[GreenEggsNHam]

"But he introducted to to it...."

Wow, maybe I should stay home like T.Smith says I should... Apparently, not only could I could use some brushing up on my wifely-duty skills, but also my spelling and typing skills....

[T.Smith]

You miss the point. Of course I don't think women should stay barefoot and pregnant. I do think that there is nothing wrong with a stay at home mother - yes, my wife is one and we are both happy about that - doing some of the things listed here.

I think having dinner ready is a good thing. I think having a tidy house is a good thing. I don't think it's so bad for my wife to hold off on the gripes about her day until I've had a chance to get through the door. My wife (Julie, actually. It feels to impersonal to keep calling her "wife") agrees and we are very happy together. Staying at home raising kids is a job, a hard one at that, and these things are just part of being successful at that job.

Recent anecdote from my life: I was at a party with Julie and we were talking to a co-worker and his extremely pregnant wife. Julie asked the lady if she would be staying home with the baby. The lady answered, "Oh no! I'm not staying home for more than 6 weeks!". She acted as if the very idea of staying home with the child she had just brought into the world was complete anathema. I'm still bitter about that because I think a lack of quality parenting is really driving our cultural decline. I guess peoples' revulsion over the idea of a wife being a "homemaker" just set me off again.

I'm sorry I launched into an immediate tirade. I wish you and Cur Dog all the best, really. BTW - "Deadeye" is a nickname for an excellent shooter.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I don't know T.Smith but I don't think he is trying to say that a stay at home mom is the only key to a good marriage.

I have worked while in this marriage, and I've been a stay at home mom. When I work, my husband and I both take care of the things needed to run the household, but when I am not working I feel he is doing his job, and mine is the home. I don't feel less for being here running the house - I also don't feel he should come home and "take over" - it isn't about power or who brings in the money, it is about having a haven for our family - a peaceful place where we are safe and happy.

That doesn't depend upon having a spouse who stays home, it is an attitude.