The promise I made when I started this blog is that all the material in it would be original and creative. I can guarantee the original; the creative is in the eye of the beholder.
Does inspiration count? I hope not. What I’m offering up this Sunday evening was inspired by another blogger’s wholly empathetic and skillfully crafted monologue about how his pretty, smart, and talented wife is underappreciated by the world because she chose to stay home with kids instead of make her mark in the working world. Read it here. I’m sure he is right.
The bad news is that there is a subtle but corrosive culture war to wipe out the W.A.H.M.s (work-at-home-mom) of the world. The goods news is… I suspect they are losing.
I prefer the WAHM to SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) because it’s a more accurate description of what moms who have chosen to employ themselves fulltime chasing rugrats around the house really do- they work! Raising children to stand strong and courageous against unseemly influences in the world that point them down paths not leading to healthy family relationships in this life and eternal family relationships in the next is a fulltime job for both parents. In this context, our manly vocations that earn the money to put food on the table and roofs over our heads are relegated to part-time hobbies. Remember, according President McKay, when the Savior interviews us men about how efficiently we made use of the gift of earth life he gave us, he’s going to ask us first how well took care of our wives and families. I believe that questions about our chosen profession are way down at the bottom.
My personal beef, my life-is-not fair observation about this arrangement is that WAHMs have it much better than their husbands. Husbands and wives are “obligated to help one another as equal partners,” but our wives working in homes have much more time at their disposal to raise righteous children. How can we be “equal partners” with our wives in this sacred venture when we have to spen
d sooo much time out of the house making a living? It’s just not fa
ir!!
When our two children were preschool age, I had to work and go to graduate school at night to get ahead enough to provide a healthy environment for the rest of the Taits under our roof. Life was especially unfair then! I had to hear about Brian and Leslie’s first words and first steps second-hand. The after-dinner Book of Mormon battles with my pre-school Nephite warriors Brian and Leslie were mere re-enactments of the original drama that had entertained my wife earlier in the day.
Some think WAHMS are underappreciated – they are. Others know that WAHMs are central to the salvation of the family of man- they are. The smartest, most talented people in the universe are at home filling the minds and hearts of our children with spiritual fiber. I wouldn’t have it any other way. In the eternal perspective, the heavenly future of humankind is much rosier with Deon being Brian and Leslie’s mom than being President of the United States, although she’s qualified to do both. I find ultimate comfort in the war against WAHMS that prophesy is being fulfilled- the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.
Excellent post! I agree with that and use it as an "uplifter" whenever my wife needs some cheering up about the difficulty of daily motherhood. It is sad that we miss out on so much of the children's life and day-to-day happenings.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love to say "full time mother" more than SAHM, but usually avoid it unless I know I am saying it around other full time mothers because it can be some pretty good kindling for a large fire when you imply that those who aren't are only "part time mothers" for their children. I thought you might like that :)
Wonderful post- I love the pictures of Leslie and Brian in their armor. As you pointed out, it is really unfortunate to see how the world has degraded the value of motherhood and puts them down for chosing to stay at home. The adversary has made huge progress with this one.
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