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: 09-04-1997
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:05pm
DH and I are both control freaks, each in our own way. Luckily, our areas where we feel the need to be in control don't overlap all that much. There are occasional sparks flying over the issue, but mostly, we do the "separate spheres" thing quite nicely. For instance, I am an absolute nut case when it comes to certain areas of "hygiene" in the house -- I can't stand dirty kitchens or bathrooms, and sheets *must* be changed on a regular basis, and vacuuming MUST be done regularly.....on the other hand, I can tolerate a bit of clutter. DH doesn't have any standards at all as far as how often toilet bowls need to be cleaned, as far as I can tell, but he's quite content to let me wield the brush any time I want. He, however, cannot tolerate clutter in any form. So he tidies up, and I clean.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:06pm

Here. I"ll type slower.

Scenario A. Billy is 4.5. He does not go to preschool. There is a preschool available, affordable, that has the SAME curriculum standards, the same student:teacher ratio, the same quality level as the local district kindergarten. However, he does not go. His mother feels it is not appropriate for him to do so. He is not at the appropriate age.

Scenario B. Billy is now one day older. He goes to the local district kindergarten.

Why is it *suddenly* appropriate for Billy to go?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2006
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:07pm
I guess I should have been more clear... when I was talking about school at age 5, i was really thinking about full time 5 day a week school, not pre school or kindergarden... I want them to go to pre school etc, our friend has a girl a little older than ours and shes in preschool 2 days a week for half days... so one of us would still be needed to provide care
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2006
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:09pm

Sorry, my posts were not clear enough before. I wouldn't suddenly thrust my child into school at age 5... i would use preschool or kindergarden. But there is a time / age when they are in school 5 days a week for full days...

The local preschool is 2 or 3 days a week for half days... when my child starts that, then there will still be the need for my husband or me at home. Since the younger one is years away from school, and my husband will be at home with her, he will be available to provide the care for our older one.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:10pm

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*snort* And so many daycare directors go trolling under the bridge to hire staff for their preschool rooms.

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How familiar are you with public school systems? I have a great one. However, I didn't know until 4 days before school started who my son's or daughter's teachers were. I wasn't able to research their education, their teaching style, or their qualifications. I had to have trust and faith in the district to hire qualified people.

However, at all the daycare facilities my children have attended, I have been able to research not only the facility (analogous to the district), but the individual teacher and the individual classroom. I know who my son's pre-K teacher was MONTHS before he started in her class. I met her, knew her, saw her credentials, saw her in action.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:16pm

I really think that the many parts of the US are finally getting it, well at least here in the midwest they are finally getting it, lol.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2004
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:18pm

I don't think that anything magical happens at age 5. My kids both attended 2, 3 hour days of preschool when they were 3-4 and then transitioned to 5, 3 hour days of K when they were 5. I am not a fan of full day K. Luckily, our district did not have it.

Robin

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:19pm

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Yes, I know...I keep reminding you that you can't assume that a sahp isn't using daycare or that a wohm is using daycare.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:20pm

Why?

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2006
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 2:23pm

I'm not referring to all stay at home or all working parents in my original example... but one specific sampling of stay at home parents not using othercare... but the argument has taken so many tangents now... so i'm going to move on to another thread.

I admitted to not having children in school yet, or even old enough for preschool... and that I wasn't clear enough in some of my posts... so if you feel the need to gloat that i'm bowing out of this debate now, go ahead...

The current discussion is muddled now because some posters think I'm tossing my child out the door at age 5 and refusing to use any kind of othercare or preschool... There is a difference between bowing out of a debate because it's got out of hand and running away from a debate.

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