I’m Married To A Housewife

Summary

The article expresses the author's view that being a housewife is an admirable and multifaceted profession that should be respected and valued by society, especially by the spouses of stay-at-home mothers.

Abstract

The author of the article, presumably a man married to a housewife, reflects on a commercial that implies a husband might not be proud to say his wife is a stay-at-home mom. The author challenges this notion, emphasizing the importance and complexity of a housewife's role, which includes numerous responsibilities akin to various professional positions such as CEO, chef, teacher, and therapist, among others. He argues that society often undervalues the role of a stay-at-home mother, despite its significant contributions to family life and child development. The author points out that the decision to be a housewife often involves personal sacrifices and that the work done by stay-at-home mothers is demanding and should be celebrated. He encourages husbands to express pride and appreciation for their wives' roles in the family and highlights research suggesting that children benefit from having a parent at home.

Opinions

The author is bothered by the societal implication that a husband might not be excited or proud to say his wife is a stay-at-home mom, suggesting this reflects a broader undervaluation of the role.
Stay-at-home mothers perform a variety of critical roles within the household that are comparable to highly respected professions.
The decision to become a full-time caregiver often involves significant personal and professional sacrifices, which should be acknowledged and appreciated.
The author believes that the work of a housewife is inherently exciting and fulfilling, and it contributes positively to the family dynamic and child development.
He emphasizes the importance of husbands showing pride in their wives' roles as housewives and the need for society to recognize the value of this profession.
The author suggests that the benefits of having a parent at home are supported by research, which shows better outcomes for children.

And I’ll shout it from the hilltops

There is a commercial for Westervelt College that bothers me whenever I hear it. The woman in the commercial, who is a housewife with two children contemplating going back to work, says, “I wanted something that my kids could be proud of and when someone asked my husband what his wife does for a living, I wanted him to be excited to tell them what I did.”

The statement could be taken in two ways. The woman said that there were jobs but she wanted a career. She wanted to be a doctor in the past and she was going to study something medical at Westervelt. She felt that there would be more excitement in her husband if he informed others that his wife was a doctor than there would be if he said a grocery clerk.

The other way of taking her statement is the cause of my aggravation. In the commercial, the children look like they are about 4 years old. She is a housewife who is ready to improve herself and get back into the workforce. Nothing wrong with that.

But there is an implication that her husband would not be excited to tell others that his wife was a stay-at-home Mom.

Where can you find a list of exciting professions that includes housewife? Ask any young girl what she wants to be when she grows up and you’d be hardpressed to find any that say ‘I want to be a stay-at-home Mom’ as this 2015 survey attests to. It’s a shame.

There are good reasons to decide to stay at home with your children. Women who make the choice to stay at home for a time should be applauded. It is rare that they haven’t sacrificed something in making this choice. They are Mothers who have given up careers either permanently or for a time, suspended schooling, passed on promotions, or let go of their dreams.

Lifewithoutpink.com list 52 jobs that housewives do. Here are some exciting ones:

CEO of the Household

Personal Chef {clients may consist of picky eaters

Taxi Driver

Judge {daily court appearances}

Hair Stylist {mostly consists of impatient clients}

Family Therapist

Janitor

Teacher

Finance Manager

Art Director {remember; beauty is in the eye of the beholder}

Landscaper

Search and Rescue

Lifeguard

Daycare Provider

Personal Assistant for the entire family

Wardrobe Stylist {this may consist of changing your client’s clothes several times a day}

Personal Shopper

Birthday Events Director

Sleep Scientist {will consist of many overnight studies}

Scary Monster Patrol Officer

Dramatic Story Teller

Professional Singer {concentrating on lullabies}

Doctor or Boo-Boo Fixer

Speech Specialist

Bodyguard

This is all done without vacations, sick days, or raises.

Exciting stuff isn’t it. Look at number 23. The doctor is right there. What’s more exciting than a scary monster patrol officer or bodyguard? A little tongue in cheek here but you get my point.

Look, Dads, if your wife is at home looking after your children you’d better be speaking highly of her to your friends. Be excited. She needs to know that you appreciate what she is doing for your family. The experience can be stressful so she needs to know that it’s worth it and you can help. There’s nothing like watching your kids thrive and excel and research shows that there’s a higher chance of that happening with a parent at home.

When I look at my children, I’m so grateful that my wife stayed home. The financial sacrifice was worth it for sure.