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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Stay-at-home moms in the news!

Pure joy!
Yesterday the Wall Street Journal ran an article that made headlines..."More Moms Staying Home, Reversing Decadeslong Decline."  How far our world has come from the time when staying at home with children was the norm, not worthy of a headline in a major newspaper.  According to the article, in 1967, nearly 50% of moms with children under the age of 18 were stay-at-home moms.  Every year since then saw a steady decline until it hit a low in 1999 where only 23% of moms took care of their kids full time.  And now the trend is inching upward again...to a whopping 29% in 2012. 

Why do moms stay home with their children?  Although the article stated that economic factors were the reason for some mothers (loss of job, unable to find employment etc.), the majority of mothers interviewed (85%) said it was a choice they made.  They WANTED to be home and raise their children! 

Personally, I'm glad to hear that most mothers feel that the importance of raising their own children far outweighs the supposed benefits of career and/or financial gain.  You can't put a dollar figure on the contribution you make in the lives of your precious children.  They need you far more than they need "stuff".  They need your time.  They need the stability and security of their home.  They need to know that you are there when they need you. 

There are some mothers who don't have the choice whether to stay home or work outside the home.  Even then, the attitude they convey to their children lets them know where Mommy would rather be if she had the chance. When your first priorities are to your family, you will find that the rewards are worth the time and effort invested in them.

The time you have at home with your children is relatively short.  It might not seem like it, but they do grow up and leave the home and your job raising them will go from full-time to part-time status. At that point, it's a little too late to wish you'd spent more time with them when they were younger. 

Enjoy this time in your life.  Make the most of it!  Be thankful for the blessing of being able to be home with your children.  There is no one else who can provide the love and nurturing that you can.




3 comments:

  1. Have you seen the Dutch text on my fridge magnet on my blog: 'Een niet werkende moeder bestaat niet' ? It means: 'A non-working mother doe not exist' ! :>)
    I have always been a SAHM from the day I married in 1979 and never had any regrets.
    Not only fun, but always a joy. Real happiness in motherhood, raising our four children.
    I am blessed, I know.
    Cheers,

    Jeanneke.

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    1. Wonderful quote! So true! I too stayed home to raise my children and never regretted it. Can't imagine what I would have missed had I chosen otherwise. We were truly blessed!

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