Staying at home a choice??

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2007
Staying at home a choice??
2204
Sun, 04-29-2007 - 6:46am

The author of this article thinks most mothers go to work because they want to, not because they have to.

"Most parents from two-parent families today do have a choice when it comes to parental care. They can try and talk themselves into believing they don't, but it really boils down to priorities."

http://backofthebook.ca/living/2007/03/part-time-ophanages-part-2-job-only.html

Does anyone (other than her) really believe this? I don't know of anyone among my friends who works who wouldn't rather be staying at home with their children. But they don't have the choice!

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Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 11:52am
I don't know exactly how much my friends who have similarly-aged kids are saving, let alone my neighbors or other people I know more casually. I don't expect that they're all saving for the same type of school (public v. private), or that they all have the same plan for how to fund their kids' educations, or even that their ability to save is the same as ours. In any case, knowing what they have saved would not have any impact on how much we need to save or how much we will save.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2005
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 11:54am
Maybe lawyers tend to flock together? I know that's true of scientists :-). Easily 90% of our close friends are scientists, and we all have a pretty good idea of who makes what. Otoh, it's all guesswork because actually discussing financial details (beyond, for example, how much a house or furniture or renovations cost) is simply taboo.


Edited 5/10/2007 11:55 am ET by cl-laura_w2
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 11:55am
Ah, you must be in DC too.
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 12:03pm
Could be! I've always liked DC.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 12:09pm
No, you got me there, but then again, I don't discuss anything of substance with any neighbors except one, and even with that family, we're not close enough to discuss money matters :)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 12:13pm

1) Their income is different. None of our close friends expect to quality for any aid, so all of us are trying to save 100% of all college expenses.


2) We may have differing goals, in terms of parental assistance. See answer to 1) above.


3) The girls could easily go to schools that have widely different tuition. As I mentioned, we're all saving for the best two or three in state schools.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 12:14pm
C'mon out any time.

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Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 12:20pm
Hey, you never know! I haven't been to DC in years, but someday I want to do an east coast trip with the kids.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 12:21pm

It's a coincidence that it does, otherwise one has nothing to do with the other.


PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 12:22pm

In other words, nothing.

PumpkinAngel

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