Comments on: Are Women "Opting Out" Of Careers?

Scholars Disagree Over Why Fewer Mothers Stay At High-Powered Jobs

[bellal-2009]

I would recommend that new moms do whatever it takes to spend as much time as they possibly can with their kids. Some can't especially single moms but those who can should. They'll never regret it and their kids will really appreciate it.

[ecuadoriana]

I agreed with the woman Nicole Knox, the lawyer who "opted different". I opted to stay home with my daughter rather than work all day outside the home & give all my pay to a day care centre that could possibly abuse her & teach her things that went against our family values. That option allowed me to work for myself from home. This was back in the dinosaur days of the early 80's before computer this, that & everything.

Besides the obvious deep bond a parent forms with their kids when they stay at home, the overlooked advantage is that children learn by observing their parents "at work".

What the work is isn't as important as watching & assisting in the work being performed. The work can be housework, cooking, gardening, or cash generating business such as crafts, real estate or journalism- the point is that kids learn about work ethic, finances, how to conduct themselves in public, job & life skills by their parent's side.

It wasn't so long ago that kids did just that- like blacksmithing, farming, housework chores. Now things have gotten far too easy for them. 20 yr olds who can't function without an ipod stuck in their ear & a lap top are incapable of filling out a job application, dressing & speaking appropriately during an interview or even operating a washing machine!

I once interviewed a 25 yr old to do some part time filing for me. Besides dressing like she was on her way to the beach she asked me at the end, through cracking her gum, "So, are ya gonna call me, or what?"

[krissyanne-2009]

I was working for a major retailer almost 8 years ago when I got pregnant with my daughter. I worked on the flow team and was up and dopwn ladders all day plus pushing tubs and pulling pallets of freight. In July I asked to be taken off of heavy work and ladders as I was having contractions. I was due in late October and still,at 6 months climbing ladders with no wieght restriction thought me request was sensable and not unexpected. I was met with, "You need a doctor's note". I informed them I would be getting one that day after my 4 hr scheduled shift. I was told aproximately 1 hr into my shift that I must stay all day. One thing led to another and as a result I decided my companie I gave 5.5 years did not care about me or especially my baby. After my baby was born 6 weeks premature I was told I could have 2 weeks leave. I realize this is the hieght of retail season with my BABY being born on Sept.13 but the law says I get 4 weeks. When I had to fight for my legal right even if my baby had been full term I quit. They didn't care about me or my child and so I no longer cared to be a rug. Had they cared I would have returned to work even only being paid 8.35 an hour after 5.5 years of devoted service. I even went to work one time when I unknowingly broke my leg that afternoon. I still showed up for work and also one time with a temp of 102 dgrees. The thanks I got was how empty is your cupboard because if it isn't empty yet we will take it.

[monkfellow]

hypnotoad-sounding just like a human with faily human flaws..
God doesn't have to give you(or me)an answer as to why thing happen,or don't happen.It is the human condition,and human actions, or sad coincidence, that has people in certain situations. God knows,and watches over them. He's not accountable to you.

[mikealford3]

I say GOOD JOB to the women who decide that raising their children is more important than anything else. It wasn't so long ago that it was the norm for women to stay at home with their children. Back then I don't remember hearing the stories of kids shooting other kids at school, or 5th graders taking marijuana to elementary school to sell or whatever. Perhaps if more mothers stay home the next generation of kids will be better behaved.

I know there will be someone who says, "why don't the fathers stay home?" Valid question, perhaps the fathers could, depending on the family. I just think in today's time the parents are so taken by making money, they force the children to raise themselves.

[hypnotoad72]

julie1611 - so God did all that for you? Or did you do it on your own?

God loves us all. But God is also known for not liking the acts of the greedy. Which is what having people living off less, whether they like it or not. And for some, they have to live off of nothing. Why isn't God helping them?

[julie1611-2009]

A little over two years ago the Lord began to deal with my heart about quitting a very high paying pharmacy job and stay home with my two boys. I am now on my second year of homeschooling them both as well as being a full time mother, wife, and a pastor's wife. I work alot harder now than I did in the pharmacy business and it is alot more rewarding. Ladies, don't think it won't work because "God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we can ask or think". My family is living off of less than we ever have before and we have more than we ever had before. God is good !!!