It was the quote heard around the world: Ann Romney has “never worked a day in her life.”
Democratic strategist and CNN contributor Hilary Rosen was discussing Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney’s alleged disconnect with women voters and, inadvertently, according to Ms. Rosen, restarted the age-old debate between stay-at-home moms and working moms.
Rosen has since apologized, saying she never meant to start this argument. “I respect women and moms all the time... This is not a debate between working moms and stay-at-home moms.”
But unfortunately, that’s exactly what is has turned into, and it certainly isn’t a new discussion.
Every few years, someone writes a book, publishes an article or reports on a survey that pits (stay-at-home) mothers against (working) mothers. And for what purpose?
We are all moms; we all work; we all love our children; and we are all doing the best we can. That’s it. What more is there to say?
Motherhood is the toughest “job” in the world, with no pay, often times cranky and/or sick co-workers and crazy hours. (Luckily the benefits make it all worthwhile.)
I have been lucky enough to be able to stay at home and raise my children. It isn’t easy – financially, emotionally or mentally. Many a morning, I wished I was leaving with my husband, instead of cleaning up vomit while trying to soothe a crying baby with Barney singing in the background – all on 3 hours of sleep! However, I wouldn’t have changed any of it. (Well, almost any of it!)
Many of my friends and family members work outside the house, either out of necessity or by choice. They too deal with sick, crying children and then need to “dress up” and head to an office and pretend their minds are on their jobs, and not the children they left behind.
Is one better than the other? Of course not.
One of the toughest emotions every mother has to deal with is guilt – are we doing enough for our children?
If we are at home, we wonder if we should be working to bring in extra money to help our family and/or to show our children, especially our daughters, that we can be independent.
If we are working, perhaps we feel we should be at home raising our children ourselves, instead of having others experience their first word or first step.
So many of us beat ourselves up, wondering if we are doing the right thing. Well, here’s the thing – there really isn't one "right" answer for everyone. You have to do what is best for you and your family. And that decision is no one else’s business.
I believe Ms. Rosen when she says she wasn’t attacking Mrs. Romney for her decision to stay at home and raise her children. What upsets me is that her poor choice of words has started this debate between moms - again. We battle our children, our husbands and our bosses. Do we really need to battle each other?
We are all doing the best we can. I know one mom who uses that phrase as her mantra. When things get tough – she is running late to pick up her daughter or she forgets to send in snack for Girl Scouts – she tells herself, “I’m doing the best I can.”
And isn’t that what it’s all about? Doing the best that we can – at home, at work, with our spouses, with our families and in our lives. We’re all moms – let’s stick together.
John Dallas Bowers
3:18 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
It's charitable for you to accept Ms. Rosen's back-pedaling explanation, but I believe the contempt in her original statement was far more genuine than her belated "apology." I would have had more respect for her if she had stuck by her assertion rather than opting for damage control.
Mark
9:16 am on Monday, April 16, 2012
So can I assume that your 'contempt' carries over to Santorum and the back pedaling on his stated lack of concern for poor people in this country?
Ginger Cook
7:55 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Snide comments regarding "stay at home Moms," usually get my back up. For some reason Rosen's comment did not do that. I think, perhaps, I understood what she was trying to say. No question, she said it poorly. I am a product of the "liberated" 60s. It makes me laugh, after some of the nonsense spewed from the likes of Santorum, I thought I was back in the 50s. Women's political positions have been hard won, and I for one will not move backwards. And, yes, I was an "at home" Mom.
justwondering
8:11 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
Is one better than the other? Of course not....*from your blog*..
...............let's get honest here. OF COURSE one is better - it is better for a mother to remain at home with her child(ren) for the first four years and we cannot be afraid to speak the truth.....Having a child is a true gift and a daunting responsibility and we, as women, should not have to hide our feelings about this fact. It is simply better for a child to remain in a cozy, loving environment in those early years and not be schlepped off to a day care or sitter.........and we should not feel bad for speaking this truth. For thoset that say they can't afford it - well, then, figure out a way to make it possible - it is really that simple - our futures may all depend on returning to this very simple principal.....NOTHING ELSE IN OUR LIVES WILL HAVE MATTERED IF WE DO NOT RAISE DECENT,CARING and KIND CHILDREN and I believe that we need moms and dads to give that foundation .....
Catherine
9:07 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
I could not disagree with you more, justwondering. The reality is: it's much more important for a parent to be at home for a child's last four years (or seven -- middle school and high school). No one is offering a three year old marijuana...or bullying him...
workingmom68
9:33 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
OK, if you were "just wondering"--I was (and still am) a working mom all my daughter's life. Good thing I did work--as we went through many financial ups and downs (including layoffs and job losses), it was a necessity. And my husband and I ended up raising a "decent, caring and kind" child who was an honor student in school, who also made the dean's list in her first semester in college, and who is on her way to becoming a productive, hard-working member of society. I had many friends who chose to stay home with their children who supported my choice and I supported theirs. My daughter saw us all as role models, and that she (hopefully) will have choices. This is my honesty, my truth. If you were "just wondering".
justwondering
2:42 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
To Workingmom168 - I am happy for your success at raising a wonderful and academically gifted child. Good for you. I still stand by my original statement. I thought your referencing my moniker twice a little snarky, but I am happy that your daughter is decent, caring and kind.
To Catherine - I have to give you that point because it is a very, very, good one. As someone who has been in Recovery for many years, the teen years were definitely defining to those of us that tried drugs. HOWEVER, I also believe that a solid and consistent presence in your child's life is just as powerful and that early foundation will help.........Bullying? My experience has been (and before you all go nuts on me) this is just my experience - that in every instance that my children were bullied - when speaking to the parents - I have to say, they seemed to be both cavalier and a little bit bullyish themselves. So, I think that we just have to stay true to our own methods and wish each other the best in mothering.....but I still have to stick to my guns (yikes) on this one.