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5.10.2006

Give That Girl A Raise!

Often when I've been by myself, without my wife, trying to load my three children (5, 3 & 18mos - and now a newborn!) into our van, I've joked to others that I'm going to double my wife's salary.
It's a compliment, really.

What I'm actually saying is,

"I don't know how she does it"
or
"Man-oh-man is this a hard job!"
or
"She's worth much more than she's getting"
or
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

The catch is - she's a full-time, stay-at-home mom.
Her salary: $0.00. Get it?
Double her salary...double of nothing is...oh, nevermind.

I learned real quick the correct answer to the question: "Does your wife work?" (What they mean is, does she work outside the home). My answer used to be "No."
Wrong answer.
Correct answer: "Yes, she works, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, no vacation, no sick time, no pay. Yeah...she works."

Well, if you're a stay-at-home mom, you know that there is indeed a reward. This StarTribune article actually recognized some of the great joys of motherhood. Of course, they looked at some of the disadvantages as well - after all, it's the media...it's rare to find much redemptive value in a news story anywhere. In fact, they ended the story with the subtle assumption that you don't have to be married to anyone, much less the opposite sex, to be a mom:

So, mommies-to-be, talk it over with your significant other, quit that day job, grab the kids...and dream on!
What I did find interesting was this consideration of what a stay-at-home mom is worth in dollars and cents. They used this graphic from www.salary.com :





Amazing, huh? Now check this out - you can go here and print a "check" for your kids to present to their mom IF they could pay her what she's worth.

All things considered, I have two thoughts:

  • My wife is worth much more than that "play check" could ever express
  • And even if I could pay her that much...she wouldn't take it. The joys & blessings of raising our children in the "fear and admonition of the Lord" are, to her, worth far more than money.

1 comment:

  1. I'm so glad you posted this. Only 11 weeks into being a stay-at-home mom and so many people have asked the question "Are you going to stay at home or work?". It's really unnerving to think that people don't realize just how much work I do - alot of those very people being church members.

    I've even been told that I shouldn't stay at home since I went to school 7 years and have 2 degrees. It's as if people think money is more important than raising their own children. It's truly sad.

    Thanks again. It's nice to hear a male value stay-at-home moms.

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