Okay,I am wondering-if you are qualified(or not actually),but stay at home-does that make you dumb-or atleast not as smart your working counterparts?Conversely-does that mean the working ladies are smarter than the stay at home moms?
I personally have an attack of the green monster everytime I see a lady walk out of the large chip company(not the kind you eat!) near my neighborhood.While most women who stay at home have a made a conscious choice to stay home,over a period of time,say 15 years(hmm,why did I come up with that number?!),I think your job skills become unmarketable-you will probably have to go back to school to catch up or start somewhere lower on the rung-which  sort of means you are not up to date which makes one conclude that one is probably not smart enough?Makes sense?
Sometimes it is about the money,but mostly it is a question  of self esteem I think.Running a home smoothly and managing kids and as in my case,homeschooling is a major undertaking in itself,but then married,working women run a house,bring up kids,help with school work too.Life does not come to a standstill ,houses are clean,beds are made,meals are eaten.......So,in a way it is like working women do way more than stay at home moms?
After reading Anne-Marie Slaughter's article in the Atlantic recently,I felt a bit weird-all that talk about work life balance and the glass ceiling and how society as a whole needs to change and adapt so that women can make it all the way to the top of the careers -it wasn't about us at all!! I felt left out!!
Will someone out there write a paean to moms who stay home-willingly or unwillingly?
Fine,I'll do it!!!
To all the moms who can't catch a break from a crying baby until the baby grows up.As heartbreaking as dropping a three month old off at day care is,thanks for choosing to forgo that heart ache and settle for a lifetime of servitude to a kid(or kids) who might or might not be thankful for it.
All those home cooked meals?Awesome!!And all those times you sat there gritting your teeth while your progeny scattered  their lunch all over the high chair and kitchen floor,hoping they atleast learn to eat their veggies in the process-it will hopefully pay off!!
All the afternoon naps when you cuddled with the kids,watched them drift off to sleep,and went off to do yet more house work-hats off to you!!
And the potty training-yes,the most disgusting,yet gratifying thing a parent can do- sit and talk to a toddler who does not want to pee/poop into a small plastic thing that looks like a bowl,and convince them after three hours and minor tinkle,that yes,they did great-a big round of applause.
To mothers who open the door to a tired and hungry child returning from school with a snack in their  hand-you are doing really good!Especially if you have a crying toddler on your hips while opening the door-hurrah!!For just being there to open the door,instead of having your kid walk into an empty house-we are eternally grateful!
For all the times that you scampered around trying find ways to keep the kids entertained and well fed on days off from school,while doing everything that you usually do everyday-perfect!!
All those days you were sick,but still woke up,packed lunch,saw them off on the school bus,came home and went about your work like any other day-kudos!!
For all those skinned knees,paper cuts,squished fingers,stubbed toes and achy tummies that you kissed away and made disappear with your magical touch,favourite food,bandaids,( and of course, a hefty dose of tylenol)-thankyou!!
For all the times when you were just there-so if your kid wanted to talk,he did not have to pick up a phone or wonder if you were at a meeting-good for you!
For being a cook, chauffeur, coach, tutor, maid, therapist,errand-runner,laundry person,gardener and so much more,without ever being paid for it-day in and day out for years on end,without catching a break or being able to take any time off-THANK YOU!!
I am not belittling our working sisters in any way-most women work because the money makes a difference in how their family lives.But I think,stay at home moms are given short shrift in this world.