Does America want Moms to stay at home?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2005
Does America want Moms to stay at home?
987
Mon, 12-12-2005 - 11:28am
It was actually dh that suggested that America (gov't I suppose) wants Moms to stay at home. From what I have learned from these boards daycare is hideously expensive and maternity leave is very short. Many have said they couldn't afford to work because of daycare costs. Compare this to Canada where we have $7 a day daycare and Quebec is increasing maternity leave to 2 years at 55% pay or 1 year at 75% pay in January. With the $7 a day daycare Moms can easily afford to work, and with the paid maternity leave Moms can easily afford to stay home. It seems that in the states you're 'forced' into situations because it's your only option. Can't afford daycare? Stay at home. Maternity leave too short or have to work to support the family? Go back to work. Would any of you prefer if it would be easier financially to make either decision like it seems to be in Canada or are you fine with how it is?

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosted by Photobucket.com


Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 6:11pm
I totally understand all that. But that doesn't have anything to do with saying people are poor because they don't work hard.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2005
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 6:12pm
LOL, are you kidding? When I was active duty, we used to PLAN our lunch hour around General Hospital (it was on AFN at noon). We saw that entire storyline play out; it was awesome!!! LOL (and NOT just the women, either, I might add....)

Karen


"IHere are some juicier bits from the

Karen

"Veronica: "I hate fake deer too. Every time I see their stupid fake-deer faces I want to grab a shotgun and go all Cheney on 'em." Sure, but since fake deer don't talk, they won't

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2004
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 6:13pm
LOL, you're sweet.

I don't think I should have ever needed your, or anyone else's charity, since

Mondo

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 6:18pm
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-1999
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 6:19pm

So you're saying that ALL poor people work hard? That's a blanket statement that simply isn't true. And I don't buy it for a second. My renter spends a LOT more time at home than my DH does. She works 40 hrs a week to his 90. DH and I have often wondered why she doesn't get a second job to help pay her bills. Why not? I mean, if she really cared about digging herself out of the financial mess she's created for herself, why not do everything in her power to pull herself out of it?

I said earlier that some poor people work very hard (I'm sure 16 hrs of apple picking is hard work), but the fact of the matter is that compensation is generally tied to education and level of skill. In some professions, hrs worked make a difference as well. Are you going to tell me that DH's 90 hr work weeks aren't extreme? I think he's compensated fairly when all things are considered. As was my dad when he was climbing telephone poles (which, is very hard work).

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-1999
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 6:20pm

Ok, I never figured you for the GH type. ROTFLMAO. I've been watching my whole life. Used to plan my college classes around it. Funny, I watch it less now as a SAHM, than I did growing up.

Yeah...I'm stunned.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 6:21pm
Exactly. So what if a few people who are lazy and don't care get free stuff? If it helps those who are working as hard as possible and still can't make it, that's ok with me. Talking about healthcare. (Good grief, what happened to me... I thought I was conservative)
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 6:24pm
I didn't say all. But on the flip side, not all poor people *don't* work hard. We all know slackers, we all know people who try and bleed the system. There's nothing you can do to prevent that. I have no doubt your dh is compensated fairly for what he does. But I would go so far to say that *most* people who are poor do work very hard. Believe me, I never would have said this 10 years ago. It's amazing what you see living somewhere where most people aren't bringing in the big bucks. 60% of the homes in my town are rentals.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2005
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 6:27pm

ooh, green-eyed monster? What's with "gets to" stay home with her kids? Like you're somehow forced against your will to have your kids ripped viciously from your loving, maternal arms, while you trudge off to that legal sweatshop you call a job and pine all day for the cookies you could have baked with Petey and Joey?

CM and her dh earn $30K, have a mortgage and two kids AND her dh is a partner in a start up venture. On that income and with those deductions, why would you be shocked she barely owes any taxes at all?

According to you, you LIKE your life as it's set up, so why piss and moan over CM's tax liability? Let alone have the gall to include her among the poor and downtrodden.

Karen


"IHere are some juicier bits from the

Karen

"Veronica: "I hate fake deer too. Every time I see their stupid fake-deer faces I want to grab a shotgun and go all Cheney on 'em." Sure, but since fake deer don't talk, they won't

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2005
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 6:35pm
Because so many American doctors are trained in Mexico?

Karen


"IHere are some juicier bits from the

Karen

"Veronica: "I hate fake deer too. Every time I see their stupid fake-deer faces I want to grab a shotgun and go all Cheney on 'em." Sure, but since fake deer don't talk, they won't

Pages