My wife has built an illustrious career for herself, and done very well. She's educated, lovely, and respected. However she's recently decided she'd like to transition out of that world to be home with the kids. I fully support this but she's receiving a lot of judgment. Has anyone else been through this?

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

In my opinion, that is the most respectable thing she could do.

Not to be blunt, sounds like you both need new friends.

likesmartfunny

My husband and I decided back in 2019 that he would stay home with the kiddos for a period of time. Now we consider it a permanent decision because it was so needed for our family and us. The amount of crappy comments he received and still does is beyond frustrating. As others have said, do what is best for your family and your relationship. The comments are a commentary on the unhappiness those people have with their decisions in their life.

like

Same exact boat here, but we knew it was permanent when he left because of the way his job works.

It was by the far absolute best decision we made as a couple in our 20+ years as a couple. He has been home with our kids since 2013, whereas before he traveled at least four days a week and I was an exhausted wreck trying to work and keep it all together while he was out of town. We have a lot more joy in life now, despite losing his six figure income. We also decided to have another kid. Never could have considered it if we both were still working and she is the greatest little bonus!

like

It probably doesn’t compare to the crappy comments I personally have received over the years because I work a demanding job as a woman that requires travel etc and had kids. Like I am a bad mother and my kid is not getting enough attention. Or, horrors, the dad raises the kids 50/50. Cuts both ways. You don’t have to defend your choices. Our culture is very judgmental to women in general. None of their business. And you can always work later, or not.

like

My wife, too, had a very rewarding and successful career before deciding she wanted to be at home. We dealt with judgment from a few friends and I will honestly say that we have moved on from two of those friendships. Every time we met up with them there were subtle digs about my wife’s choices and “not working”. Do what’s right for you. If your friends judge your for it, they aren’t very good friends.

like

I’m in year 37 of PA with the last of 4 kids getting ready for college. My wife decided to leave her job to be at home full time 20 years ago, after having moved to part-time a few years before that. We have always looked at it from the view of how blessed we are to be able to do it….Mom was always home when the kids came home from school and to this day we believe that has been a huge stabilizing factor in their lives and helped shape who they are as humans. I know this sounds old school and possibly a little sexist, but it is a choice we made together and have never regretted it…..and never cared what anyone else thought!

like

It isn’t anyone else’s business what your family decides is best for you.

like

Hoping cancel culture is a short lived fad, like the mood ring or the pet rock.

likehelpful

Everyone seems to want to get involved in others business. You are doing well and have the luxury for your spouse to stay home with the kids. It’s your decision and your alone. The others are either jealous or have different things that motivate them.

like

Funny I am getting judgment from the opposite side. My wife has been a stay at home mom for the past 9 yrs even before I made partner. I finally made partner and our kids are older so she decided to start her own business from home selling things on line and doing event planning. She has gotten judgment from people asking why she needs to do that if we make “ a lot of money”. You can never please other people so just focus on your family.

like

That’s ridiculous. People 🙄. Kudos to your wife! We heard similar things from some family members when my wife reinvented herself and became an interior designer when our 3 kids graduated college and left the nest. I had some choice words for those family members. Our friends on the other hand were and have been totally supportive.

No more rewarding role/job than spending more time with your kids. Ignore anyone that tells her otherwise . Family first . Of the two of you are good with the situation - then that is what really matters .

I commend you for your support of your wife during this transition. I’m sure it’s going to be hard on her once she is fully home with the kids, and so having your support will be great. I agree with P1 though. It sounds like she needs some new friends. I’m sure there are other well educated moms at school, etc thar stopped working that she can be friends with.

My Fiancé quit so she could be active in raising her kids and spend time supporting her causes. I fully support it and so do our friends.

like

You are the captain of your life. If that’s what is best for you, that’s what you do. Tune out the dissenters. Sometimes you have to explore what’s best for you and if it’s not right then you modify. A good friend will support you!

Amazing how openly judgmental people can be. You don’t need them in your life. Sounds like you and your wife are doing a wonderful thing for your kids which is job 1!!! To heck with everyone else.

My wife made the decision to quit her job and stay home 22 years ago, shortly after I joined PwC as a manager. No regrets, and all of our friends and family were supportive.

Great comments here, also helpful to me personally. If cancel culture is a real thing, it should be directed at the people judging you and your wife. A parent stepping off the ladder to prioritize kids is a truly noble change and should be respected as such.

I agree with Partner 4. I feel like we get judged that my wife works. She likes her job and sure, it’s tough sometimes. We like having the money to do fun things too. But you can tell folks judge when she can’t make the mid week, mid day PTA meeting. Some people just can’t process when you do something different than what they decided.

