I have a massive rant that I have been saving for a while, mainly because I haven't had time to put pen to paper (so to speak). Every time I think about this topic it makes me mad so hopefully posting this will be cathartic.
What I would like to know is this - when did it become abnormal to stay at home and care for your children instead of going back to work? Don't get me wrong, I don't have an issue with other people choosing to go back to work. Do what you want. What I do have a problem with is people being unbelievably condescending when I tell them that I have chosen to be a stay at home mother. I have even heard this choice referred to as 'cute'. That, however, is not the comment that has annoyed me the most. The worst of all condescending comments is when people, of which there are multiple, say 'Oh, I could never be a stay at home mother. I need to use my brain.'. *smoke coming from ears* Of course I don't use my brain. I just sit at home and sing nursery rhymes and behave as if I am in a ward staffed by Nurse Ratched.
The thing that bugs me the most is that we as humans are animals. When any other animal (excluding a few of course) produces offspring they don't check them in to childcare after a month and go off about the business of 'using their brain', um, sorry, I mean working (if you are going to be condescending, I shall return the favour!). You don't see kangaroos dumping their kids with their mother and donning briefcases. I have never seen a possum childcare centre in operation. Caring for our children is what we are biologically supposed to do and the assumption that anyone who chooses to pursue this course of action has shelved their brain for the interim is downright wrong. I use my brain in multiple ways that I don't feel the need to list. I am not here to justify my position as a thinking stay at home mother. I'm just here to rant.
Rant over and out.
