More Moms Staying Home, Reversing Decadeslong Decline

WSJ ^ | 4/8/2014 | Laura Meckler

[Black Agnes]

Better to bring it up to all of them. Ministers, priests, preachers, etc. Most of them fail entirely to actually preach anymore. I have a relative who spoke out, vigorously, in the 1970’s against the whole ‘family life center’ ‘recreational facility’ movement at most churches of various denominations. And the fact that they had to take out notes and mortgages to pay for such things. He insisted it would hamstring the pastors ability to actually preach anymore as the congregation might ‘get their feelings hurt’ and take it out on the collection plate.

He was right too.

[Drew68]

With the high cost of child care and high marginal income tax rates it often makes economic sense for one of the parents to stay home.

Exactly. I did the math and once I factor in child-care, gas and automotive upkeep and increased taxes, it would cost me more to send my wife to work than let her stay at home with our kids.

[Little Bill]

To accept sin and wrong doing as normal is being complicit in that sin. Can't preach against something sinful that you accept and therefore participate by inaction in that sin.

Many parishioners need their feeling hurt, good for the soul.

[mom4melody]

We have 4 children. With a few brief periods, I have been a career mom.

My daughter has 2 girls and is a stay at home mom.

ALL my kids are very conservative by the way.

[Usagi_yo]

Well, since I asked first, why don’t you answer before we get into your questions.

[mom4melody]

I’m a career mom.

My two youngest attend private Christian school.

I and the very few other “working” moms are shunned by the “much more Christian” mothers who stay home.

Funny thing, I have been to their houses.....total messes, kids come to school in uniforms that look like they’ve been slept in, and their packed lunch is a lunchable.

My kids have clean ironed clothing, 5-6 course packed lunch, and while you might not want to eat off my floor, I have plenty of clean dishes and home cooked food.

[Usagi_yo]

I had two Kids and I was divorced over a failed business before they were 6 and 8 respectively. They are wrecks, but at least not violent wrecks.

My brother has two kids, we thought his marriage would never last being married at 19, drug abuse, multiple B&E and other priors. They’re still married, my brother makes over a million a year as a banker and his son earned his PhD in Bio chemical engineer and has started a business that Nasa has taken interest in. His daughter is in the 10th mountain division in Afghanistan and is a para medic and is going to go reserve while going to med school.

And when I think about it? I thank God my brother turned out all right. Not kidding.

So I know first hand how hard it is to keep a family and know the results of both failing and succeeding.

Kudos to you.

[Secret Agent Man]

i think a lot of it is how you were raised, what you were taught and expected to do, and personal standards. sounds like you’ve got it together well. later on your kids will truly understand that it really takes work/doesn’t just magically happen. when they have their own place.