I Really Need To Stop Carpooling

This time the kids in the car were discussing college ambitions, when one of them said in a rather condescending tone, “X wants to go to community college. She’ll probably end up being a housewife or something!”

I refrained from pulling over and throttling said child but I had to take several deep breaths before I said (with only a hint of sarcasm), “You know, you may be surprised to know that some housewives have actual four year degrees.”

I did not impress her, though she had the good graces to realize she had said something insulting. But really? Does the prejudice against homemaking still exist to the extent that it’s considered a lesser position? A second best choice fit only for the uneducated or incompetent?

I guess so.

I’m inclined to get on soap box here, but I won’t. We all know the arguments for and against, and the truth is that since every family is different there’s no right answer. And for many it’s not about the right “choice” because there is no choice at all.

That being said, as a mother of two daughters, here are my hopes:

- I hope my daughters, who are both intelligent and lovely people, will realize their full potential.
- I hope my daughters will go to college and complete their degrees
- I hope my daughters will pray long and hard about what God’s plan for their lives is and will proceed accordingly.
- I hope that if they feel called to pursue a career, that they do so to the best of their abilities and make a difference for good.
- I hope that if they are called to motherhood (Please Lord, let them be happily married at that point) that they pursue that calling, understanding that it is a job that requires great sacrifice and that they are willing to make those sacrifices. Sacrifices like money and time and “self-actualization” or “personhood”. In short, I hope that my daughters would choose to be stay at home moms.

And if my son ever finds someone willing to marry him, I hope that he marries a woman who is intentional about marriage and motherhood.

Hmmm . . . that sounds a bit soapbox-ish after all. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to criticize other peoples’ choices. I truly believe that 9/10 mommies are doing the best they can with the best of intentions.

I’m reading a book called In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Shlessinger. I’m not very far in, but I love this quote.

“I wouldn’t dream of suggesting that there are any real benefits to children from having at-home parents; it’s just a choice, . . . Isn’t it? Well, sure that’s right, because if you knew you were going to be recycled and come back as an infant with a choice, you’d choose a mommy, a nanny, a babysitter, or a day-car worker for yourself with equal enthusiasm-right?”

I’m going to go take cover now. Please be gentle.