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Spot on, as is the author. As another poster pointed out, the dynamic of a stay-at-home mom, as we remember it, is a relatively new, and almost uniquely American idea. Prior to the late 19th century, women worked as much and as hard as men, as did children, although in an agrarian culture, the wife’s work did consist of more of the “household” chores, but that was due to the work being more suitable to her than farming the fields or operating the mill (not that some did not do that).

If anything, that brief, idyllic period should remind us of what we have given up in the last 60 years as our culture and our government have changed and grown beyond all recognition. Even in some of the posts agreeing with the author, there is just a hint of condecension when referring to those who don’t “plan” correctly.

Pope Paul VI had it right all those years ago. First comes the denial of the obvious differences between men and women, and the attempt to make them the same. Then comes the “planning” of families (forget about God being a partner in your marriage) and then comes abortion as the stop-gap contraception. In a world where the act that was designed for procreation becomes simply another pastime, why wonder that culture has all but fallen apart.

This author’s opinion would not solve all of the problems to which he alluded, although it would alleviate them to some degree, however, it is only another small symptom of the greater breakdown of American society in general.

Prior to the late 19th century, women worked as much and as hard as men, as did children, although in an agrarian culture, the wife’s work did consist of more of the “household” chores, but that was due to the work being more suitable to her than farming the fields or operating the mill (not that some did not do that).

All very true.

However, throughout this period the wife not working was very much an ideal, and was the norm in upper middle class and wealthy families.

So when a man could afford to support his wife without her working it was a move upward in status for both of them. Working class to middle class. Conspicuous idleness, if you will, as opposed to conspicuous consumption.

As others have pointed out, this is not a Biblical notion. The virtuous wife of Proverbs may not have worked in the fields as such, but she was industrious, did handicrafts, planted gardens and vineyards, and was an entrepeneur.

No sitting around. She quite literally burned the midnight oil.

In fact, the biblical account focuses much more on her economic activity than any other aspect of her virtue.

See Proverbs 31.