One In Six Still Feels A Woman's Place Is At Home

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12-9-2003 | Sarah Womack

[mplsconservative]

You've got it exactly right. My husband and I are in our 40's so maybe we've got our heads screwed on a little tighter - we're not trendy anymore - but I would not give up being a full-time mom for anything.

Our son is now in first grade and I pick up a few freelance jobs as a television producer that allow me to write and work while he is in school. On those odd days I have to be on-location, his dad takes a vacation day to free me up to work crazy, long days. Otherwise, I'm there everyday to make his lunch, see him to and from the school bus and have milk and graham crackers and talk about his day after school. Children's' reactions to events at school are sometimes pretty subtle on the surface, unless you catch them in a "safe" moment. When things are fresh some pretty memorable lessons can be lost in the rush that is life. Countering some liberal teacher's statement is crucial.

I realize we are very fortunate, for the time being. My husband does pretty well, though we are not wealthy by any means. We've got a home we love (not the liberal neighborhood surrounding it, that's another story!) that's getting a bit beyond our means with successive 13% ('03) and 15% ('04)property tax increases.

We have never owned a cell phone. We don't have cable or dish. Books are better. Our vehicles are of the '90 and '95 persuasion and I make a mean lasagna or some such dish 6 days out of 7. Vacations pretty much amount to visiting relatives, though I hope to travel more. It was a staple of my childhood. It's wonderful to see all of America so that is a goal of ours.

That rant said, I understand the double-edged sword that is motherhood today. I was under contract to see a series I was working on to finish and worked full-time from the time my son was 6 months until he was 2 1/2 years old. They were very difficult days, but the cash we socked away being frugal is still seeing us through today.

[mplsconservative]

Beautifully said, cubreporter. I guess you were as compelled as I was to compose a long reply. (; This is a subject that touches the heart of every mother, especially FR moms! Once again, I want to say I am fortunate and thankful to God I am able to be home. My heart goes out to other mothers that truly can't afford to stay at home. I pray for the same blessing to you that I am able to enjoy. When our '90's vehciles breakdown, I'll be working side-by-side with you to make that car payment. And I'll still be a conservative that understands the value of work. Sacrifice for family, not for "things" that make us supposedly "happy."
Huzzah to all moms, working out of the house and in the house!
Suz

[bdeaner]

Interesting article.

Why don't they survey the kids who get stuck in daycare centers, shuffled from stranger to stranger?

[cubreporter]

Amen!

[KantianBurke]

same reason they call an unborn baby a fetus: facing reality is unpleasant and interupts their reading of Cosmo.

[bdeaner]

same reason they call an unborn baby a fetus: facing reality is unpleasant and interupts their reading of Cosmo.

You sure hit the nail on the head. God forbid parents actually face the reality that we have created a world that is fundamentally hostile to children, born and unborn. Such degeneracy can only be a sign of cultural pathology.