I like to gave at least a part time job. I did stay home with my oldest until he was 2 but I missed feeling financially free. I need to make my own money. With this baby I will be able to take her to work with me.

Answer

I prefer working but that’s just me as I am kind of going crazy on maternity leave, not having a lot of adult interaction. I also really like my job and I swear it’s easier than taking care of a baby 😂
However my husband would love to be a stay at home dad! I think it varies by person and I don’t see anything wrong with either option!

Answer

I would prefer to stay home with my son, but life is expensive. I’m home 3 days a week with him and then work 26 hours/4 days a week. I think it’s a good balance and it allows him to go to daycare and socialize with other babies but I also get my time with him (even though I miss him like crazy). My husband works 40-50+ hours a week just so I can be home more. I think balance is key, and whatever works for your family is perfect.

Answer

I work part-time from home while my SO works out of the home. For us it’s the best option as there really aren’t many jobs available where we live. My SO is in the military and luckily he was posted only an hour from where we grew up so we’ve always been able to stay close to family, but it’s basically a ghost town. For me to find any job worth leaving my kids (money-wise), I would also have to travel and work full-time. Leaving my son at daycare and getting my daughter into an after school program, plus paying for a babysitter for her during the summer and finding someone to watch them when sick, it just wouldn’t be worth it to me. I’d rather be there for it all. My parents always worked long hours when I was a kid because they had to travel over an hour and a half to get to work, so we didn’t get home from our after school program until about 6...I really envied my friends who had a stay-at-home parent. I want to give that to my kids. But we also need the extra money so I work about 2-3 hours a day from home to pay the small bills. I also am able to get most of the housework down throughout the week so my weekends can actually be spent with my family rather than catching up on laundry...

Answer

One person staying home or working from home would be ideal, especially if kids are younger or in school, since it would be easier in case a kid was sick or had a p.a. day.
Definitely not doable for most families, but for me it is ideal.

What's preferable? One parent staying home to raise the kids, or both parents working to role model the importance of work?

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