I'm 25 years old and a teacher. My mother was a stay-at-home mom, as was her mom. As a child, because I didn't know differently, I thought ALL moms stayed home with their kids, and I would do the same when I grew up. It was only as I grew older that I realized a lot of women work right after they give birth and put their children in a stranger's hands at as little as six weeks old.
I've seen the effects of this type of parenting in my classroom. The kids are argumentative, have little to no manners, constantly fight and say mean things to one another and adults without even thinking. My fiancé and I listen to you all the time (at first, he thought you were old-fashioned!). He was raised in daycare, and that's why he thought you were too conservative for his tastes. However, listening to you sparked discussions we might never have had otherwise. He now understands my plan to stay home with our kids and is fully supportive of that choice.
Raising kids is hard work. I know this from watching my own mother, but I have the courage now, because of you, to defend my choice to stay home when I do have kids. Whenever I have doubts, I always reflect on the strong connection that I had with MY mother, which will stay with me forever.
Kerry
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