Posted by lindes on November 05, 2003 at 20:31:40:
The American government and society need to awaken to the notion that being a full-time stay at home mother is the most important job within the human species. It's true that the economic structure needs workers in order to sustain, but how much of that structure must include women with young children? How many men, who are the sole breadwinner of their family, have been unable to find a job because a "working mother" took the job? A mother with 2, 3 or perhaps more children who are being raised by strangers or relatives while mom pursues her "real" career at the expense of not only her own children, but at the expense of a hard-working middle class man who wants and needs to support his family. In most, not all, but most cases, these "working mothers" have husbands/partners who are also employed; that means two-incomes in one family, while some have none. Is that a fair system? Of course not. And is it fair that children are raised by strangers when their own mother could - if she only would - stay home full-time to nurture and raise her own children to the best of her ability? No.
Unfortunately, despite my strong feelings about this, I don't have a perfect plan for how the government could offer benefits/compensation to stay at home mothers; and here's the reason why: there are an increasing number of mothers at home who simply don't do their jobs and I'm certain that many mothers would take advantage of such a plan by claiming to be full-time mothers at home, while in reality do little more than sit glued to trash tv while their children and homes suffer from neglect. So, I don't know the solution to this. Also, many people strongly object to compensation for SAHM (but they don't protest their tax dollars funding welfare mothers with 3 or 4 kids).
But I do know that moms who choose to be at home full-time to raise their own children should be admired for their dedication and their intelligence to know what's best for their children - and society.