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

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2003
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 12:51pm

that sounds awesome....

You know, having spend a lot of my childhood near the ocean, I absolutely love the smell of the the beach/ocean. It's very "comforting". My dh, OTOH, grew up in the midwest and his family wasn't into travelling to the coasts/ocean. He doesn't mind the beach, but could really do without the scent. lol.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 12:52pm
I guess that I just don't understand. I would say my childhood was very very similar to yours. I can't think of one traumatic thing that happened to me as a child and I have many many memories that I cherish of my childhood home. I lived in it for 18+ years, but I didn't expect my parents to keep it forever. For any reason, especially not to appease me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 12:53pm

I can relate.

PumpkinAngel

Avatar for laurenmom2boys
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 12:56pm
I have to wholeheartedly agree with you. I think I've been very fortunate all my life to be able to get to the ocean within a half hour drive. I'd prefer a house closer, or better yet *on* the beach. But that would be waaaaaay out of my ballpark!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2004
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 12:58pm

Well, we've clearly all had very different life experiences.

Mondo

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 12:58pm
Clued into what? The fact that he isn't completely satisfied with the way you would handle job as mother to your kids so he prefers hired help?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 1:00pm
The problem with your and Mondo's theory is that Felicia's mom was still alive then.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2004
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 1:01pm

EWWW. Reminds me of Galveston.

Mondo

Avatar for laurenmom2boys
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 1:01pm
Absolutely. And in our case, DH is only licensed to practice in the northeast, where the COL is very high. He cannot practice in any state he's not licensed in. And it's a pretty daunting task to go through licensing procedures in other states.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 1:02pm
Those factors aren't present in PNJ's case.

Pages