The conversation is growing regarding women and the election. I think women are a blessing and very valuable to our society. Recent comments by Hilary Rosen, Democratic strategist, about Ann Romney, wife of Mitt Romney, Republican Presidential Candidate, being a stay-at-home mom has caused a great deal of stir in the political arena. My concern is not so much about the political aspect of the comments, I am interested in the social implications. I think that a stay-at-home mom/wife is a very noble job and responsibility. In fact, I believe that our society was stronger, children were more obedient, and family life was more balanced when mothers /wives were afforded the opportunity to stay home and raise their children and/or care for the home. Furthermore, I believe that it is equally commendable that many women have excelled in their respective careers and made significant contributions to society and the home while working. I believe because a woman is a stay-at-home mom/wife does not mean that she is disconnected from the economic perils that face working women. I believe they are affected differently, but both are affected. Speak back to me my blog family. Should more women stay home, should more women work, are women devalued if they do not have careers outside of the home...TALK2ME!
I would LOVE to be a stay-at-home mom, but my family structure does not support that dream. I don't know if my gender is what drives that desire...I'm just tired of spreading myself so thin. I work a full time job & then have to come home to continue working my REAL/FIRST full time job. Being a mom & housekeeper is a HUGE task. I am honored that God chose me to be a mommy...just tired. There don't seem to be enough hours in the day to meet all the demands required of me. I believe any PARENT that is afforded the opportunity to be home & more available for their child(ren)/household is blessed beyond measure.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is when we believe "work" and "money" is inseparable; when we believe money is the only form of compensation... Getting money for something does not automatically qualify it as work, and not getting money for one's efforts does not disqualify those efforts from the classification of work. Is it not "work" to volunteer at a homeless shelter? Be a big brother or sister? Then how much more is it work to wake up every two hours to breast feed an infant; constantly run behind a toddler en route to calamity; experiment several times daily with various dishes to appease a picky eater? It is all work indeed. And the reward is fulfillment – compensation much more valuable than money. Job well done moms!
ReplyDeleteI think that a stay at home mom/wife and a working mom/wife are one in the same, either position plays a very vital role to her family. I beleive as a people, in the past when mothers were able to stay home, the children did better, family value was better, but we have to give credit to men, they did their part as husbands and providers. They made it possible for women to stay home. Fast forward to today, you have women baring the burden of playing both parents, single mothers, or work is so scarce until in some homes the woman maybe the only working individual. I thnik that both positions are just as equally important, staying home or in the working world.
ReplyDeleteShould more women stay home, should more women work, are women devalued if they do not have careers outside of the home?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, women should have the opportunity to care for her family as a wife and mother and as a homemaker.
By the way, being a stay at home wife and mother is also work!
Unfortunately, in most cases, our economy dictates this possibility. I believe it is an honor for a husband to have the ability to support his family. If the husband can assume this responsibility the wife should be honored to assume her role in the home. As a career woman, my professional employment has always been important to me, but even more important was what I provided to my family as a stay at home mother/wife. That is the past and my career is now first and foremost. Ultimately, this is a personal decision that must be made between husband and wife.
In addition, as marriages continue to fail, the courts are left to determine the financial worth of a stay at home wife and mother. Can we really put a price tag on this giving, loving, caring, and providing, from the heart?
I couldn't agree with You more Beverly.....as a single dad raising 2 daughters & I was raised by a single mom.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on your circumstances. If you are person, like Ann Romney who could afford to stay home and successfully raise your children because your husband is the total bread winner for all of the family to share, I don't see how the person could feel economic impact as much. If the husband is working and not in the position as Willard Mitt Romney; and the wife is a stay at home mom, then I believe they will feel the economic impact a bit more because there is one income coming in the home. If a couple is not in that position where the wife can stay at home, by all means, please work and support your husband/family so that the economic impact won't be so rough.
ReplyDeleteIt's very hard work for the stay at home mother/wife who has to clean their homes, and cook the family meals,and take care of the kids, and do the shopping, and the tutoring, and the washing, and the ironing, and still be a wife to her husband. God bless her!
ReplyDeleteHow much work is required to pay "THE HELP"?
I my opinion, women are not "devalued" if they do not have careers outside the home. I am a retiree from a major corporation and have worked 4 different jobs since retirement and I still came home and did my wifely duties and took care of all the responsibilities inside the home. Now both my husband and I at home, both retired and living on a fixed income, and I mean a fixed income. Those women who can afford to stay at home, should, and those who have to work, should. My mother and father both worked until they passed away, it was twelve of us and we all were taken care of with know issues like we find today. I believe people should focus more on their blessings and less on what the economy...it was worst back when my parents lived, than it is now...we just need to trust God and he will/can provide ALL our needs....focus on Him and less on the economy...women at home if fine with me and its hard work being at home ---in fact, it is WORK being at home! Let's thank God that we are still alive and focus on HIM --- He should get ALL THE GLORY no matter what!
ReplyDeletePastor,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am a single mother, I have had the opportunity to be both a working mother and a stay-at-home since I have retired.
As a single working mother, I did everything I could possibly do, to be a parent. They were/are head of household, spiritual leader, financial provider, daddy, mommy, homemaker, domestic engineer, chef, counselor, therapist, coach, chauffeur, doctor, PTA parent, chaperone, trainer, and on, and on.
Since retirement and being able to stay-at-home, I am still all of that! Yet, there is so much more to parenting than those I have listed. There is nothing like being there when your child has had a rough day and could use a smile or a hug when he gets home. There is nothing like being able to devote as much time as they need for homework help, and discussions about real life skills/experiences. There is nothing like being able to drop everything and devote eye-to-eye contact, attention, cuddling, friendship, and fellowship to your child.
Here, the employers do not or cannot seem to pay enough or schedule enough employees to afford them benefits for a 20 hour work week; or require them to work more than 40 hours a week, and then take work home with them. As a working mother, you need wind-down time because you are probably still thinking about the responsibilities of work like errors you made, not meeting your quota, a promotion, taking a pay cut, or even being fired. I have even heard working mothers tell their children that they are on their own because they themselves have other responsibilities. While, at work you are concerned about the well-being of your child. While at home, you are concerned about the well-being of your job.
Both types of parents have value and I have experienced doing both. I truly must say that I enjoy the stay-at-home part. Do not get me wrong, it is a financial challenge; yet, I would not trade this experience for the world. We only have 18 years to prepare our children to the best of our abilities to go forth and be the successful, well-rounded, mentally stable, well-prepared Godly men and women they should be. There is nothing like being here for my child. Nothing!
My mom work in the feilds when I was a very child and she still had time to be a wife to my father.My mother preparented home cooked meals which was a priorty to get the famliy to the table at meal times. Today we have to many distraction like the shopping malls, eating out, getting our nails and hair done worried about fashion lables, t,v shows. These things effects the famliy values. We have to many other things to worry about. A family that pray together stays together.
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