Is the SAHM the new status symbol?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Is the SAHM the new status symbol?
1697
Tue, 09-23-2003 - 10:36pm
In the 70's and 80's women fought to get into the workforce (the whole Ms. magazine generation)...and then the tide turned in the late 1990's when more women started to stay home by choice. Now, it seems like being a SAHM is a status symbol....and superior to being a working mom.

Kat

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2003
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 5:12pm
I agree. Happy people don't develop societies, invent things, etc, etc, etc... They have no need to change things because they're happy the way things are. If someone's goal in life is to be happy, so beit but the rest of us are going to go right on changing things and making them better. IMO, we weren't meant to sit back on our happy little haunches and proclaim our lives wonderful. We're meant to make things better, to grow and develop.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2003
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 5:12pm
Yes, I am.

Yes my kids are in school & preschool.

Yes, I do employ a nanny (no exact schedule weekly, but utilized weekly)

The nanny takes care of the kids while dh & I do things together or attend/host business functions or entertain. That way the kids get to play or go to movies, plays, the theme parks while we do something for adults (dinner out at a nice restaurant, a grown up movie). She takes care of the kids if I need her for other things (late appointments, I can't always get a dr or dental visit during 'school' hours on last minute notice). Some times I have to be at the school so she takes care of the younger. Or I have to be at the preschool so she takes care of the older. Or I have to be at church. We don't see the nanny every day or even 2 days in a row! Sometimes we do, but not on a regularly (weekly) basis.

But my volunteer roles are just that 'volunteer'. If something else needs to be done, I can plan accordingly.

Dh & I see where *my* contributions are and that is what is important.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 5:13pm
I know many, many moms who fit the stereotype. Completely self involved spending most of their time on their favorite pursuit - themselves. I could write a book.

I know one woman who, like a poster here, has a sitter who comes 5 hours a day. The sitter comes AFTER the youngest gets out of nursery school, so mom has ALL DAY to herself. This women will save up the jobs like feeding lunch and bathing her children for the nanny. She then shops, plays tennis and volunteers (I guess you could call it noble, but it's for the kind of stuff that assures her photo will appear weekly in the newspaper, like save the pink spotted egret). She also has a sitter every Fri. and Sat. night and on Sunday she has no choice, she has to bathe her own children. Quel drag.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2003
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 5:15pm
I'm amazed, yes, amazed that people think this way. I know quite a few people, both family & friends, that are 2-showers-a-day people. And odd to change sheets daily & towels? No, I hear others say they do the same thing
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2003
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 5:21pm
I am disturbed that you don't take this more seriously. It's like you don't realize that what you do *can* affect others lives. Either you don't realize it, or you don't care.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2003
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 5:21pm
Wife & mother foremost. Those were always top priorities. I wanted a business degree. Really didn't have a *goal* in mind as far as a specific career. Was in hotel mgt, loved it. But went back to pursue teaching. I wanted to teach home economics.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2003
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 5:24pm
And that is fine, if that is how you want to lead your life. I can lead mine as I desire. That is what I'm doing. If you get to lead yours, petey gets to lead hers, I get to do it my way for my life.

I don't feel a need to do the things you mention. Just be a great wife, mother, enjoy my family, our extended family, and enjoy life as a whole. Give to my church and school.

I *do* feel within the confines of my home I *do* make things better. This is the whole purpose my Dh and I founded the idea of having me to SAH. I know you disagree. But that is OK. I won't change.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 5:24pm
And good thing they have husbands that are willing to actually do the work to make the money to fund their life of leisure. Someone has to do the drudgery of work.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 5:24pm
Exactly.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2003
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 5:26pm
Gosh! I can't imagine hiring the nanny to come over & give the kid's baths or feed them dinner. Good grief! We also don't have a nanny or sitter every single fri, sat nights.

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