18 Comments

I had to laugh with the memes of the stay at home moms. My mom was very young and wanted a Life. When I was in first grade, she went to work again. But I preferred to stay at gramma's when she got home and when she complained to dad about it, he admonished her that it was her own fault.. that she was and should be a stay at home mom and then I did not know how gram spoiled me! After that, she quit working and never went out to work again.

Expand full comment

Not always easy to do in today's economy. But some of the memes were a bit over the top with the "men are the big, bosses and the woman must stay home and breed and remain submissive to hubby's desires." A man could also remain at home while the woman goes out and earns. That hopefully isn't also considered too radical.

Expand full comment
author

I think it's probably good for the other parent's sanity to at least work part time - either from home or out of the home for maybe 2 to 3 days a week... Like you say, not easy now - unless you have a gov't job for life (and not all local govt jobs are jobs for life - unlike at the state of FED level), its difficult now and you may need the extra income e.g. pay for private schooling etc. Not all parents can homeschool - especially if they are not native English speakers or have limited education...

Expand full comment

true. nowadays job certainty is almost nil. At the time, in the 60s and 70s, in Europe, jobs were safe. No worry of being laid off yet. Home schooling is forbidden in most of Europe, but schools were virtually free, we even got notebooks for free. Only to bring a pen!

Expand full comment

Unlike men of yesteryears, today's men do not learn how to become a man by learning to be self-sufficient. By impartially assessing today's world, one might not find it "too radical".

Expand full comment
author

Schools also used to have useful classes like woodshop, autoshop, home economics etc to teach kids to be adults....

Expand full comment

... follow by various OUTDOORS activities....

Expand full comment

I know 2 couples who did just that, one with a woman who hated household work, and one with a husband artist. Also consider, that when one parent is at home, you do not need a second car, lots of dress clothes specially if you do office or high visibility work, you can cook healthy and way cheaper than eating out. Lots of plus points in being a stay at home mom (or dad)

Expand full comment
author

Women's clothing for a more formal office job can break the bank..........................

Expand full comment
Jul 19, 2023·edited Jul 19, 2023

https://thelampmagazine.com/issues/issue-17/shadow-on-the-sun

In which I die and find myself in hell.

FYI, I am not now, nor have I ever been, nor have I any present intent of becoming Sam Kriss.

Expand full comment

GREAT ARTICLE!!!! I retired (forced) two years ago. I’m 59. I’m moving out of CA, and I had looked into FL. I had looked at The Villages awhile back...it was instant depression for me! Lol! It is like a fake utopia. I can’t do fake.

Expand full comment

Places like that remind me why I remain feral.

Expand full comment

I’m feral as well! I’m a feral gypsy! And YOU look just like my cat…my grey tabby.😉

Expand full comment

I am sure that your cat does not relish the thought of being trapped in an air-conditioned Florida hellscape where rats the size of cheetahs and snakes and alligators the length of a city block lurk outside.

Expand full comment

Hell NO! The ex-bf is getting custody of “my baby”. I can’t take him away from his coastal fiefdom! I’m going toward the South…people are still human and nice! There’s lots of outdoor activities, hiking,fishing and breathtaking country. And the food and hospitality ain’t bad!😉

Expand full comment

I'd suggest the Dakotas, if you can stand the cold. The food there is what it is, though.

Expand full comment

And it’s EXPENSIVE!

Expand full comment