brighid

Babelfish,

You are totally right! Our husbands certainly aren’t the norm and I am thankful for that every single day! I do think child rearing is undervalued, even if it’s importance is trumped up by many groups. Well, I suppose I should say the jobs that the caregivers must do are undervalued and sometimes demeaned. I wouldn’t give up a single second of the time I have spent loving, caring for and raising my child. I could pass on being vomited upon, but hey I guess you can’t have everything

There is certainly room for improvement and I think discussing (and arguing) is a good place to start. I am happy to see the trend changing more and more! Maybe someday the type of men our husbands are (and like so many of the men as II) will be the norm, instead of the exception.

Brighid

babelfish

From your lips to God's ear!

Ab_Normal

I have to brag about my husband now. (I'm sure he won't mind.) After he was laid off, he stayed at home with our daughter for five years. Among many other benefits, this allowed us to get into a high parental involvement program at our public school. He volunteered in the classroom at least two days a week. He'd be the first to admit that he wasn't June Cleaver, but it was very nice to know that he "had my back" on the domestic front!

babelfish

I love hearing about husbands like yours. He sounds very special. A rare person indeed. I can think of no bad effects if fathers become more hands-on caretakers and educators of their children. Only good can come of it for everyone, fathers, mothers and children included.

MadMordigan

Unfortunately, in our society, if you're not working for money, your work is undervalued. Even if you are merely raising the next generation of responsible, well-adjusted human beings!

Parents are being payed exactly what their activity is worth. They are looking after teir hobby, the same way a gardener or any other breeder does. They shouldn't delude themselves into thinking they are doing the rest of us any favours, we weren't asked if we wanted their sprogs in the first place.

[ September 05, 2002: Message edited by: MadMordigan ]</p>

Amos

Well bablefish, then I better not talk about me but brag about my wife who changed each and every diaper of our kids. We had 5 in a 6 years with always two in cloth diapers except for the first and last one. This was the time in her life she cherised most and even today she still is like a magnet to children of all ages--including 20 year olds who's heads turn when she is touring the town in her sportscar (she's a blond).

As for me? I just take care of the little things in life and was always too busy to be unemployed.

babelfish

I really wasn't implying that I think parents ought to be paid, although I know some people advocate that. I said exactly what I meant, that "in our society, if you're not working for money, your work is undervalued." I guess it's difficult to attach a monetary value to something most people do for other types of rewards altogether.

Yes, we parents do reap certain rewards.

But I disagree that doing our job well does not benefit the rest of society. Just look at the offspring of people who didn't do an effective job as parents. Don't these "sprogs" negatively affect society?

babelfish

She sounds great, Amos! I bet she's having a great time doing what she's doing.

2tadpoles

Do you consider care of the elderly to be a "hobby," too? Caring for other human beings should be considered one of the most important jobs.

Hope you never wind up in a nursing home.

babelfish

I think maybe MadMordigan might have just been joking when he said that stuff. Maybe. I don't know.

Sometimes from the lofty heights of a soap box it is difficult for me to discern attempts at sarcasm or humor.