Monday, 24 August 2009
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Parenting: A Lense of Christian Life
Christian-Life-Advisor.com comments the following about being a "good" Christian family: "There are times when a mother must work outside the home and there are times when it is a choice. A Christian family needs to place their children above their possessions. Have less "stuff" so you can give them more "time". If you must work, then work. What are your priorities?"Are mothers being neglectful in God's eyes if they work instead of parent full-time? Do you agree with this websites advice?
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Comments (8)
I think everyone has to make the choice that is right for them. I would love to be a stay at home mom, but I realize it isn't for everyone. I do think mom's should make every effort to be at home as much as possible though. And dad's too for that matter. Children need their parents. And if you have your child in daycare or with a babysitter, they may care for them very well, but that doesn't mean they will raise them the way you want.
I do definitely agree with what the article says about putting your children above your possessions. If you need to work to eat and pay the bills, go for it. But if you are working so you can have a new car, a huge wardrobe, electronics, etc. What is the point really? Your kids should definitely come first.
I agree with what you related to us that the website says. I think people get wants and needs confused. Some people think what they want is a need, when in reality it is not, and that includes their "need" to be working outside of the home for their own "sanity" or whatever reason it is they come up with that does not include making ends meet.
The website makes a very good point. Most kids would be happier playing with simpler or fewer toys in a modest home if they could have the care and attention of a parent. Security and time are the greatest gifts parents can give their children.
personally, i never want to be a stay-at-home mom. it's just not something i'd want to do with my life. but i don't see why that automatically makes me a bad parent.
Economic manipulation has put more and more of the wealth into the hands of the few, making it a necessity for many more families that both parents bring in an income. In a capitalist society it doesn't really matter what the bible or any religious group says. The capitalist answer to morality is "talk to the hand".
I think that there is some confusion about what "work" might mean. Even the Proverbs 31 woman had work to do alongside of her parenting duties, and she was found to be commendable for her industrious lifestyle!
If people (speaking of either gender, now) are only working for an income, then they will not find any real satisfaction in that kind of work. If they are merely going through the stages of achievement in a career, they might find some satisfaction; but not enough to please them when they stop and measure the time away from family and friends as equal in value. If a person is working in an area that they are talented in, feel they are making significant contributions to and feel immense intrinsic rewards for the time invested, then that is a whole different experience.
I think that if we look through history and see many missionary wives working alongside of their husbands with medical care, education and other ministries, we have no doubt that they are working "a good work" while they have their children cared for by others (nannies, boarding schools, etc.). I don't think any less of a woman who is a teacher in a public school making a contribution to the children in her classrooms while her children are in a different classroom. This is just one example of one way a woman may be anointed for working outside of her home; but still blessing her family when she comes home to them.
I think that we need to stop trying to decide what is right about one sister's choice and just focus on our own obedience to God's call on our life choices. If we see a dear friend in a struggle, and we can discern that she is not being true to herself, we can pray in earnest about approaching her in love to discuss it. The only way to do that is by keeping a humble spirit that says: "while I point with my one finger at you, sister; I still see the other three pointing back at me."
justme
cm
@Roadkill_Spatula@xanga - Good point on the gift of security! One of the reasons I think that many children are becoming obese is that they can't go outside and play like their parents could. There are too many fears of molestation or abduction. As a result, many "latch-key kids" are required to stay inside their homes and end up just watching television or playing video games instead of being active and playful.
@IMChurchmouse@xanga - thats very true! I read that over 60% of ppl feel their neighborhoods are unsafe for their kids to play outside. We always played outside when I was little. But in this neighborhood I hardly ever see kids outside.
We were just talking about this earlier. Because my sister works in a daycare and we were trying to figure out how much it costs and how much do you need to make for it to be worth it.
In some cases the mom will work to pay for the children to attend private school or college tuition. So I think if the mom is paying for the kids education then it would be okay.