Runaway wives: Have you ever been tempted?

By: Overtime Staff
Topics: 60 Rewind

The free-wheeling 1960's had come and gone. There just had to be more to life than doing laundry, raising a family and kissing the husband goodbye every day as he left for work. What's a housewife to do? How about just chuck it all and leave? According to this classic "60 Minutes" report, thousands of women were doing just that. Mike Wallace went to Seattle to visit one family divided, in a report loaded with rap sessions, women's lib, and the notion of just letting it all hang out.

What do you think of Wanda Adams' choice? Ever been tempted?

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by Interact57 April 30, 2011 11:40 PM EDT

The 19th Amendment was the beginning of the end of "Family Values" in this country. Women have not and do not appreciate the honor of serving their husbands and raising their children to respect their places amongst society. Todays children are completely out of control, they do not respect themselves, let alone anyone else. There is hardly any room left for "Family Values" in society, it has become an obsolete concept. It is one thing for a woman to also contribute to the family with job and career, yet another matter altogether when it leads to divorce, child neglect and hurting the rights and emotional wellbeing of the children involved. Women and Men who do not cherish and respect the family values that our country was founded on are responsible for the sad state of affairs this country is in. The womens rights movement should accept their share of responsibility which has led to the corruption of family and children in our society.

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by millycam June 3, 2011 6:01 PM EDT: If "todays children are completely out of control, they do not respect themselves, let alone anyone else" is only because of the women? So what is the part of responsability of the men ? Just bringing enough money at home? Raising children is the role of BOTH parents. They have to decide TOGETHER how to grow their children. Working for a woman is not a "contribution to the family" but a right to decide her own life. (do you have ever heard the expression "freedom of choice"?) As it's a right for children to have BOTH parents to look after them. Please note that the most important thing for children is the "quality" of time you spend with the TWO parents . That's mean it's better few hours to share with them being interested and motivated than physically present all day but mentally absent. Please also note that it's also better a "good divorce" than a "bad marriage": children can't be happy if they feel sadness or see quarrels at home. In certains situations, divorce is better. (especially when the parents are intelligent enough to reach an agreement for an equal time sharing)
And for your information, I am not one of these "women right mouvements" or a divorced woman. I 'm a happily married woman and mother of a wonderful five-years-old boy. I'm not even a career woman as I decided to have a break in my job since two years to look after my son (who's poor health) It's MY choice and MY decision. Every woman on earth should have the choice to do what they want and not what they are told to do.
I think you should update your "family values". Ask psychologists and experts what they think of your old-fashioned way of thinking "what is better for children"...


by zunitribe April 29, 2011 10:29 AM EDT: Society has evolved to a level where sense of self is the center of our universe. I did not like marriage, mainly I think because of an isolated childhood. However, I was raised to believe in the family, the security of the children, the emotional and physical health of the children, that the needs of the child came before, the needs of the parent. I think that what Wanda did to her children was wrong. The husband? Who cares? He's a grown up, he'll deal with it.
I suppose in todays society it is perfectly ok, to dump a family and move on, but there are always consequences to selfish acts.; Reply to this comment


by theWritist April 26, 2011 4:46 PM EDT: Wow 60 Minutes used to suck. Like local news.; Reply to this comment


by waltonnews April 26, 2011 12:04 PM EDT: Keeping entitlement-minded women in check with a huge does of reality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_2LpLhOsc4; Reply to this comment


by richierein April 25, 2011 1:51 PM EDT: The day may come when she regrets walking away. When it comes time to retire she may not reap the successes of the family she left. As a business executive, her ex-husband will certainly be able to take care of himself when the time to struggle is behind him. He won't be dependent on his children in this latter years and she may have no ability to support herself. In the long run her decision to run may bite her in the behind.; Reply to this comment


by annemasako April 24, 2011 12:31 AM EDT: OOPS, last sentence incorrect. I do not regret my decision to stay put. Wonder what Wanda and her kids are up to in 2011???; Reply to this comment


by donnafailes April 22, 2011 1:31 PM EDT: Well, I know if I put on here what I really thought of some things I would make some enemies. I will say this....

Did she talk to the husband first about how she felt before she left? What would have happened if her husband had felt as her? He also gets to leave? I think we are capable of more than we think. They feel that taking care of children and a house and all that goes with it is not as "successful", not as exciting, definitely not making money....Too many people want more stuff because people they know have it and they consider they are doing without? I would not let people tell me or convince me that me staying home was not important. Matter of fact, we are raising (or not) the next generation. Think about the Columbine shootings. How had these two boys been raised and being raised?
Where were the parents because.... how much of what was going on with these boys were these parents aware of? How involved were they in their children's lives? Raising children to be what they need to be, what the world needs them to be, with kindness, thoughtfulness, being considerate, loving, compassionate, feeling empathy....that is not an easy thing to do. It is a very difficult thing to do and takes dedication, perserverance but first, the parents have to realize this and hopefully before they have children. Everyone makes mistakes but there are some things you don't and can't walk away from. If you want to walk away then there is something you need to change about you. Walking away is not the answer. Changing your attitude about how you feel about yourself, your job of raising your children, being a wife and mother..... this is what you need to change.; Reply to this comment


by annemasako April 22, 2011 12:34 PM EDT: Of course I've been tempted to run away! Being a housewife is boring at times. But 27 years later, I'm still at it, but now, with a part time job (work at home for my husband's company). I discovered that I was clinically depressed and now take a homeopathic remedy for it. I also have some "cash" in my pocket which is my "mad money". I think Wanda Adams was brave and gutsy for 1973 and I have NO JUDGEMENT for what she has done. I do not regret my decision to run.; Reply to this comment

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