Children should start school at two years old!

I don't think staying home with your children is a luxury - that's the first problem: terminology. As soon as we call it a luxury, we imply that it's something most people cannot attain. How many of you own a Rolls Royce? *crickets* Why? Because it's a luxury.

And like Meggo said, compared to much of the world, having a can of Coke is a luxury.

 

I am a SAHM (and have been since I had children). I also have a maid. (It's a cultural thing here.)

I consider both a blessing for which I'm SO grateful.

Whether or not it's a luxury, I'm not debating. Some women choose to work fulltime. There is no reason to vilify them. Some women choose to be SAHMs. There is no reason to glorify them.

Life presents us each with choices. We make the best decisions we can with the goals/morals/beliefs we have. I've made my choices, and I'll answer to the Lord for them.

 

Love5c, I agree, but so many women today work because they honestly think they do NOT have that choice. While this is true for some, most don't. A good number of working moms fuss about how they'd love to have that "luxury", but aren't willing to make the sacrifices needed to make it possible. And I get tired of hearing them fussing!

 

Before moving here, we did Christian Financial Counseling for about 7 years (with Crown Financial and through our church).

I definitely hear what you are saying. There are times that I've wanted to throw people across the room.

But there are lots of people who've bought into lies, and it's heartbreaking. And I've worked with many people who have tried and failed to make the sacrifices. I think we've all had goals and failed. (Take these stinkin' 10 remaining pounds of baby weight, for instance. Aargh!!)

So, I don't disagree with your thoughts. I just feel more hurt and sadness for them than I do frustration.

 

So many work because they HAVE to pacify a husband who has bought into feminism, hook line and sinker. He figures that he has a right to fancy toys and nice vacations. And putting his wife to work helps him have those extras. The wife gets annoyed that he gets all this stuff because if she is going to work she is going to get some toys too.

Too many men in our society have never been taught to value what a SAHM brings to a family. Even in our church there are men who don't get it. They don't see how much closer our family is because when my dh gets home we can spend time together instead of running around like crazy cleaning cooking and doing homework. They don't see how much better life is when there is a family emergency that we have someone at home to take care of it. They don't see the lack of fighting between my dh and I because we are too tired to connect at the end of the day. I could go on, but I am preaching to the choir.

I have been able to do some free-lance, part time work here lately that I am enjoying SO much to bring in a little spare change. But being a mom is my calling. My first calling and I am glad to do it.

I don't believe that EVERY mom is called to stay home. But too many never see the benefits of having a mom at home because they have never tried it. On the board I visit related to my work, I;ve talked to moms who quit their jobs to work at home because their lives are just so much more peaceful. They started out doing that work on maternity leave and the whole family benefited so much that they quit for good.

I don't in general see it as a luxury. My dh and I decided that I would stay at home, even when he was making 30K and we had 30K in debt. We lived on NOTHING for years. His parents NEVER lived above the poverty line