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Saturday, March 13, 2010

Stay at Home Moms

Back when my husband and I were first married and we discussed having children, the topic always came around to how more than likely - because my husband can be lazy - he would be a stay at home dad while I earned the bread to keep the family going.

However, now that I have Logan and another little one on the way, I think often of how nice it would be to stay at home and play (okay I know it's not just playing) with our kids all day long.

I brought this up to someone one time and got back, "You don't really want to stay home do you?" My first thought was that I would like to have the option at least.

Somewhere along the lines it seems that the women wanting to stay at home and tend to the children have become estranged. Like there is something wrong with her if she doesn't want to go out and "climb the corporate ladder" so to speak. Why? There is nothing un-noble about staying at home. In fact I have heard time and time again that a stay at home mom has the equivalent work load of two full time jobs. Yet, she doesn't get paid.

My husband and I were discussing this topic the other day on our way home from town. He said that it all had to do with the feminists. Now, I don't consider myself a feminist, I do believe that women are equal to the same rights as men; but I also believe that if you choose the equality route you need to buck up to your fair share also. I know several feminists and they all seem to want their cake and eat it too.

I was reading an article about a woman who, while in college felt alienated because while her friends all were excited and craving the high end jobs, she was pulled more toward staying at home and tending to her house and children. She wrote how she was lucky to find a man (whom she married) that supported her choice, and once they were financially able, she lived what her heart told her was the right place for her.

There was a quote from the article said by Tasha Tudor, "Whenever I get one of those questionnaires and they ask what is your profession, I always put down 'housewife'. It's an admirable profession; why apologize for it? you aren't stupid because you're a housewife. When you're stirring the jam, you can read Shakespeare."

1 comment:

beth said...

I know the feeling, so many people see me as "inferior" for being a stay at home mom - like my inteligence level dropped because of my career choice. I would love to have a corprate ladder type job some days - but what I do is so much more important than any title that can be given to me. Cleaning up baby spit up and changing diapers, teaching morals and values, watching in wonder as your son discovers a worm...these are things you cant get at a 9-5 job. Do what your heart tells you is right. You are an amazing mom!