Unique contributions to society

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Unique contributions to society
1504
Thu, 10-19-2006 - 4:12pm

In another thread, the "unique" contributions of SAHM's were alluded to but it wasn't stated what they are. Let's play a game and find out what they are. First, pretend that as of tomorrow, all moms SAH and detail what will be missing from society then pretend that all moms go to work and detail what will be missing from society. I'm really curious as to what people think a world without SAHM's orWOHM's would look like.

If all the moms who SAH went to work then the library would move story hour to the evening and summer vacation bible school would be held in the evenings so that all kids can attend and not just the kids of SAHM's. Banks would likely shift their hours to later in the day and you'd see more 24 hour stores. I think there would be more home cooking style restaurants too. I think day care centers would improve because of increased demand.

If all moms who WOH suddenly SAH, you'd see fewer service industries around because moms could do things themselves instead of paying for them. The nursing shortage would be more of a shortage. We'd probably have a shortage of teachers too. There'd be fewer government services because there'd be less tax dollars to pay for them. I can't think of anything else right now.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Fri, 10-27-2006 - 3:34pm

I agree.


PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 10-27-2006 - 3:35pm

The disadvantage that I see to early academics is that it can cause burnout and leave a whole large group of kids thinking they are "not good at school" when they actually could be if the schools went back to being developmentally appropriate. When you raise the bar so high for kindergarteners, you create a large pool of kids who are at risk for burnout or at risk for giving up because normal development gets them incorrectly labeled as "behind". And what does it do for the kids who can meet the bar? They escape the "not good at school" feeling of being a 5yo failure. But they are no more likely to be better readers in later years than their parents' generation who learned at a more developmentally appropriate time. They aren't actually "ahead" of anything nor are they exempt from the burnout brought on by overzealous educators who see this youthful ability as a green light to pile on too much homework at a young age.

At the end of the day- or at least at the end of childhood- nothing is gained and much is potentially lost from those who think they are "stupid" from the age of 5 and give up. And lost from those who meet the very high bar set by their parents and educators because they can and then burn out by the time they hit college because there is only so much a kid can take.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-11-2006
Fri, 10-27-2006 - 3:35pm

I agree but as a parent we have to decide how muc a child can be pushed no?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 10-27-2006 - 3:38pm
No, not in my particular situation.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Fri, 10-27-2006 - 3:42pm

I wish kindergarten and first grade would be more set up like the preschool setting that we experienced.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2005
Fri, 10-27-2006 - 3:45pm

That's a ridiculous assertion: we've already established that 89% of WOHM's of preschoolers utilize othercare on a regular basis. The WOHM is not doing more than a SAHM who cares for her preschool children in the 40 hours per week she would otherwise be working. Rather, the ***WOHM PLUS the child care provider*** are doing more. But how is it logical to compare the job of two people to one person? Of course a WOHM plus day care provider CAN do more than a SAHM, because 2>1. Seems like fairly simple math to me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 10-27-2006 - 3:46pm

You are so right.


I have one friend who WOH

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Fri, 10-27-2006 - 3:46pm

I agree...that's what I have been trying to say, but you said it much better.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2005
Fri, 10-27-2006 - 3:48pm

I'll gladly take on any day care in a 50 mile radius for the 15 month age level. Now in a competition with Supernanny, I'm not so sure. . . but we can't afford Supernanny anyway. . .

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2006
Fri, 10-27-2006 - 3:50pm
Full day kindergarten has been proven to be a good thing, especially for disadvantaged kids.

Sabina

Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,

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