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?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2004
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 7:24pm

Why? It has turned out well for me.

Mondo

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 7:25pm
How did your outreach program advertise that it was going to be there in the first place?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 7:26pm

Different planet? That would be correct. 40 million individuals in the US have no health insurance. I find it hard to believe that each and every one of them is cared for through a public program. If health care were so freely available, how could my HMO get away with charging $13K for my family plan?

With regard to education, it's a known fact that about 1 in 6 adults are functionally illiterate in the US. People don't know how many states there are or when the Civil War was. And that's just the adults. Our educational system is a mess.

Who are these "deserving poor children"? Are they different from the *undeserving* poor children? Most minorities can't even qualify academically for college, even if college were free of charge.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 7:29pm
The thing is, the gap between the income level to qualify for those types of programs and the income level at which one could feasibly afford healthcare themselves is pretty large.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 7:31pm
LOL, prevention! Don't get me started. The whole health system is SO focused on disease and not on prevention. That's an area where even those with decent coverage totally get the shaft.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2005
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 7:32pm
Right, my *percentage* is higher, but only because your dh earns more than I do. If it's so damned unfair, tell your dh to ask for a paycut. I'm earning about $67K now, so just ask for that; I'm sure his employer will be happy to help. That way, my percentage will be the same as yours and you'll be happy.

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: 09-15-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 7:33pm

<>


What was so special about my background? Divorced parents, mother working 3 jobs to support us, myself working 3 jobs through HS and first year of college, dropping out of college and continuing only much later on and while working full-time. I'm white. Is that my advantage? I'm a Yankee, I'd say that's a disadvantage ;)


I worked selling furniture on straight commission for 3 years while still in school. I lived on my own, in my own apartment with a car. I did pretty well for a 20 year old, made about 40K a year. Then I moved to MI and worked in a dental office till I got hired by a software company in support. Dental software, so the move made sense.


I always did alright. Between $35 and $40 my working years. I did what I did because I had bills to pay.


Did you grow up in horrible conditions that I don't know about?



Meldi
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 7:34pm
Is there a cap on the amount of dollars one can contribute per year or something, and that is how the % is calculated?
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 7:36pm

Depends on the place.

Meldi
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 7:39pm
Then I don't know. I know that the biggest problem here is that they have services, but you don't know about them unless you go somewhere specific and ask.

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