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by May Jones (bio)
Ever since the whole Hilary Rosen/Ann Romney media firestorm (I've always wanted to use that expression), I've
noticed a lot more videos and articles featuring moms being posted on Facebook. Now, it could be that they were always there and I'm starting to pay attention more, given recent events, but a few of them have caught my eye. This article in particular left me speechless. The author states that motherhood as a form of feminism is "dangerous." She compares women who choose to breastfeed their infants more than a few months to animals. She claims that women who spend more time with their children are less happy. They should focus less on those children and focus more on figuring out how to be sexy for their husbands. I wish I was kidding about this, but I'm
not. Pretty ridiculous.
As for me, I think it's fabulous that today, women can choose to work away from home, paid at home, unpaid at home, part-time, full-time, or freelance ... the options are there! And that's not even taking into account all the profession choices. My eleven year-old daughter changes her mind about her future line of work on a weekly basis. A few days ago, she came home from a field trip to a water conservancy plant/nature walk declaring that she would be a botanist. I love that she is unaware of any limits or constraints.
The days are long past when a woman has had to say, "Hmm, factory worker, farmer's wife, nun, or woman of the night, what's it going to be?" And even then, not really having much choice in the matter. We're doing much better today.
I do not fault any mom for making the choice to work outside the home. For me, it's not really a feasible choice with four kids coming and going all the time. Is our financial situation less amazing than everyone else's? Certainly. But it was a choice I made, and I'm comfortable with it. But I'm still educated and occasionally take on side work. So, why all the harsh attacks toward my choice?
I have a friend who talks about her mom and how, in the 1960's, she was thrilled when women started asserting themselves more. Everyone was saying, "We are women! Be whatever you want to be!" so she said, "Awesome! I want to be a mom!" (cue record scratch) "Oh ... anything but that."
I just wish that, as moms, we could realize that we re all on the same team. We all want our kids to be happy and successful and to be able to make their own choices like we did. We are not our own enemies! Besides, if we stopped being distracted by battling each other we could get down to the business of getting our kids in the Olympics:
But seriously, I love that video. Moms rule.
Finally, a few more "feel-good" mom posts I've read that I love, just in case the first post left you with a bad taste in your mouth:
Your Children Want YOU! (The Power of Moms)
The Gifts of Motherhood and the Ordinary Places I Found Them (Huffington Post)