johnnymk

I know that it may be hard to believe, but it wasn't too long ago (30 years?) that if a wife had to work that there was something seriously wrong with the husband. For the most part, society expected it, the family expected it and the husband just took it for granted.

I remember feeling sorry for women who had to work, especially divorcees.

I guess the reason I am bringing this up is that I know a Jewish couple where the wife has never worked and she expects her husband to be the sole provider.

I wonder if this attitude exists anywhere else in America today?

MikeD

I'm sure there is. Some women expect their husbands to provide everything for them, sure...

My wife has worked, stayed home, gone back, now she's staying home. I've always left that decision up to her (though I'd rather her be home). Now that we have two kids, it's kind of a no-brainer for us.

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LegendKiller

My wife isn't expected to stay home, but it's what her mom did until the kids reached middle school. She then got a job in their school office part time. She didn't go back to full time until they reached college.

We will probably do something very similar.

ialsohaveadream

What's that, young'n? You say women are allowed to work now? What in the sam hill!?

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Web log

johnnymk

Sam Hill's wife worked at Perdues.

ialsohaveadream

Next thing you know, they'll be letting them vote.

WhiskeyPapa

While I wouldn't word it that way, that's the way it works in my family, and pretty much in my extended circle of friends.

BTW, my wife works very hard. And I am 100% convinced that if she didn't do what she does at home, I would not be in the position I am in today. It's been well documented that married men with stay-at-home wives earn more than a single man or married men whos spouses work.

Please don't take this as a condemnation of wives who work (which typically happens in these discussions...)

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renovation

my wife works full time as a nurse and she makes more right now then i do owning my own company . the construction industry .in my area is really hurting . if she was not working i lost everything im sure . she has always been the one to supply insurance from her job .
and around here everything is or for the most part tied in to the auto industry . there are more jobs going to be lost then i think there ever have in the history of the auto plant in the next 2 years . you be lucky to find a job flipping burgers at the golden arches soon!

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You could pick up Lindsay Lohan for less than a intel 990x, and still have money left over to bail her outta jail

cadetevon

I'm a single mom so I work, but if I were married I'd prefer to stay home.

I've been married and I was a work at home mom. We had three children (all his from a previous marriage) ranging in age from 3 to 13.

Working at home, if done right, is a haaard job. I've been a Teamster (Chauffeurs and Warehouseman’s Union), I've served in the Army, I've been a fulltime college student (majoring in, but not completing my degree in Physics) and an office worker and I’ve got to say this.... stay at home mom's rock.

I'd be more than happy to do the cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, etc for my husband. I took great pride in having a good home, well behaved children and a happy husband who could come home to a clean and welcoming home at the end of each day.

Sounds June Cleaver-ish, I know, but it's my ideal way to live. Eventually, after I get my son off to college and begin dating again, I might just make some man very happy. See, money isn't important. A couple can pinch and get by on one outside source of income and still be happy.

*shrug* I didn’t intend to get so rambley on ya'll. LOL

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Yvonne
Funny: My Next Wife.

avlena

As a working woman who doesn't plan on ever staying home unless there's kids (and even then it's questionable), I was shocked when one of my friends (who's very smart and college educated) made the statement that she didn't want to get too serious with her guy until he got stable, because she wanted to stay home and be a housewife. I suppose to each his/her own, but I'm so used to be surrounded by ambitious career women, that it was surprising to hear such an old-fashioned notion. If you have kids, that's one thing, but personally I don't like the idea of either spouse sitting at home while the other brings in the sole income. besides, i'd be bored out of my mind!

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Have a groovy day!

esme

I'm the type who hates cleaning, washing dishes, cooking ...etc etc ....unless of course it's for my daughter (now) ....when I was with my ex I actually offered that he stay home and do everything while I worked ...of course he didn't like the idea.

Being hispanic I grew up with my father always telling me what to do. I have 2 brothers and yet I always had to wash dishes, set & clear the table, clean because I was the girl ....so after growing up that way I got tired of it ....

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-Esme .....

