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: 03-27-2003
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 12:58pm
Now I'm curious. You didn't send your children to any type of preschool/daycare prior to sending them to K? Why?
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 1:07pm
That is exactly the reason *why* I still SAH. My SAH allows my dh to focus a lot of attention on his job and his business, so that when the time comes (degree finished, etc) that I go back to work, I don't *have* to be flexible, because he can be.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 1:21pm

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Never said you did, but it's amazing based on my personal experience, how many families don't.


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PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 1:41pm

<<...So how is 'School' not a good enough reason to start sending your child there at 5? You've asked why it's suddenly ok to send your child to school to be watched by someone else... School is different from day care.. it's education. >>


Because 5 is not a magic age.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 1:50pm
ITA. I can't imagine just waiting to send my kids to school until K just because that is when the state starts paying for it. Frankly, I can't imagine that there are very many kids for whom that would be the best choice, or even a good choice. Kids benefit from exposure to a group care/education setting prior to K. The type and amount that is best for each child will vary, but unless you are planning to homeschool I can't see how it would be good to not use some type of preschool.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2006
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 1:55pm

>><>

Thanks. A parent is not needed *as much* because the child is attending daycare and is no longer *at home*. I'ts not that hard of a concept to grasp to use your sentiment.<<

All my examples have been with a parent who is at home up to the school age... I wasn't talking about parents who use day care or other care...

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2006
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 1:55pm
They are not old enough yet. My older one will be going to some sort of pre-school next year.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2006
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 1:58pm
No, not IME.

Sabina

Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2006
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 1:59pm

I am not using daycare because I stayed at home for the first while, now I am at work and my husband is staying home. Not that daycare is bad... we just prefer to do it ourselves. I dont like that some people see a parent wanting to take care of their own child instead of using daycare as some sort of novelty.

My older one would probably love daycare because of the social setting, but since we're staying home with the younger one (6 months) I dont see the point of paying for daycare for the older one at the moment.

Yes daycare is not evil but I dont see it as the best choice over everything else...

Edited: If I had to use daycare, meaning both of us had to work, then I would, and i know my kids would be ok... but we love being home with them... so why pay for it when we dont have to... that's just how I see it




Edited 10/26/2006 2:03 pm ET by iheartsam72
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:03pm
But you say you are starting daycare/preschool with your kids when they get older. So you must see it as a better choice than keeping them home until K? No?

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