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: 12-29-2004
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 11:58am
The more restrictive bankruptcy laws do nothing to address the financial instability behind the rise in bankruptcy.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 11:59am
Frustrated at times, yes, but not guilty. We wouldn't be convicted by a jury of our peers.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2005
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 12:01pm

good points & questions...i am definitely not fine w/our situation here in the U.S...ordinarily i wouldn't have cared so much about this debate, but twins tipped the scales for me...i could've handled two kids, one in daycare & the other in school...but two in daycare & one in afterschool...nope, not much of a choice there & it has turned my life inside out...i am currently grasping to try & find some income besides staying at home b/c it's not in my nature to not have any income...besides that the lack of finances has added great stress to my marriage which is no fun!!...so as far as america caring if i stay at home or what the circumstances are in order to do so, i doubt it tops the president's to do list...canada and other countries do seem to have better policies concerning these issues, however i don't know if or when this country will...the best thing i've heard of so far, was al gore's proposal of public pre-k school...even if you only had to worry about daycare or staying at home for a year or two, it's much better than four or five years...i pray there is more flexibility for future generations when it comes to this issue...funny how we think we've come such a long way, and in some ways we have, but in many others we haven't at all...

Laurel :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 12:01pm
"Working hard" has nothing to do with it. There is laziness everywhere. Also judgmental attitudes about who may or may not be doing their best. In any event, no reason for minor children to pay the price.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 12:04pm
Because of that, and I agree, we shouldn't reform bankruptcy law?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 12:05pm

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In rare form today, are we?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 12:08pm
I've already suggested some things I'd like to do about it. And yes, I am solidly middle class.I've never held a mortgage over 300K. I'm pretty sure your family income exceeds mine substantially. Are you middle class?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 12:15pm
ITA every word. It's called "structural inequality". It won't change in our lifetimes. But the purpose of the New Deal was to ameliorate the most egregious of the results. The need hasn't disappeared.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 12:17pm
Charity and volunteerism are important. But the underprivileged in this country need help. Revisit the minimum wage on a regular basis. Expand free and low cost child care. Do something serious about education, which NCLB is not. Universal health care. Hugely increased federal commitment to public housing and affordable housing...
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2005
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 12:22pm
i agree...think by my daughter's generation that they will wake up to that truth & put a foot down...at least I hope...I personally am tired of this hardest job ever where you are so worked and have to find out where you'll get your pay??!...i love them greatly, but also love myself as well and kids can take a toll on quality of life, if the circumstances around having them aren't ideal...it is quite an expensive task, and at this point parents (and yes, especially mothers) are the only ones really footing the bill besides the public education system in place & i have to begin to wonder the worth of that??

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