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: 01-13-2006
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 6:32pm
but who decides that 5 is the best time to start school. my son is 3 and he started K3 this year - should i return to work. next year he will be in K4 which is full day m-w-f. what i have found is that the older my children get harder it would be to woh.
Jennie
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 6:40pm

Yes, of course. If the kids are in school, then the sahm is only taking care of them after school, in the summer, and on school breaks. If the wohm is able to completely work around the kids' schedule (including summers and school breaks), then the sahm isn't taking care of her kids any more than the wohm is taking care of hers.

But the poster I responded to has a small child who isn't in school yet, and that's what I was thinking of. Most sahms sah with young kids. I don't agree that the wohm in that case is doing everything the sahm does plus working. The sahm is taking care of her kids while the wohm is at work. So I don't agree that the wohm has some claim to moral superiority because she's automatically doing "more."

Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 6:45pm
No magic, just age and development. Many people see a difference between putting an infant or toddler in a group setting and putting a 5-yr-old in a group setting (educational or otherwise).
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 7:07pm
Ok, but that's not unique to dcps.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2006
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 8:42pm
You just described my life. I was a SAHM for 12.5 years. In part because of the cost of child care. I returned to the work force when my DD3 went to 1st grade because there was no reason to SAH and babysit the house and minus childcare costs virtually everything I make benefits the family.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2005
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 8:49pm

I think some children are probably ready earlier than others, and since mine is only 15 months old I have no idea what that age will be for him. If I found a great pre-school program in our area I can imagine him starting at age 3 for a few hours a few days a week. I was 4, one month short of 5, when I started full-day kindergarten, although we did have 1 1/2 hour break for lunch (at home). And I did fine. I think I started mornings in a day care of sorts when I was 3 and I did fine too, although apparently I had a problem biting the other kids. I did grow out of it after Miss Wheeler bit me back, so the story goes. . .

At any rate, that was decades ago and a continent away, so I have no idea what the "norm" is for the U.S. in 2006. But from your situation it sounds like it would be difficult to get ftwoh with the K4 hours. But why would it get harder to WOH if the kids are increasingly away from home at school? Once he starts--K5, would it be?--wouldn't he be in school all day every day? I think some kindergartens in this area are either half days or let out very early, so it would be impossible for me to work my former job without hiring some help to pick him up and babysit after school, but by first grade the kids are in school roughly 7 hours a day, so it seems like it would be a little easier to stagger the parents' work shifts.

I'm genuinely interested, as I see myself returning to work once DS (or a hypothetical younger sibling) enters 1st grade.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2006
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 8:52pm
For many people it comes down to the cost not avoidance of childcare. Public school is free, daycare providers charge for their services.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2005
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 8:53pm

And I would dare to venture that most ECE experts see a great difference between the two situations, peer interaction increasingly becoming more beneficial as the child advances.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2004
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 9:19pm

Great post. I get annoyed with the "well then, are you going to homeschool?" come back that is predictable whenever a poster voices negative feelings about othercare. It is a completely different thing to send a five year old to K, to be educated, than it is to put a 6 month old in othercare for 7 hours a day.

Robin

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2004
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 9:24pm

"If the wohm is able to completely work around the kids' schedule (including summers and school breaks), then the sahm isn't taking care of her kids any more than the wohm is taking care of hers."

I don't know about you, but my kids attended school 180 days per year. If I could have found a FT job that only required me to work 180 days per year I would have been a happy camper.

Robin

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