Feminist Says Child Rearing not Worthy of Time and Talents of Intelligent Humans

Today I read an interesting article about statements by Linda Hirshman on feminism and child-rearing. Take a moment to read it if you have time!

This is why I’m appalled by extreme feminism – it’s not about what is good for women, or what women want, it’s about an extremist agenda to “reconstruct” the family. Most mothers, in my experience – even the ones who are in the work force – would rather stay home with their children.

As the article says – “Some of the women [Ms. Hirshman] interviewed confirmed her worst fears: they liked being mothers.”

Also, it’s interesting to think about the flaws in Hirshman’s reasoning – if all “intelligent” people are supposed to be in the work force, that means that Ms. Hirshman is suggesting that the next generation should be raised by stupid people.

This is an odd opinion since, modernly, at least in California, there is a huge push for preschool workers to have higher education.

So, I guess that babies and toddlers should be raised by stupid people for the first several years and then, when they are three or four-years-old, they should be suddenly thrown into an environment with the really smart ones!

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Love is shown in many ways. One major way it is shown is by investing time.

Looking back at my childhood – where my mother was there for me everyday, making me meals and snacks, working near me when I played, comforting me when I was hurt or upset – I wouldn’t trade that childhood for anything.

I want to give Meredith, and any other children that should come, the gift of my time. I want to give my children the same experience I had growing up – a mother who is there for them every day.

I have a law degree – I don’t tell many people this but I ranked first in my graduating class, I passed the California bar exam on my first attempt. I don’t think I’m the brightest person but don’t think I’m totally stupid either.

At the same time, I willingly gave up my career, working with really smart people in the field of public policy, to stay home and pour my life into my child. I stay home because I want to - not because I have to.

Someday maybe I’ll pick up a full-time career again – after my children are successfully raised – but, for the time being, my job is to teach, guide, cherish, and laugh with my baby while she’s young. ‘Cuz I know she’ll only be young for a short time.

Several years ago I worked temporarily in the legal department of a utilities company. There was one young woman, a mother and an attorney, who always seemed particularly stressed out. She had pictures on her desk of very young, cute, adorable children. She always came in to the office early and left later than me. I always wondered who was with her kids all day. She never seemed very happy. I wondered if working that many hours was really what she wanted for her life or if she felt like she was pressured into it.

“Wow, you’ve had a remarkable career,” is something, yes, that would be nice to hear at the end of my life. But, if I had to choose, I would much rather chuck the career and know that I’d spent countless hours loving on my kids.

In the end, I think that will make the most difference in this world anyway.

No one can raise my child as well as I can because no one loves her like I do.

I am not replaceable in Meredith’s life. Please don’t insult me, Ms. Hirshman, by telling me that any daycare worker (or even a grandmother, and both of Meredith’s grandmothers are wonderful people) can replace me as her primary caretaker.

I am her Mother. God gave me a tremendous responsibility to raise her. And I am willing to take on that responsibility – and all the day-to-day nitty gritty involved in that responsibility – no matter what the sacrifices.