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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Karen
"A pocketknife is like a melody;sharp in some places,
Everytime you've finished up your Pie/Sky imaginings with thestatements to the effect that all it takes is planning or setting one's priorities a specific way. After all, it' that's really all it takes, you *are* saying everyone can do it and that it's always possible.
So tell me. How would different priorities and planning avert the need for my neighbors to have their son treated at Johns Hopkins? are they supposed to be willing to sacrifice their son's treatment all for the thrill of living in Cleveland?
Karen
"A pocketknife is like a melody;sharp in some places,
Where does the word "priority" denote a judgement of "better than" when used in the context of this discussion? Priorities for everyone are going to be different- some by preference, others by necessity. Just because one doesn't prioritize sah above a higher income, more expensive area or unwillingness to move etc. doesn't make their priorities "less appropriat" or those of someone who does somehow "better. I think you're reading too much into things here... Or am I missing something? Did she or anyone else say that they were better than anyone else or making better decisions or that sah is a better priority for everyone etc.?
Wytchy
yes, you have said that. Every time you've said all it take is "priorities" or "planning" or all those other buzz words you've used to suggest that people just need to change their lives to match yours and voila! Instant cheap housing at slave wages.
Sorry, but you can't debate out of both sides of your keyboard here...either "all it takes" is setting different priorities and planning (meaning anyone can do it if they really want it ) or it's not true. Decide which one it is you're really meaning to say.
Karen
"A pocketknife is like a melody;sharp in some places,
Karen
"A pocketknife is like a melody;sharp in some places,
I thought the issue was monthly cost, not long term value.
Wytchy
And in some areas the risk isn't nearly as large as you are making it out to be, nor it it anywhere near as close to the edge as you believe it to be. That is and has been my point.
Wytchy
But it's not usually based on the national poverty levels unless those are applicable to the conditions of that particular area.
If the housing complex I spoke of above were to use the national poverty levels to set rent subsidies, the cut off for a family of 4 would not be $52K/year income.
The poster tried to suggest that the national poverty level has any real relevance to things like...oh say...life, as opposed to simply be a means by which the government tracks nationwide trends, but NOT by how they set assistance.
Karen
"A pocketknife is like a melody;sharp in some places,
Karen
"A pocketknife is like a melody;sharp in some places,
Her original post (the unedited version) most definitely described a juxtaposition between herself and her friend. . .then went on to say something about
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