Lately I've been coming across a lot of articles in support of the art of homemaking and homekeeping. In other words, the art of women staying home to keep the house and raise the children. Some of these articles are charming, others bring up interesting points, and others disturb me when they encourage the house keeper to "submit" to the financial supporter (aka husband) and put everyone before themselves.
For me, I'd be delighted to stay home and "keep house". Oh, wait, I pretty much do, only I work at home too. I do have an issue when it comes to cooking though!
In any case I'm wondering, do you feel that you support homemakers? Or, are you part of the "back lash" against homemakers?
What are your thoughts?
4 comments:
I had it good... really good. My mom stayed home until I was in middle school to raise three children. (I am the youngest) Then she got a part time job, then finally a full time job when I went to high school.
Also growing up, my best friend's mom stayed home as well. So where ever I went, I had a mom watching out for me. I never knew after school care, etc. It was the best of all worlds to be honest...
But looking back, I have NO CLUE how my parents were able to afford it. I guess this is why I didn't get any toys I really wanted. Ah well, at least I had my mom around to tell me so.
I agree with Stacie that strangers should not be raising children, but I disagree that it has to be mom that does so! Some of my friends have taken a dual approach - mom stayed home until the baby was weaned, then dad came home while mom went back to work. Or a combination of this - both working part time, taking turns raising and loving their child (or children).
It is financially taxing for them but they also prefer to live a simpler lifestyle, which I think alleviates some of the pressure. And it is also an attempt to address what they see as outdated gender roles (I tend to agree).
- canadian penguin
My mom stayed home for a while too, and I remember when she went back to work, I felt betrayed in a sense.
However, I also learned that people need to do what is best for them as well. I do feel that kid benefit having at least one parent stay home, and, it makes it easier (not having to leave work in the middle of the day if the other parent has to work too) etc.
Once you have a kid, you might think you'll do things a certain way. I know I did. I had set standards and rules, only to realize that some things I couldn't do, as they weren't the best for Pook in the long run.
I imagine giving advice on raising children is like giving advice on weight loss. What works is heavily centered on individual lifestyle and personality falling under just enough of an "umbrella" to portray the illusion of a common answer.
Growing up I have seen children with full time stay-at-home parents who would have done far better in a strangers care! Or people who have tightened their budgets so much, or given up their professional desires, that their child, while wonderful, bears some sting of resentment or, perhaps, of regret.
Linda and I are big-family oriented and fully believe that it takes a village to raise a healthy, independent child. We have re-arranged our work schedules to require only 5 hours of baby-sitting needs 4 days a week starting around December and going until May. (It's nice that Linda is a high school teacher).
Who then fills this gap? Patterning ourselves after my sister, we have grandparents filling in. It is a task they most readily (and in the past have readily) accepted. It is a tried and true style in both our families and we have, communally, been pleased with results so far.
-Ed
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