Author: At-home moms should work instead

Houston Chronicle ^ | 04/06/2007 | JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer

[grellis]

Thoughts?

Just this: Life is a crapshoot. You never know what might be lurking round the next corner, so be a good scout. Be prepared.

Yes, a woman who has spent a dozen or so years as a homemaker may not be able to immediately jump back into her former career. That does not necessarily mean that she may not be able to find work in the same field, perhaps a job with more flexibility, if something catastrophic should change her family dynamic. It all comes down to being able to market yourself and your life experiences. I wanted some mad money two years ago so I went to Dennys to apply for a waitressing job--just weekends, 10-15 hours, not jumping in the deep end or anythign. Typical question came up in the interview: "What qualities do you have that would make you an asset to the company?" This is a standard question, something ANY employer asks. I explained that as a homemaker, I am an expert at multi-tasking: I can get dinner started while helping kids with their homework while running loads of laundry. As a homemaker, I am an expert at handling money. As a homemaker, I am adept at reacting to quickly changing situations. I am able to think creatively. I am proactive, not reactive. This is true of every freeping mom I know, and I know most of 'em pretty well.

The young woman giving me the interview wanted to discuss something with the store manager; a short time later, the store manager came out, questioned me some more, then asked me if I was interested in training as a shift manager at a different store. I wasn't, but I started waiting tables two days later.

This was just an interview for a job I could take or leave, but a homemaker's skills are marketable to damn near any employer. A homemaker has tangible evidence of job performance, whether or not she realizes it. I handle all of our finances, and I would share with a potential employer my bank statements to show off my skills at handling finances. I would share with the employer my credit report. I would bring my kids' report cards in. It's all about creatively marketing yourself.

But back to the crap shoot, especially with regard to how uncertainty effects everyone. Homemakers MAY run a certain risk of giving up economic self-sufficiency--that is debatable. What about a woman who chooses a career path outside of homemaking for her husband and children--what if something catastrophic happens to her? What if she is laid off? What if she becomes physically incapable of working outside of the home? Her family would immediately lose an income source. How would that change their lifestyle? I wonder what Bennetts would say about that.

[SuziQ]

*snort* I just ran across your post. Don’t know how I missed it. It is rather amusing how the “we’re the professionals, don’t try this at home” types make such rash assumptions about we ‘stay at home’ Moms, huh?

[Gabz]

It was actually very amusing, looking back on it....at the time I was not happy. I had no problem with what the teacher had told the “professional” and made tha VERY clear to her. The teacher felt that I was being insulted and came to my dfense as I was not their to do so.

I love for the “professionals” to underesimate us stay at hom Moms.............it will always come back to bite’em in the butt!

[SuziQ]

LOL, reading your tagline, I thought of LuLu's Restaurant in Gulf Shores AL. It's owned by Jimmy Buffett's sister, and one of her menu items is "Cheeseburger in Paradise". Pretty good food, and the band that was there on a weekend last June was a great oldies cover band. The lead singer had really long hair, like one of our sons. One of my cousins pointed to him, and yelled to me, "he reminds me of David!" The singer saw us and asked what she said. I told him that she said he looked like my #2 son, and he said, "Must be a good lookin fella!" I laughed and said "Yep, he is!"

It was a fun place, but in the summer, you have to wait over an hour to be seated. The food wasn't THAT good! My hubby, SirKit's, family is having their reunion in Fort Morgan, just west of Gulf Shores, late in September. We'll have to go there one night when it's not so crowded.

[Gabz]

We are definitely Buffet fans in this house. My husband bought me a 4CD collection just prior to our daughter’s birth so I would have music I enjoyed to pass the time in the “birthing room”.......Our daughter was quite a few days old before I ever even listened to the first of those CDs (she came fast). But Cheeseburger in Paradise is among her favorites!