As a Christian in the Southern Baptist Faith, my life and decisions are based/made upon that foundation. The foundation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born to a virgin, lived a sinless life and died on the cross as an atonement for the sins of mankind. And, whosoever accepts that can have an eternal life in heaven. This is MY belief.
Every person is uniquely individual with their own beliefs. No one is perfect, no one is the same, and everyone does things based on what they think is right. Although, many choose to do wrong, and even that is an individual decision.
Ann Romney is of the Latter Days Saints/Morman Faith. She and her husband decided early in their marriage that staying home and raising their five sons was her contribution to the home, and society. Being a mother is no laughing matter, nor is it an easy task especially to five sons. I know, I have three sons myself.
Making men out of boys is more than watching children grow up. Virtue, honesty, courtesy, integrity, and responsibility, to name a few, are not things that can be learned on the street, unless it is through some intervention program. Nor is it something that they "pick up" on their own. These are character traits that must be instilled, developed, and honed to make reputable future leaders of family and society.
Even King David, the author of Psalms, recognized the important role a woman has to her home, and to her children when he wrote:
He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. Psalms 113:9 (biblegateway.com)
Raising a family in a one income home is difficult. Unless Mitt Romney was independently wealthy through inheritance, it was his drive to provide for his family that made him a wealthy man. And, more than likely, there were sacrifices along the way in order for his wife to stay at home, and care for the home and family.
Education is a key factor in the ability to earn money. Education provides a greater chance of obtaining higher paying jobs. And, remembering that education is a lifelong journey, increasing your marketability through education should be top priority.
Working moms are born, and made. Some women are naturally born, professional women who NEED to work outside the home. My mother, and sister are two of those women. They would go nuts having to stay at home all day. I, on the other hand, am a "made" working mom. I HAD to work to support my sons. Only on occasion have I been afforded the luxury of being a stay-at-home mom.
Many women squander the time spent at home by watching soap operas, leaving dishes in the sink, not having meals prepared for their husbands when they return from work, and ignoring the children. These are the women who give stay-at-home moms a bad reputation.
Too, in today's society, the idea of Mr. Mom has become a trend. Dads raising children is more common. Women who have a good career, and make significant money often choose to continue to work while the husband tends to the home, and children. If it works, it is a good thing.
Working moms, whether by choice or by force, have to learn to juggle their homes, family, and career. It takes a superwoman to be a supermom; something many women have a tough time doing. Sometimes it takes an emotional toll on all involved. And, husbands are asked to take a more active role in house hold duties, and childcare. If it works, it is a good thing.
Some working moms have no support system at all to aid in child rearing and house hold duties. I truly feel for these women. Latchkey children are often left without supervision, and day cares are assembly line substitutes for attention, direction, and affection. Granted there are some wonderful preschool learning programs available, but you get what you pay for. Day care is expensive but, if it works, it is a good thing.
Problems do arise when the already heavily taxed welfare system is burdened with the extra expense of more children to feed due to the lack of family planning. It is a great concern for the tax payers of this country. This program should be viewed as a temporary solution to a temporary problem, not a lifestyle. And, I have worked two jobs, rarely seeing my children, in order to survive.
So, the battle between stay-at-home moms versus working moms will be an ongoing topic of discussion. And, it is my hope, my readers will take away from this message that the decision to be one or the other is a personal decision, and shouldn't be judged by anyone except those personally involved.
