WOH/Kids/Feminism: WDYT?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
WOH/Kids/Feminism: WDYT?
1456
Tue, 02-08-2005 - 9:06am

Okay, let's debate something else. One morning a few months ago, I was crabby to DH about having to get ready for work. DH said, "Well, if you don't want to go to work, quit!"

Later that day, I told him I was just venting, and then I told him some of the reasons I really do like WOH. One reason was something to the effect that I wanted to WOH as part of at-home feminism for our DD's. He said he had no idea what I was talking about.

I thought about it some and decided that although this is a heartfelt idea for me, it's still fuzzy. I suppose I meant that I want to show my DDs how to live independently of a man, in the sense of income, ability to make one's way in the world, and so on, even if they choose marriage & kids. My feelings of pride in my own mom, who was a WOH mom, come into it, too.

Caution: I don't mean in any way to suggest anything the least bit negative about SAH moms. That's not what this is about. Nor do I mean to suggest that anyone has to WOH to teach their kids feminist or gender neutral values. That's not what this is about, either.

Do you think there's any value in WOH as part of raising kids? Please help me clarify my thinking.

Sabina

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Mon, 02-14-2005 - 12:23pm
I know, it's crazy huh. I can buy a whole chicken for around $2. (2.50 normally, sometimes on sale for less than 2) I know it's not possible for many people to spend so little on food, but for some reason food costs are low here. If I drove more, I'm sure gas costs would more than make up for it! LOL It's always a shock to visit dh's parents or my mom and have groceries cost double, or triple what they do here.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Mon, 02-14-2005 - 12:25pm
Yes!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2003
Mon, 02-14-2005 - 12:26pm
ITA!

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Mon, 02-14-2005 - 12:27pm
Wow. Mortgage + preschool is a little over $9000 a year for us. Dh just got a great promotion, and we're looking at moving to a bigger house (yayyyy I'm excited) so things are looking up.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2003
Mon, 02-14-2005 - 12:30pm

I'll trade ya ... preschool + mortgage = 14600.

Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color.  Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable.

Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 02-14-2005 - 12:38pm

Yep, you do spend less. How many adults are in your family though and how often do you eat out? We eat out once a week together, on average. I eat out for work about 2 - 3 times a week...
And we have a live in nanny so I'm buying groceries for 3 adults, 2 toddlers and 2 huge dogs.

MM

Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 02-14-2005 - 12:40pm
Yep, I have to agree with you there! Having spent a little bit of time in both places for work...I'm very *very* happy not to live in either one:-) Life is just too short.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2003
Mon, 02-14-2005 - 12:44pm

That brings up another point ...


What is in people's "grocery" cateogry? I separate out, for budgeting purposes, household goods (toilet paper, cleaning supplies) and pet care (cat litter cat food, etc)

Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color.  Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable.

Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 02-14-2005 - 12:59pm

Yes, me too. I currently spend more like $300 a week on groceries for a family of 3 adults, 2 toddlers. When I'm at home more I'll try to cut that down a bit. But its expensive where we live, very...and I buy all organic everything...so I've been more concerned with quality, freshness, biodegradability (dish soap to paper towels, etc) than cost.

Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 02-14-2005 - 1:03pm
Yes, that's a good point. When I say groceries I mean everything I buy at the grocery stores, or large shops like Costco. $300 a week is all cleaning, all household products from light bulbs to dog food, etc. Everything.

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