OceanSide church of Christ

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STAY-AT-HOME MOMS ARE UNDER ATTACK

Victor M. Eskew

 

            What is a stay-at-home mom?  She is a woman with children who is not employed outside the home.  She is one who has chosen to devote her time and energies to her husband, her children, her church, and often, her community instead of being one who assists another in generating profits for his/her company.

            When our country was more agricultural than it is now, stay-at-home moms were a common thing.  In fact, very few women spent their days away from their homes.  Those who did were looked upon as women who were neglecting their families.  Slowly this picture has changed.  Today, stay-at-home moms are the exception and not the rule.  Those who choose to stay at home are looked upon with disrespect and disdain by some.

            There are some in our society who would love to launch a full-blown attack on stay-at-home moms.  They have not been too vocal because they know that this is still a very touchy issue.  Recently, however, a few comments have been made that have infuriated stay-at-home mom and many others.  One of these comments was made by a Democratic strategist named Hilary Rosen.  Her statement focused upon Ann Romney, Mitt Romney’s wife, who was a stay-at-home mom.  Ms. Rosen said that Ann Romney had “never worked a day in her life.”  Most politicians sought to distance themselves from this statement.  One comedian named Bill Mahr came to Ms. Rosen’s defense.  Mr. Mahr said that while being a mother is “a tough job,” there’s a “big difference between being a mother and getting…out of the house at 7 a.m. when it’s cold, having to deal with a boss, being in a workplace, where even if you are unhappy you can’t show it for 8 hours, that is kind of a different kind of tough thing.”

            One wonders:  If stay-at-home moms are ignorant, insignificant, and a bunch of lazy women, why are some so bent on attacking them?  One reason is because stay-at-home moms are often associated with the teachings of that inspired book called the Holy Bible.  In I Timothy 5:14, Paul wrote:  “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”  This same inspired penman addressed this issue again in Titus 2:4-5.  “That they may teach the younger women to be sober, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”  Many of the individuals who denigrate stay-at-home moms deny God and hate the Bible.  Anything that is taught in the “Good Book,” they vehemently oppose.  Phrases such as “guide the house” and “keepers at home” bring to their minds stay-at-home moms.  Therefore, they want to do away with them.

            Another reason stay-at-home moms are ridiculed is because these women are terrific teachers.  The curriculum they teach oftentimes opposes the philosophies of those who have contempt for stay-at-home moms.  Stay-at-home mothers teach their children about God, Jesus Christ, the cross of Calvary, the Bible, faith, redemption, justification, heaven and hell.  This is not the kind of education some want our children to have.  They believe that theology is for the weak and stupid.  If they can shame these stay-at-home moms enough to get them into the workplace, their children will not have their heads filled with all of this religious hogwash.

            These stay-at-home moms also teach their children about morality.  They indoctrinate their children with a standard of right and wrong.  Abortion, homosexuality, alcohol, drugs, cursing, sex outside of marriage, and a host of other things are said to be wrong.  Those who oppose stay-at-home moms hate this kind of teaching.  They see it as restrictive.  Freedom to them involves doing what feels good.  If mothers are not at home to teach their children, they must be taught by others.  It is hoped that they will be taught by those who have no standard of morality other than “if it feels good do it.”

            Another reason stay-at-home moms are under attack is because they are smart and powerful.  Many stay-at-home moms have a college education.  Some of them have been employed in the workplace prior to having children.  Others are involved in home-based businesses.  These women are knowledgeable of the moral, economic, and spiritual issues that our nation is facing.  They keep up with the political candidates and their views on the issues.  These moms fully intend to cast a vote in every election.  These votes will matter.  They can change elections.  Those who berate stay-at-home moms know this.  They do not want the religious, conservative ideas of stay-at-home moms to influence elections.  It angers them to no end.  If they could get these women out of the house and into the workplace, they believe they can impact their thinking and their political leanings.

            We praise all stay-at-home moms.  You do work!  You arise early.  You go to bed late.  You are on-call 24 hours each day.  You assume dozens of jobs every day from housekeeper to teacher to nurse to counselor.  You have no monetary incentive.  There is no paycheck waiting for you at the end of the week.  You sacrifice.  You work when you don’t feel good.  You do not get much recognition and very little thanks.  But, you make a difference.  You are helping to build and maintain the foundation of our nation.  Don’t listen to the naysayers.  If you were not a real threat, they would not be concerned.  Just keep on doing exactly what you are doing!