Back to work, like it or not: Women who left jobs for children find economy reverses the trade

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.to.mom13jul13,0,5294624.story

Back to work, like it or not
Women who left jobs for children find economy reverses the trade

By Jill Rosen | Sun reporter
July 13, 2008

They stared, disbelieving, at the electricity bill, as if their scrutiny could somehow force the ridiculous number into a more reasonable form.

"Why is it so high?" her husband asked.

"Because I'm home all day," answered Jennifer Hart-Walters, who had quit teaching school to be with their two kids, who wanted to sing them the ABC song all day long, who now, faced with that electricity bill and so many other increasing costs, realized that her days as a stay-at-home mother were over.

In February she reluctantly left the kids in day care and took a part-time job.

[blue neen]

1. It's a tough decision for mothers of small children to make.

This economy is making it tougher and tougher to make ends meet, so for many of these families there is no other choice but for both parents to work outside the home.

I have a different situation going on. I'm in my early 50's and was lucky enough to be able to stay home when my child was small, however my age-group is the one that is in the nearest danger of having Social Security benefits threatened, so I'm working to build up retirement funds.

Let's face it. The Bush economy has left all of us but the rich with no financial security.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. Americans are gonna be working until they are 75. n/t

[comtec]

2. How long, do you think, before the RWers call their returning to the work place a "lifestyle choice"

like they did during Clinton?
What utter bullshit!

It's been more like staying at HOME was the lifestyle choice for the last 30 years or so.

It's just become too expensive to stay at home if you're a two+ working household.

My wife and I have the leisure (here in Holland) for her to stay home when we have kids.

But we also appreciate how fortunate we are to have that choice!

My cousin takes care of his two girls (and his ex when they were together) with his one job, but it's killing him!
He's driver all over god's green earth (because he will, and they are abusing that because most Dutchies, honestly, are lazy!)

IT's possible, but the kids will N E V E R spend quality time with daddy (or mommy) who is working all the time to take care of the family. two partners working (one FT, one PT) can do it far easier, and there is lots of quality time for both because they can afford it. (dad doesn't have to work 100000 hours a week, and can come home while the kids are awake and can enjoy his company). Mom can get out of the house for a few hours works, make money, work on HER self worth, and still have the rest of the day with the kids.


yes yes, I'm a chauvinistic bastard who has no regard for the toils of woman kind and house wives.. BYTE ME!

I know bloody well enough what women and single mothers go through! AND single fathers!

This RW talking point is such bullshit, and only stepford wifes fall for it, because they sold their freedom ages ago they want all women to suffer, what crap!

But don't be fooled, they WILL attack this woman in the OP and the rest of us who HAVE to have a two income family just to survive above the poverty line. It's sick, and tiring, but it works!

[SheilaT]

3. This battle about

working moms vs stay at home moms has been going on for at least forty years. And it's always expressed as a choice on the part of the woman, even if she's a single mom through no fault of her own.

The real issue is that our culture punishes people for having children, provides little support at all for parents. The school day and school year assumes a stay at home parent. Most workplaces assume the workers have no other commitments whatsoever and so are infinitely available to work whatever hours and days the bosses desire. Non parents also complain about this, only they see it as the parents being given special consideration because of the kids, totally missing the assumption noted above, about no other commitments outside of work.

I will also point out that most of us tend to live on whatever it is we make, rather than saving very much. Two-income couples are the same way, and so it can become difficult if not impossible to give up one of those incomes. And raising kids is more expensive than not raising kids. It's quite a vicious cycle.