Related Posts

How can I make friends in Chicago?

like

My SO is an alcohol abuser but has said he knows it’s a problem and would like to cut back or quit. Any suggestions or advice in how to help and cope with this. He becomes a different person when he drinks. I want to support him but don’t know how or where to start.

like

My wife and I are both terrible housekeepers and our clutter is overwhelming us. We have two kids under 3 and a wonderful nanny but we need more help at home. How do we throw money at this problem? Where do we start to get ongoing professional help decluttering, organizing, cleaning, etc.? What has worked for you?

likehelpful

My confession is I have always had very competetive and hardworking close friends around me with whom I felt amazing to compete, do more and be the best. A few years back we all made to different countries, now I achieve far less than my potential and find it hard to be as efficient as before. How to fix this?

likeuplifting

I’m type A-, Type A when it comes to work/school but Type B in my personal life. The upside is that it makes it easy to get along with just about everybody.

like

Spending a weekend with my fiancé’s family out of town and quite literally my future FIL burps out loud 10x a day with no shame and his mom is a narcissistic monster in law just have no clue how these bizarre ppl created such a lovely person in my fiancé. Don’t need advice, just want to bitch. Can anyone relate??

funnylikehelpful

Advice needed: What’s the best tablet / device for a 4 year old? Need something decent to entertain her for a few months throughout this lockdown. She enjoys the reading apps and Kiddopia.

like

Everyone likes me because I'm a doormat with no boundaries. I do anything and say anything to make people happy. I will think what you think I should think. Will you be my friend?

funnylikeuplifting

I was devastated when I realized I had to cut my twin sister and even my mom to some degree out of my life in order to have peace of mind. It makes me sad I feel better without their burdens. ☹️

likehelpful

My ex when she tried to get back together with me

Post Photo
like

Big Law Dads: How much time do you usually take off when your wife has a baby? And do you actually get to take off, or do you just end up working from home half the time? My wife is due Mid-December, and I’m staffed on 4 M&A deals trying to close by year end, so it’s not looking promising.

likehelpful

What's the hardest part of being a working parent in law? My wife and I are considering trying to get pregnant.

like

Are there any mothers here who voluntarily gave primary custody to the kids father? I love my children fiercely but tbh I don’t think I’m cut out to be a single parent. Family and friends tell me I’m a great mom but at the end of the day having them on my own is exhausting and I end up just either letting them do whatever they want Bc I don’t feel strong enough to set a limit about it, or yelling at them. They’re 4 and 7 for reference. Please constructive responses only. Thank you!

like

Hi guys, have you ever cried in a workplace. How does it feel if no one helps you when u ask something and they don’t respond at all if u are even asking doubts to them. Everyday I m crying coz of the culture since it’s a full time work from home we will have to call people in teams for helps and doubts and every time no one respond us and they make us think that we are unfit for this job and I cry at work everyday.. does this mean r they asking me to leave the job indirectly!!!

like

Darcy is engaged?!

like

Skyping friends all day > working

like

Best Christmas things to do with a two-year-old?

like

Advice or Book recommendations on how not to get bothered by others/ friends/ peers? What they think or what they do!
Been struggling lately

like

Anybody get divorced as a young-ish associate with little kids? I think I'm on that path and really struggling

like

Any 40+ women here interested to make new friends? 40+ man here.

like

More Posts

I got relieving letter from EY. Will I get experience letter also or relieving letter itself is experience letter?

like

Anyone wanna pay for my vacation to Disney world?

like

Hi I am a Tax Analyst in EY GDS for my career growth what are the things I should give importance. By when do we get salary hike usually? EY.

like

DC - AFS, Senior Analyst making 88K salary with a 2K sign on bonus I had to negotiate is this a good deal?

like

I hope my morning coffee cart guy is OK :(

like

I need 11 likes to unlock DM. Please help.

likesmart

I’d like to better understand if it’s better to stay in consulting with a well-defined career path or to move to Google/Facebook/Amazon with a good level and having the consciousness of being promoted is really hard.

like

Going to Jamaica for a bachelor party Memorial Day Weekend...da hell do I wear?

Has anyone moved from consulting in US to Israel? What was the transition like and how did it work for you?

like

What does tronc (formerly Chicago Tribune Publishing) do, exactly? What’s the role of an ad copywriter there? They are vague on both the job posting and their website—but I’m also getting desperate.

like

New to Miami and need to find a new psychiatrist. Could you recommend someone? Thank you so much!

like

What would happen if I left my current company, started at a new one, and got pregnant before 12 months of service with the new company? For reference, I know new company requires 12 months for FMLA, and STD is 3 months.

If I’m not eligible for FMLA, what would that leave situation look like? Not currently pregnant but husband and I are wanting to start trying soon, just don’t want to be in a situation where I can’t take maternity leave. TIA!

like

Started my first in house job last Monday. Anytime I read anything I keep reaching for a timer but there’s nothing to bill lol

likeuplifting

KPMG and KPMG global services private limited are different

like

Hi all,

Are there any jobs related to Finance BPO/Generals accounting/ Record to report process in Indore ( M.P) or are there any companies related to this field who are providing permanent work from home??

likeupliftingfunny

What's this deal with 11 likes?
I see a lot of y'all posting it.

like

It seems like legal tech vendors are always swarming in-house counsel. What are your biggest legal tech pet peeves? I personally hate when they call me to follow up. Email is annoying but preferred, don’t call me 🤦‍♀️

like

INSEAD or LBS?
(For reference the 1 year saved at INSEAD isn’t a big deal for me)

like

Anyone know of any firms/companies that are still hiring but don't require prior legal experience? Unemployed and job hunting and trying to gain experience but have not had any luck (not a lawyer fyi)

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal