I read a news article online yesterday that says a stay-at-home mother’s work worth is $138,095 a year.  Yes, we all know that we can never put a price tag on a mother since her labor of love is priceless, but I thought it’s an interesting article, though. :)  I don’t know the degree of the accuracy of the figure, but I still think motherhood is the most under-rated, under-appreciated, and under-paid profession a woman can have.  Yes, I do think being a mother is “real work” (especially with a child like me during my growing up years, just kidding, okay, maybe partly true ).  That’s why I’m so thankful to my mother who was a stay-at-home homemaker during most of my growing up years.

Of course, I am aware there may be those who would say being a mother is not a “real job.”  For example, Mrs. Teresa Heinz-Kerry, the wife of John Kerry.  Back in July 2004 during the Presidential campaign, Mrs. Kerry was asked about the differences between the First Lady, Laura Bush, and herself in an interview published in the USA Today.  This was her answer:

Q: You’d be different from Laura Bush?

A: “Well, you know, I don’t know Laura Bush. But she seems to be calm, and she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good.  But I don’t know that she’s ever had a real job — I mean, since she’s been grown up.  So her experience and her validation comes from important things, but different things.

“And I’m older, and my validation of what I do and what I believe and my experience is a little bit bigger — because I’m older, and I’ve had different experiences.  And it’s not a criticism of her.  It’s just, you know, what life is about.”

Mmm, Laura Bush never had a real job?  As I understood, Mrs. Bush had been a librarian and schoolteacher for years.  Last time I checked, those are real jobs?  And, by whose standards is her validation of what she does a little bigger?

Well, in all fairness to Mrs. Kerry, she did “apologize” to Mrs. Bush later on:

“I had forgotten that Mrs. Bush had worked as a schoolteacher and librarian, and there couldn’t be a more important job than teaching our children,” Heinz Kerry said in a statement.  “As someone who has been both a full-time mom and full-time in the workforce, I know we all have valuable experiences that shape who we are.  I appreciate and honor Mrs. Bush’s service to the country as First Lady, and am sincerely sorry I had not remembered her important work in the past.”

Unfortunately, though, I’m not sure that Mrs. Kerry really cleared things up.  Her comment only made it worse, because she left out the very important real job of a mother.  Clearly Mrs. Kerry knew that Laura Bush was a stay-at-home mother, working from home and rearing her twin daughters.  Mrs. Kerry was only reinforcing society’s values that place career first before family.  A woman working outside the home seems to be now a form of validation of a woman’s status.  Mrs. Bush’s decision to be a helpmeet to her husband and a full-time mother is a noble choice and a high calling, and one that should be celebrated and not denigrated.  She is a keeper at home and a worker at home as the Bible teaches to be:

“…so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:4-5)

I’ve thought of this just a bit before.  I mean, if God ever calls me to be a wife and mother one day, I just don’t know if I could ever be as excited about working for some boss to prosper his business than I do about working at home, serving my own family, and making God’s business prosper.  Now, before anyone asks me what year this is , seriously, though, the other way around doesn’t really make much sense to me.  I understand there are many women out there who want to be there for their children instead of working outside the home, but due to extenuating circumstances they work temporarily.  And I understand that and sympathize with them.  But where at all possible, I’d want to be there for my (future) children and raise them instead of putting them in some day-care-centers.  I’d want to be there for them to hear (and answer) their funny little questions, have them run to me when they’re hurt and kiss them better, instill the right values in them, and teach them about the One Who loves them and Who is sovereign in their lives.  I wouldn’t want to absolve my responsibility by relegating it to others.  I honestly don’t believe anyone else would do a better job being paid to do something that a mother is willing to do for free.

A career woman writes:

“I am in my early thirties, single, a corporate officer, and executive.  I serve on three boards of directors, one a national organization.  With all my customer contacts, employee supervision, and peer contact, my total influence doesn’t constitute a drop in the bucket to what a wife and mother contributes to society.  She directly affects the mental outlook of her husband and children.  She has the power to make her home heaven or hell.  That’s what I call woman power.”

Well, let me close by quoting what a lady named Diane wrote when asked to describe her work.  I thought it’s funny but true:

“I had a continuing program of research (what mother doesn’t?), in the laboratory and in the field (also known as indoors and out).  I worked for my masters (the whole flippin’ family), and received five credits (three sons and two daughters).  Of course, the job was of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often worked 14 hours a day (24 is more like it).  But the job was more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.  Commonly known as Stay-at-Home-Mom.”

Posted: Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 at 4:43 pm. Category: Godly Womanhood, Thoughts.
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