Working Mother
I have some pet peeves, as we all do. There are a couple that have just been rubbing me the wrong way lately and I decided I needed to vent them here. Chances are, if you are reading this, then you know at least one working mother and you also know single moms who, of course, have to work. Don’t worry I am not against working mothers or single moms. Well, just a handful of them.
Some of you know of my disregard for Katie Couric. I used to admire her as I watched her as an anchor on NBC Today. It was heartbreaking to watch as she struggled with her husband, Jay Monahan’s fight against cancer and then his ultimate death. It was even more disheartening that he left two young daughters behind as well. The turning point for me as a fan of Ms. Couric’s was when she would whine and complain about how she struggles financially trying to raise two daughters alone. Yes, it is a struggle being a single mother. However, considering Ms. Couric makes more in a month than most single mom’s make in a year working two and three jobs, I don’t see how she can, in good conscience, bemoan her situation. I have seen so many single moms struggle trying to make a good life for their children. They sacrifice and work sometimes 12 – 16 hours a day not getting to spend much time with their children. I know it is difficult losing a mate and suddenly having to do everything yourself, but when you make that much money and so many make at and below poverty level and they keep going, come on already. She is the reason I stopped watching NBC Today and switched to CBS This Morning.
Single moms and dads should be held in the highest regard. Especially the ones who aren’t financially secure. I have worked along side some of these wonderful people. They love their children so much and have to sacrifice to provide food, shelter and clothing for them. It is so easy for some to have babies and then go and get welfare money and food stamps. But so many people don’t believe in this. They prefer to take care of their families themselves by working and providing the best they can. People who were raised during the depression will be the first to tell you that they didn’t even know they were poor, everyone was. Today we have movies and television that show a different life style and people believe if they do not have these luxuries, like cable television, cell phones and computers then they are living in shame. Somehow, these wonderful single parents actually make things work and they do it all without complaining. I raise my glass to each and everyone of who make things work everyday with so little.
Now to address working mothers. I have been watching CBS This Morning for a while. Starting with anchor Julie Chen, it seems all the women were getting pregnant. Julie Chen began her maternity leave in September 2009. She returned from maternity leave this past week. Well, sort of. After eight months leave to have her baby and spend time with him, she returned to CBS This Morning working an hour a day. Yes, she only works the second hour of the two hour program. During a segment this past week she made a comment about admiring someone because she was a working mother and now Julie herself is a working mother. Um, HELLO.
In years past a girl was raised to finish school, maybe go to college and get married and have babies. The woman did not work outside the home. A side note here, I believe all mothers are working mothers, especially if they are the ones who take care of their children. This is not about that. As years have gone by things have changed. World War II found women having to go into the factories and businesses to work and do things the men had once done since the men were off fighting in the war. When the men returned home, the women didn’t want to go back to staying in the home. They wanted to keep on working. Also, financial status’ changed. Prices kept going up but wages could not keep up. Therefore, households require two incomes.
I have a friend who recently had a baby. Her maternity leave was six weeks. For the most part, maternity leave is about six weeks and is unpaid unless the woman has accumulated sick/annual leave. Some companies also offer paternity leave which is much shorter in duration and again, unpaid unless you have accumulated leave. Basically, all this leave affords is security that your job will be there when you return. Ms. Chen went on maternity leave 9/09. My friends baby was born January 2010. My friend was back to work her normal hours in the department store she has worked at since 2004 months before Ms. Chen returned to work only one hour a day for CBS. Since her husband is president of CBS, Ms. Chen doesn’t have to work. She could have extended her maternity leave indefinitely. So many women in this world have to work just to help make ends meet in the home.
I would never begrudge anyone anything they have worked for. I just think that those parents who are single and working hard every day as well as home with two working parents who nave to work and keep the family going, deserve mucho kudos. To my many friends who are single parents and those where both parents work hard every day to raise healthy, wholesome children who will grow up to run this country one day, I humbly bow to your excellence. If I could I would take care of all of your children and give you each 24 hours to do nothing but pamper yourselves.
Loading ...