judging from the second-to-last (penultimate, if i might be so bold) sentences, you’re not saying that men are better (than women) in the career world or women are better (than men) at home. though maybe you do mean that?

another interpretation is that men are better in the career world (than at home) and women are better at home (than in the career world). in this sense, it is a statement that there are biological differences that lead us to being most fulfilled, personally, in the traditional sphere (men outside, women inside). i would extrapolate: as a women, i am a better women when i am raising my children in my home rather than pursuing other interests. and men likewise in the career world.

a third interpretation is that (the world and/or the children) are better when men are in the career world and (the world and/or the children) are better when women are at home.

which were you thinking of? (or was it a fourth or fifth option?)

Suzie–how great to hear from you! i did see that salary.com article last year; i printed it out real big for my husband to see–just to remind him (he already is 100% supportive) that I am super-valuable. i hope you’ll continue to comment. this is so much fun when it’s more of a conversation. i’ve been reading your blog too (i just didn’t know if you knew that i was). now that you know , i’ll leave some comments. do Amy or any of your other siblings have blogs?

the more i think about this (last night i calmed down after writing my post — blogging is so cathartic), the more i wonder if i’ll really bother to read those “women should go to work” books. if the authors are capable of such idiotic statements as those i quoted, what could i possibly learn from their books? still, it seems only fair.

I don’t know if you saw it, but last May, Salary.com published a report stating that the average mom would earn “$134,121 for her contributions as a housekeeper, cook, day care center teacher, janitor and CEO, among other functions.” The article can still be found at http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/03/pf/mothers_work/ . My friend next door was recently offered a part time position that would allow her to make almost as much money as her husband makes working full-time. She has one little boy they adopted as a baby (she can’t have kids) and they are starting to take classes to do foster-care with the intent to adopt more. Her parents are completely encouraging her to take the job. Her mother has never worked out of the home. But, yet, they are almost insistent that she take the position. When she asks why??- they tell her it so she can get ahead. What does that mean? To “get ahead” in this world it is usually measured in a monetary form. Why isn’t inspiring young minds to think for themselves and do miraculous things daily count as getting ahead? The lady that wrote that article you cited obviously has never spent a week in her life as a full-time mom- completely dedicated to her work.

You noted how Angelina considers herself a SAHM- and we both know that isn’t true. If a woman is truly doing all that she can to provide and create the most incredible world for her family (not just the kids- dad is included too in that work) then she would know that she is doing the best job that is available out there. It is her job to use every talent imaginable to create that world- and do all that she can to prepare her children to do the same thing for future generations. Both her and her family are continuously “getting ahead” with their everyday actions. As parents we don’t know what our children will become- maybe they will be the ones that find the cure for cancer or become a prophet or have a strong enough testimony to teach their values to their children. One isn’t greater than the other.

I think a lot more people could make the choice to be a SAHM if they wanted to, they just don’t want to deal with all of the work that comes from being with their kids all day. It is easier to pay someone else to do it. Of course to do that, then you have to go to work so that you can afford it. I could talk all day on this subject but I won’t. I took a lot of flak in DC for leaving work when I had Callie. One woman went so far as to say they shouldn’t hire Mormon women in the work place because they leave when they have kids. Never mind that one of her kids has tried to commit suicide and another one is barely passing high school. At least she uses her talents where they are needed most. At work. Helping society.