Such a insightful comment, thank you. Yes - it is frustrating that most policy proposals to aid families are “one size fits all” proposals that assumes all or most mothers want to be full time in the workforce. There are so many proposals for universal childcare - I would love to see some concrete proposals that meet mothers where they are, and offer increased protections for those who only want to work part time or sporadically so they can be providing more of the “hands on” care to their kids.
The bio at the end of the Hearth & Field pice tickled me.
Especially the part about preferring to wrestle with a financial spreadsheet than make sourdough bread. I need to know there are homemakers out there like me, whose preferences and strengths in making a home are sometimes.... not as picture worthy. :') Docs & spreadsheets & lists are where I shine in keeping my home! haha
Don’t worry - some of us shop at Costco, don’t like goats, and maintain a particular pride in making sure all the paperwork gets done and filed on time 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I am a “working” “stay at home” mom - I work part-time and am also the primary caregiver at home for our kids (4 year old and 2 year old both go to preschool part time during the school year, baby stays with me). A lot of “working mom” oriented media does not account for my situation - I don’t need pumping friendly business clothes, full day year round childcare would not fit my needs or my preferences, I’m often excluded from paid family leave proposals - but I also don’t show up in the homemaker/mothers out of the labor force statistics, since I am employed for pay. Legally, I face many of the same vulnerabilities as a mother completely out of the labor force, and I often don’t qualify for the protections and benefits of being in the labor force.
It makes me wonder how much of this paid work diversity is masked by statistics like “most mothers work [for pay].” When narrow family leave or childcare proposals are put forward, how many women like me are left out because they don’t have a 9-5 white collar job (and the people writing policy largely do). And not just part-time workers - plenty of mothers and fathers work full time jobs that wouldn’t fit with a traditional group childcare schedule even if such childcare was universally provided. I’ve seen a few times in the NYT that “too long” maternity leave hurts women’s careers - but how many of us were going to make it to upper management anyways? And how many of us would value probably minor career progression over an additional 3, 6, 9, 12 etc months at home?
I really enjoyed your Hearth and Field essay. I became a "stay-at-home dad" last year and have just recently decided to upgrade to "Homemaker." The hyphens are upsetting on their own. But you articulated why I, too, often hesitated to use the term when asked what I do. Thank you!
Such a insightful comment, thank you. Yes - it is frustrating that most policy proposals to aid families are “one size fits all” proposals that assumes all or most mothers want to be full time in the workforce. There are so many proposals for universal childcare - I would love to see some concrete proposals that meet mothers where they are, and offer increased protections for those who only want to work part time or sporadically so they can be providing more of the “hands on” care to their kids.
The bio at the end of the Hearth & Field pice tickled me.
Especially the part about preferring to wrestle with a financial spreadsheet than make sourdough bread. I need to know there are homemakers out there like me, whose preferences and strengths in making a home are sometimes.... not as picture worthy. :') Docs & spreadsheets & lists are where I shine in keeping my home! haha
Don’t worry - some of us shop at Costco, don’t like goats, and maintain a particular pride in making sure all the paperwork gets done and filed on time 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Alas no one is Instagramming their filing system so it’s less well known ❤️
I am a “working” “stay at home” mom - I work part-time and am also the primary caregiver at home for our kids (4 year old and 2 year old both go to preschool part time during the school year, baby stays with me). A lot of “working mom” oriented media does not account for my situation - I don’t need pumping friendly business clothes, full day year round childcare would not fit my needs or my preferences, I’m often excluded from paid family leave proposals - but I also don’t show up in the homemaker/mothers out of the labor force statistics, since I am employed for pay. Legally, I face many of the same vulnerabilities as a mother completely out of the labor force, and I often don’t qualify for the protections and benefits of being in the labor force.
It makes me wonder how much of this paid work diversity is masked by statistics like “most mothers work [for pay].” When narrow family leave or childcare proposals are put forward, how many women like me are left out because they don’t have a 9-5 white collar job (and the people writing policy largely do). And not just part-time workers - plenty of mothers and fathers work full time jobs that wouldn’t fit with a traditional group childcare schedule even if such childcare was universally provided. I’ve seen a few times in the NYT that “too long” maternity leave hurts women’s careers - but how many of us were going to make it to upper management anyways? And how many of us would value probably minor career progression over an additional 3, 6, 9, 12 etc months at home?
I love this!
I really enjoyed your Hearth and Field essay. I became a "stay-at-home dad" last year and have just recently decided to upgrade to "Homemaker." The hyphens are upsetting on their own. But you articulated why I, too, often hesitated to use the term when asked what I do. Thank you!
I’m so glad you liked it!