No offense, but this post concerns me a great deal. Since when does a career (CODE FOR MAKING MONEY) play any role in the equallity of a true love relationship. Also, because one marry’s someone fresh out of college, does that mean you are “marrying” down? This goes to the equality question. Job and earnings do not hold sway with me when it comes to my mate. We are equal because we have the same goals, dreams, desires, wants etc.... I make twice what she does as a staff accountant for a medium sized company. She is also 15 years younger than me. Does that mean I married down? No absolutely not. Sorry if I misinterpreted what you were trying to convey.
Yep. You misunderstood.
I wanted (needed!) to have my own career in my 20’s and 30’s and THEN raise up a bunch of kids. I was out of the house and into the Army at 17 and I ADORE my parents; no problems there. :)
I know my own capabilities, and I give 100% to whatever I take on, so there was no WAY I could have had a time-consuming, exciting, adventure-filled, globe-trotting military career WHILE raising the next Generation. During those years I was promoted up the ladder to E-7, with the next step offered prior to retirement as a First Sergeant (E-8) of a medium-sized Transportation Company. (I was one of a handful of women in the entire company.) I also had my ‘Certificate of Eligibility’ to become a Warrant Officer, but my boss wouldn’t retire, LOL!
There’s no WAY that, as a woman and knowing my own shortcomings, I could’ve accomplished all of that AND have raised kids at the same time.
I know many men do this, but “raising children” to me, was always going to be primarily MY “job” and not my husband’s. He’d be the Head of the Household, but he wouldn’t have to tend to the daily skinned knees, loose tooth, broken arm, feeding, meal planning, play dates, the after-public-school-de-programmings, etc. *WINK*
Women that think they can have a high-powered career AND raise their own kids are fooling themselves and short-changing their children, IMHO. I’ve seen it happen many times over...especially with other women in the military. Everyone loses.
But, since you asked, that’s just one Conservative Female Veteran’s opinion. Your mileage may vary. :)