WOH/Kids/Feminism: WDYT?
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| 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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Mondo
It's not the area itself, it's the lack of job prospects.
Mondo
It doesn't make sense to *you* based on your priorities and situation. Anymore it's the rare family who *does* live near their extended families. Moving away from them isn't an issue when one doesn't live near them to begin with. For others, having a parent at home with the kids is more important than having grandma right down the street. While you don't know anyone who would move in order to provide the sort of lifestyle that they want for their family, I do.
Wytchy
Nope. I grew up in rural Pa, but I now live in suburban Ohio. :)
Wytchy
Not if she moved into an area where $37,000 was a reasonable living wage, which in many places it *can* be.
Wytchy
But if one can provide a comfortable iving on 37,000, why should anyone bad mouth their choices? As the child of a sahm, I don't remember our family's financial shortcomings, even though my mom swears we were quite tight with money. What I remember and care/d about was having my mom at home and having that interactive and close relationship (and consistancy/security/enjoyment) with her. If she "sacrificed" her ability to earn that $80,000 but spent those years/time/energy with her children, which is more valuable? According to *my* priorities for *my* family, time spent with my children is *FAR* more valuable than an ability to climb to the top of the corporate ladder and make a close to 6-figure salary. If money is more important to *you*, that's great, but where is it your, or anyone elses place to say otherwise for anyone else?
Wytchy
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