by Jackie Ballway

Created on: March 22, 2008

At first glance, the debate can be interpreted in different ways: should working outside the home be reconsidered, or should the "traditional" Donna Reed lifestyle be reconsidered? Either way, my answer would be the same: a loud, resounding, "No!"

I have nothing but respect for stay-at-home mothers/fathers. We live in a time where either gender has the opportunity to care for their child/children and not be looked at in a negative light. One of my good friends is a mother of five girls. She, obviously, stays at home and takes care of them. The cost of childcare would outweigh any income she could bring in. The husband of a woman I work with stays home with their three children. Her income is sufficient enough to support the family and allows him to raise the kids himself.

Being a one-income family works for both couples. Why should their situation be reconsidered?

On the either side of the sphere are families in which both parents work. I have one of those families. My husband frames houses and I work in hospitality. We are both gone from morning to evening. We both enjoy after-work activities. Our son is a perfectly happy, healthy baby in daycare. He knows who we are, lights up when he sees us, and behaves for his daycare provider. We have no fear of him being mistreated.

If one of us stayed home to raise him, we wouldn't be able to afford our house, our cars, or my hefty book addiction. Our salaries are enough to outweigh the cost of childcare, and we take enough time during the day to ensure that our son knows we are his parents, not the woman who cares for him during the day.

Why should our situation be reconsidered?

We no longer live in an age where women are expected to take care of the home, relying on a man to "bring home the bacon". Women are executives, senators, managers, and mothers. There is no need to sacrifice one for the other.

To be quite frank, there is nothing really to reconsider. The barriers of the "traditional" family gender roles were broken down years ago, certainly before my time. Now is the time to sit back and revel in the opportunities we have, both at home and in the workplace.

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