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rjzeller · 07-13-2005, 05:33 PM

Okay, I'm going to lather up that soap box a bit...

HEAR HEAR, Rogerio!!! It's so refreshing to hear someone finally admit what I've felt all along. Those are very controversial words you mutter, but also so true.

My wife and I made the very conscious decision that we would have one parent home with the kids whil they were young. It's been VERY tight financially for us, and it gets frustrating sometimes not being able to get the fancy new BMW my coworkers have, or not being able to get into a bigger house, go on the fancy vacations, etc., etc.,...but I think it is very important that one of us stay home.

Greed is a large part of it. Everyone wants more money and more things, which is fine, but that desire has usurped the desire to nurture and raise kids. Look at the average home in the US compared to the 50s: We have typically 2 or 3 televisions, cable TV, microwaves, dishwashers, two cars, a two-car garage, air conditioning, cd players, Personal computers, PDAs, cell phones, powered garage-door-openers, etc. How many of these even existed in the 50s?

Now, of that list above, I cannot think of one thing that I would be unable to live without. It would be annoying and tough to do without the AC, the Microwave, the dishwasher, the garage door opener, etc., but not impossible. How much of what we have do we really need?

How much are we willing to sacrifice so we can stay home with our kids?

The statistics on the demise of the family are frightening. And I think it's no coincidence that society becomes more and more accepting of violence and sexuality each year. I believe the latest survey showed that married couples are now only 50% of the adult population, and those with children are now under 30%, down from numbers near 75% and 50% just a few years ago. Those numbers may be off, but the meaning was clear: The family is dying.

I make well below the industry average for my type of work, I got a measly 1% raise this year, I would give my front teeth to be able to relocate to Tucson, and I haven't been able to take the family on a nice vacation in years. We have only one car, and few amenities, but we have a happy family. I could quit my job and find better work, but it's a stable job. And my kids are going to a great school next year. Why move now? Why give up a stable job just for higher pay? Why send the wife to work when she is the best mother for out kids I can think of? She wants to stay home and raise them, who am I to stop her? Yeah, the money is tight, but so is the family. And really, for me, that's all that matters.

07-13-2005, 05:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
rjzeller Forte User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 1,212	Okay, I'm going to lather up that soap box a bit... HEAR HEAR, Rogerio!!! It's so refreshing to hear someone finally admit what I've felt all along. Those are very controversial words you mutter, but also so true. My wife and I made the very conscious decision that we would have one parent home with the kids whil they were young. It's been VERY tight financially for us, and it gets frustrating sometimes not being able to get the fancy new BMW my coworkers have, or not being able to get into a bigger house, go on the fancy vacations, etc., etc.,...but I think it is very important that one of us stay home. Greed is a large part of it. Everyone wants more money and more things, which is fine, but that desire has usurped the desire to nurture and raise kids. Look at the average home in the US compared to the 50s: We have typically 2 or 3 televisions, cable TV, microwaves, dishwashers, two cars, a two-car garage, air conditioning, cd players, Personal computers, PDAs, cell phones, powered garage-door-openers, etc. How many of these even existed in the 50s? Now, of that list above, I cannot think of one thing that I would be unable to live without. It would be annoying and tough to do without the AC, the Microwave, the dishwasher, the garage door opener, etc., but not impossible. How much of what we have do we really need? How much are we willing to sacrifice so we can stay home with our kids? The statistics on the demise of the family are frightening. And I think it's no coincidence that society becomes more and more accepting of violence and sexuality each year. I believe the latest survey showed that married couples are now only 50% of the adult population, and those with children are now under 30%, down from numbers near 75% and 50% just a few years ago. Those numbers may be off, but the meaning was clear: The family is dying. I make well below the industry average for my type of work, I got a measly 1% raise this year, I would give my front teeth to be able to relocate to Tucson, and I haven't been able to take the family on a nice vacation in years. We have only one car, and few amenities, but we have a happy family. I could quit my job and find better work, but it's a stable job. And my kids are going to a great school next year. Why move now? Why give up a stable job just for higher pay? Why send the wife to work when she is the best mother for out kids I can think of? She wants to stay home and raise them, who am I to stop her? Yeah, the money is tight, but so is the family. And really, for me, that's all that matters. __________________ There are 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who understand binary and those who do not.