Ranks of stay-at-home mothers on the rise

Houston Chronicle ^ | June 17, 2003 | AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I love that story!

[lizma]

When moms are working, who does these priceless things in the neighborhood?

You bring up a very good point I hadn't even though about.

I do alot of volunteer work in my community and so do most of the stay at home moms I know. I think it's a much more valuable service to our society than handing over tax dollars.

If women would sit down and compute the cost of working (the extra tax burden, day-care or sitters, working wardrobe (the cost of all those pantyhose alone is astronomical!) and alot more make-up (at least for me!), gas and car use, and even meals (eating lunch out, more fast food dinners cuz you're too tired to cook or buying frozen dinners in a box instead of making from scratch), I think they would find they really aren't making that much at all!! Certainly not enough to let someone else raise their children. We really didn't have to make that many changes in our lifestyle.

Jeez. Even the reduction in stress benefits everyone.

This is a great book on the working mom is superior myth.

What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us : Why Happiness Eludes the Modern Woman

Well gotta go bake cookies. YIPEEE!!!!! (And I mean that)

[elk]

Thanks for the link. Miserly Moms is also a good read on the topic-- real practical on how to actually calculate the costs of working, and reasonable strategies on making it happen. I think it's by Joni McCoy, although I can't confirm because I've lent my copy to a buddy in the workforce who is trying to come home to raise her kids!