"There is no remedy for love but to love more."

ufcrusher

IMHO, one parent should always be home for the kids when they are young. When they get older and are in school, then one parent should either be at home or in a position where they can get home or to the school in an expedited manner. Now there are ways around this, in the hiring of a full time au pair who lives with you, but even then, the parents should be near enough that they can respond in an emergency.

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Welcome my son, welcome to the machine...Where have you been? It's alright we know where you've been....

ShawnLee

So long as they don't drive and clog up the roads, I'm happy. Besides, women can't vote, they would need to learn how to read first, and we all know no woman is going to learn how to read.

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blueindian

women should be barefoot and in the kitchen.





























no, i don't really think that.

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yeah, pretty much we missed the boat on that one. but it's still here. get you some.

Grimm

It used to be that one person with a high school could provide for a family with his wages. Today it takes two people generating income to live comfortably, but a high school education might not be enough any more.

attgig

wait! you're a woman?!



or bare and in the bedroom

























cmon, SOMEONE had to say it!

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cadetevon

Yip.

WhiskeyPapa

I disagree. I have only a high school education, and we're doing just fine, even comfortable by most standards.

It all depends on what you consider "comfortable". Stuff does not equal happiness, but that concept has been lost. Most people also don't have a clue how to manage money, therefore it takes twice the income to out-earn their own stupidity.

I'll concede that it takes two people generating an income if they're poor money managers, have little ambition, and only interested in feeding their appetites for "stuff". I guess that would describe 90% of the population, so maybe you're right...

zero2dash

Other than having medical bills (which I previously posted about in another thread), I'm the lone worker in our household and we live somewhat comfortably. We make it by ok with the normal bills we have, and have a little money left over for whatever. My wife's offered to work again but I always tell her I'd rather her stay home with our daughter and if the situation gets worse, I'll get a second job.

esme

my opinion would be ....if the woman got a part time job, which allowed her to drop off/pick up her kids from school it would work out. not only is that going to bring in extra money, but it'll give her some time away from home, which honestly some women do need ....not all of course!

zero2dash

Every time my wife complains about our daughter being bad and that she can never clean the house, I always willingly offer to stay at home and be "Mr. Mom" while she gets up in the morning and goes to work.

So far...she's not taking me up on that offer.

attgig

that could be good, as long as that part-time job doesn't stress her out even more!

esme

.....it all depends on the woman, i guess

ialsohaveadream

Wow. I agree with absolutely EVERYTHING you just said. Couldn't have put it better myself.

Markel

After we were married, I had my wife cut back to part time (she was working as a visiting nurse). After the first kid arrived, she stayed at home. After the youngest was in school (and I was facing a 5% pay cut) my wife started working 1 or 2 days a week as an assistant in the special ed. classrooms (same elementary school that the youngest kid was in). A couple of years ago she decided to stop doing the work at the school and concentrate on building a home-based (mlm) business (she's making more money at that than working at the school, and likes it much more, and has a far greater potential for growth). We can get by on my income, but what she brings in definitely helps.

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stay low... keep moving...

ShawnLee

I'm all for a woman working. Of course, I'm neither married or have kids, so this skews my perspective a little...

I'd say that if it my wife felt bored, it'd be good for her to feel productive, assuming of course she wanted to work. More importantly though, I'd look at it as a form of life insurance. If I go unexpectedly, I don't want my wife lost to the whims of the world for help. I'd want her to be able to carry on her life.
Next you'll follow along WP's path, have ten kids and become a Republican!

brainsmile

well if the wife doesn't work she better keep hubby happy at least

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cadetevon

I feel so bad for husbands who have wives that don't actually 'work' at home. There are men out there that have work-at-home wives but still have to come home to dirty homes, no meals etc.

It's my opinion that if one of the two folks in the relationship stays home, then it's *that* persons responsibility to make sure things get done in the home.

Make sure the cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc gets done. Make sure the schooling for the children is followed and meetings kept. Trips to the library, local museums, zoos etc are taken.

Like I said in a post up higher, staying home was THE hardest job I've ever had, and I've had jobs where I got shot at! LOL

mcs328

Then there are some stay at home wives that are married to a CEO who have the maid take care of the home while they go shopping. Trophy wives.

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cadetevon

I'd be ok with this too.