General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I Look Down on Young Women With Husbands and Kids and I'm Not Sorry [View all]Stargazer09
(2,132 posts)If we truly valued the work that parents do, then we should, as a society, be willing to help parents (particularly moms) re-enter the workforce. Nobody should lose their life's work simply due to having a child.
Our society, as a whole, tends to look at stay-at-home moms as inferior people. We are seen as uneducated, unable to earn an income, less important to society. Unable to truly be exceptional. The author is right about that, in my opinion. I don't like it, but I see it every day.
Unfortunately, what isn't being covered here is whether or not the next generation truly benefits from having a stay-at-home parent. How do you measure that? How can anyone decide whether or not it's worth it to the children?
From a personal standpoint, sure, it feels good to see my children grow up and become successful, productive members of society. But what about me? After so many years of cooking, cleaning, taking care of ill children, doing laundry, and managing the household, who will hire me now? How can I make a personal contribution when I'm competing for jobs with kids fresh out of college?
If I could do it all over again, I would not have stayed at home with my children. I love them dearly, but they are growing up and leaving, and I feel left behind. I simply want to be able to support myself and contribute to society, but I feel like I missed my chance when I chose to be a mom.