I Agree With Stephen Colbert

I love his show. I giggle along at every parody and shot, but tonight he had Linda Hirshman on his show, promoting her new book. I have to say, that I agree with Stephen. What is so wrong about women choosing to stay at home and raise their children? When did that become something that a woman should be ashamed of? Why should she have to maintain a job she may hate if she doesn't have to?

I grew up right in the midst of the push for 'Women must have a career', I remember how the girls who just wanted to be moms were made to feel. By teachers, guidance councellors, etc ... if you didn't have a 'high profile/high power' career in mind, then there was something wrong with you. And while the luxury for a woman to be a SAHM is a lot rarer now than it was when I was growing up, I have to say that I am glad that it is again something that girls can strive for if they want it.

My mom was one of those women who really only wanted to be a mom. That was what she wanted to do with her life, and she was damned good at it. It took me a long time to realise that that was a beautiful goal for one's life. The point of the feminist movement was to make an equal playing feild. Not to demonize the image of the Mother.

I am a firm believer that when you choose to have kids, you need to make sacrifices in other areas of your life. If you can't take time away from your career for your kids and need to hire someone else to raise them, then you really shouldn't have had them in the first place.

There is no shame in choosing one over the other. Some women will choose to work, and be successful and powerful in the working world. Others will choose to leave the working world and be successful at helping to mold a new generation of human beings. If it is your choice, how can you be 'unfeminist' or 'wrong' for making it?

Priorities are a personal thing. Are women any more liberated if another woman is making your choices for you?

--Phae

The Gratitude Project - Day 4

Today I am grateful for wintersdark. It does wonderful things for the self image to see such sincere love reflected in the eyes of someone you love. It makes me feel blessed that I have someone so wonderful in my life (especially when I find myself teetering on the brink of a deep depression).

--Phae