Working Mom to 2 Beautiful Kids
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| Thu, 07-06-2006 - 3:13pm |
In reading the other posts here, I feel the need to give my opinion (my mother-in-law's phrase - opinions are like rear-ends -- everyone has one and some stink worse than others - LOL!).
I'm an accountant. Granted, my job isn't physically demanding, but at times it is mentally challenging. There are days that I go home and I don't want to cook supper - I'd rather get a bucket of chicken or grab the family to go to the Mexican restaurant down the road to eat. I work 40 hours a week.
As for family's suffering because I work, I think it's give-and-take. Because of my income, we can afford things we wouldn't otherwise be able to have. My kids are able to take piano lessons (yes, they want to - it was their idea), one is in the band at school (who knew a clarinet costs $1,300???) and plays softball and basketball, her little brother is playing football (again, I had to fork out $65 up front - there's no telling how much more I'll have to fork out once practices start!). We drive a minivan with an entertainment system, we get to go to the beach for a week each year. My kids are flying to Dallas next week (we live in Alabama) to visit my sister for the next week. Plane tickets are expensive. All of these things we couldn't do without my income. Since both of my kids are school age, the only time I don't see them that I would if I were a SAHM is 1 1/2 hours in the afternoon during the schoolyear and during the day in the summers. I take them to school - I pick them up at 4:30.
The sacrifices we make because I work - my house isn't as clean as I would like for it to be, my house is a zoo every morning, I have a MOUNTAIN of laundry to do on Saturday, I have to wait for vacation days or holidays to repaint bedrooms or rearrange furniture.
My sister and 4 sisters-in-law all have the luxury (yes, LUXURY) of not having to work. I can't call them before 9 am because most times they aren't out of the bed yet. They call me all day long while I'm at work - "whatcha doin'?" Duh, I'm working!! One of them is on the computer on and off all day long - I know cause I'm sitting here in front of mine and I can see when she logs on and off the messenger program. They wonder why I don't have time to hit this sale or that one. Well, after working all day, shlepping the kids to 14 different activities, I really would rather not go shopping.
One other thing I don't think SAHMs realize - we working mothers aren't shirking our household responsibilities. I still have the house sitting there, waiting for me to come home to clean it. Dinner still has to get to the table. Laundry still has to be washed. Kids still have to be attended to.
I think to each his own - I was a SAHM while my 2 were babies - I couldn't imagine another woman receiving those yummy baby kisses or catching those toddler falls. But that was my preference -- as tired as I am each evening, I can't imagine coming home and taking care of a baby!

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Not really it is based on experience. In the past ten years we have seen our property taxes triple (and our mortage payment decrease). If they triple in the next ten years then they will be more than our mortgage payment. My parents experienced a similar phenomonon in Mass from 1969 to when they paid off their mortgage in 1989.
I have friends who bought their house very soon after graduating from college in the 1980's- their property taxes are currently about equal to their mortgage payment which is close to being paid off.
Three different state- same phenomomen. Of course it doesn't happen every where- but if you are in an area that it already over built (and I think you are)- then you may see it happen to yourself.
How much of the population on NC is eliminated if you eliminate the coast, the mountains and the few elite communities in between?
I'm sorry, when you say N. C. I assumed you are talking about a generality for the whole state- not just parts of it.
I thought you lived in a close in suburb.
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None of which negates a single thing I said, which was:
1. RNs with a B.S.N. are *more* employable than those with an A.S.N.
2. RNs with a B.S.N. command higher starting salaries than those with an A.S.N.
3. RNs with a B.S.N. are at an advantage, career-wise, than those with an A.S.N.
Note, I never said RNs with an A.S.N. don't earn a decent salary or can't find jobs. Simply that having the 4 year degree places nurses at a definite and tangible advantage.
Perhaps you might consider simply debating the things I actually say, instead of what you misrepresent my posts as saying. I know I would certainly appreciate it.
Then you have proven my point. Saving for college is not a necessity, it is a priority. I agree 100%.
I will concede that health care is a necessity for many people. However that was another avenue taken in the original debate that saving for college isn't a necessity. I think college is something that is becoming increasingly necessary to get a good job.
Edited 7/9/2006 8:10 pm ET by copwife35
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