Still More Comments About Stay-At-Home Moms

Posted on April 14, 2009 
Filed Under Focus on the Family Broadcast, Parenting

Our program last week, with Dr. Laura offering encouragement for stay-at-home moms, really generated some strong response – from those who agreed with our guest, and also those who didn’t appreciate her comments. More than a few women have contacted Focus on the Family with struggles related to an inability to stay at home with their kids.

Why not listen and respond with a comment?

Comments

3 Responses to “Still More Comments About Stay-At-Home Moms”

  1. Dr. Laura on April 14th, 2009 9:33 am

    Dr. Laura Schlessinger: I have been asked about my reaction to a “full-time working mother’s” sense of being offended by praise of at-home moms. My answer is two-fold: first, I ache for what she and her child are missing in each other; second, that someone is “offended” does not change the fact that no mother can be adequately substituted for by hired help…a mother is too precious. Next, in my book IN PRAISE OF STAY-AT-HOME MOMS I help women with the issue of a negative or ambivalent husband. The book contains positive suggestions on how to turn that around. Thank you for the opportunity to speak about the sacred bond of motherhood. warmly, drl

  2. Admin on April 16th, 2009 4:43 am

    Thanks, Dr. Laura, for responding with the previous comment! Our studio conversation was really interesting, and judging from the many responses from our audience, many listeners found it beneficial – or at the least, thought-provoking. Thanks for all you do to support and encourage families!
    ~ John

  3. Kate on April 19th, 2009 3:34 pm

    I wrote this article & sent a similar copy it into the local newspaper causing quite a furore… about 15 yrs ago! .. as a ‘professional’ choosing to STAY AT HOME to nurture my four lovely children..ENCORE huh? It is still relevant today!

    Motherhood is not a Hobby

    At a recent party I was in the midst of a group of young mothers whom I hadn’t met before. In the general conversation, numbers and ages of children, enjoyment of babies and motherhood were being discussed. Terms like “get on with my own life”, “so much that I want to do” were expressed. I later talked with a relatively new mother of one toddler who’d had her baby in full time day-care from 8 weeks. She had recently reduced her work hours to part time “because now he knows me…… when he was a baby it didn’t matter….. he’s getting attached to me now but its causing problems with Dad because now the baby prefers me when we come home from work”

    Aggh! These conversations were with intelligent young mothers. Dear God! When did this teaching “that babies don’t know their Mums” come in? Insidiously I fear, with the rationale of day-care and the rise of materialism. This is a direct attack on family life! Families are the strength of society.

    Come on you older women! Rise up and teach the younger women how to love their husbands and children.

    I gently reassured this young Mum that the new perceived attachment from her youngster was very important and not something to want to be rid of. Indeed her baby does know her, has always known her and his Dad, from the womb. These early years are so important, so vital to training up a young child in the way he should go. These are the years for building strong character and establishing moral values: Parental responsibilities, privileges and pleasures. Early education involving methods, stimulation and programmes has been esteemed wrongly in place of relationship. The mother-child relationship can’t be simulated or replaced in day care.

    Motherhood is not a hobby! It can’t be picked up at one’s leisure or at one’s convenience. Children are not mere acquisitions – to be played with, dressed up in designer clothes and put on display at a mother’s whim. Nor should mother’s self-esteem be hinged on being praised for the cuteness of her kids, the decor of the nursery and so forth. The relationship between the mother and baby is paramount and sadly neglected.

    At the risk of others taking offence and of being personally ostracised by some it must be said; “Motherhood is a career” It is a high calling! It is forever. There is nothing permanent in the work force. Women seeking personal fulfilment and purpose in the work force are often left disillusioned.

    It’s time for motherhood to be raised again to the high status it once had. No longer say “just a mother” or “just a housewife”. It is the most important calling to nurture, to mould lives, to care for, to relate to, and to teach. So head up and shoulders back young Mums! Walk tall and humbly before God our creator who has called us to the high calling of motherhood.

    C.E.Hawkins

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