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Home-Based Mums
Cartoon courtesty of Cheryl Demas at WAHM.com
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Melissa Hill says,
If, like me, you are a mum at home and ever wondered when society was going to
start appreciating the value of the work we are doing, look no further than
this thought-provoking chapter about
two-income parenting from The Price of Love, by Dr Patrick
Dixon.
The winds of change they may be a'blowing ...
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Do
women really want to work outside the home or would they rather give their
priority to home life and childcare?
You might be surprised to discover that mothers at home have an advocate at the
prestigious London School of Economics...
Catherine
Hakim argues the case that government funding is being wasted on
encouraging mothers back into full-time work, when it should be recognising
that many British families wish they could afford to have one parent at home.
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Although there are some dogmatic voices, most people feel torn between their
belief in equality for women in the work force and their worries about young
children left in the care of others each day.
Finally,
the voice of reason speaks out about the polarised debate on
the choice all mums have to make of whether or not to return to work.
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Some mothers today choose to be home for more interesting reasons than simply
because they feel 'it's best for the children.' Read these insightful
interviews of Canadian mothers who gave up their high-flying careers and are
choosing to live like their mothers (temporarily!).
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WHAT IS BEST
FOR MUMS?? |
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Home-based mums everywhere share a number of dilemmas and concerns
- Our need to make an income
- Our need to feel appreciated by our family and/or society
- Our need to build our self-esteem and identity and maintain our confidence
- Our need to keep our career skills sharp.
- Our need to reach out to others and break up our in-home routines
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In the States, the National Association of At-Home Mothers attempts to provide
support and information to meet these concerns. In the UK, we have a number of
similar organisations although none which specifically refer to the needs of
mothers at home. See Meeting up with other
Mums.
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BUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CHILDREN?? |
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Some of the conclusions may surprise you.
The recent finding that working mums
harm their children's educational prospects.
A fascinating sociological review of
attitudes towards mothers & work in the UK
The Gender Ghetto
An interesting (and amusingly written) analysis arguing that children benefit
when one parent stays home - but that Mum does not necessarily have to be the
one to do it.
Why are you stressed?
An insightful article explaining that Mum's problem is not work (mothers have
worked since time began) but being separated from their children while working
(which is why we left our jobs in the first place, right?).
What do the
children think??
A survey asking children what they think of working parents, concluding that
parents should make the decision they are most comfortable with.
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