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I wish someone had clued me in 25 years ago! All this time I should have been sipping cocoa and watching reality TV!
Hilary Rosen, who has visited the Obama White House some 35 times (General Petraeus has visited nine times) and is a top democratic strategist, doesn't like Mitt Romney. Shocking, I know.
Today, she aimed to take out Ann Romney. Of Mrs. Romney—who chose to stay home to raise her five boys—Rosen said, “Guess what? His wife has actually never worked a day in her life!”
I have spent the day fuming over Rosen's snide remark, just as I did from Hillary Clinton's years ago. These women have no clue. And that's putting it kindly.
But just to be clear, I didn't choose the “luxury” of staying home because we were wealthy (and had a nanny and cook and maid). I stayed home—three weeks away from my college graduation and when Sam was in graduate school—when we were dirt poor. We sacrificed incredibly so that we could raise our own children.
Why? Because no matter what other interesting, fulfilling, cool, awesome things are out there, no one on earth can tell me any job, any career, any position, any cause that is more important than a living, breathing human being.
As I write this post, I am sitting in the pediatric intensive care unit at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center with my 11-year-old son, Samson. I've been here since Saturday night (it's Thursday night now).
I'm here because he is of incomparable worth. I'm here because there is nothing that trumps the value of human life…of his life. And for me—and Ann Romney and hoards of other stay-at-home moms—that value isn't just when they are terribly ill.
It isn't some bogus notion of “quality time” worked around a hectic personal fulfillment schedule. It's quantity. It's every single day. It's when they need you, not when you can pencil them in.
Instead of continuing to take crap from such women, from now on I intend to ask them what it is about their jobs that is more valuable than their own children.
Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
Powerful rebuttal, Alison. You might also like to read Kathryn Skaggs take on it today as well. http://wellbehavedmormonwoman.blogspot.com/2012/04/ann-romney-my-career-choice-was-to-be.html. There are many of us who feel passionately about this issue and we know that the bias that is going to get even worse in the days ahead. Thanks for standing-up for what’s true. We’re with you! And…we continue to pray for your son. What a challenging week you must have had!
Alison, I love you! and I don’t even know you, but, I know your passion, I have been there. I have sat in hospitals and doctors offices for countless hours with my oldest daughter, as when she was 4 years old she developed leukemia and a fungal infection which did terrible damage to her. My greatest desire was giving my children everything that they need. They are my most valuable possession. And fighting for their life is what you do!!! Hang in there. You are awesome and I know that Heavenly Father will take care of you and your family.
Well said. As usual!
Our children are growing up with very little responsibility, hardly working, having problems relating to others and with an attitude that they deserve everything. Without the mother at home, they have no guidance on how to live and be productive in society. Both parents working away from the home and not attending to the kids is hurting society greatly. This attitude of “at home mothers are not working” has to change.
DD, I can’t tell you how much I agree. I don’t care who stays home, but IMO SOMEONE needs to. The children should be THE priority in a home.
Thanks for your input.
I used to feel that stay at home moms did nothing all day until I actually decided to stay at home with my son to save money on childcare expenses. Being a stay at home mom is a full time job! Taking care of my son, household chores, cleaning, plus my online job is all very time consuming. It seems like my job never ends. I commend all mother who choose to stay at home with their children.
Carla, perhaps we can just chalk up such sentiments to those who have never actually done it — are are clueless. 🙂