January 12, 2012 9:48 PM
Anderson Cooper: Stay-at-home moms lazy?
The gay broadcaster whose claim to fame is naming the Tea Party Patriots "Teabaggers" - with the sly sexual innuendo wink which sent many of us to Wikipedia to find out what "teabagging" really meant - continues as the CNN Golden Boy to spend his on-air hours pitting mothers against each other:Keep in mind that this man is GAY! He hates traditional families! And CNN sets him up to entertain stupid Americans who would listen to the "wisdom" of an embittered gay man and a coterie of narcissistic working moms over the self-sacrificing mothers who put their families and children first.
But listen up, all you truly working moms - that is, the moms who work inside your homes to build better families, better communities, and a better country - you are answering to a higher power, not Anderson Cooper and his mindless media minions.
Posted in Media Bias, Mothering | Permalink
Comments
Never mind that these talk shows are so boring and dull and shallow!
But since the issue has been raised that there are women who work outside the home who think SAHMs are lazy, let me share that there is not a day that goes by that I do not think to myself, "It would be so much easier if I would just put my (five) kids into public school and go to work!"
Because on top of maintaining the household, the chores, the bills, and the meals, I have to discipline, intervene, supervise, encourage, and train; and in addition, I am crazy enough to homeschool, which involves planning and designing our school year, teaching from 7 AM through 3 PM, manage field trips, and driving all over for music lessons. I'm exhausted!
Believe me, putting them in public school all day and going off to work sometimes seems very tempting to me.
Posted by: Ruth | January 13, 2012 11:21 AM
Ruth, I couldn't have said it better! Thank you!!!
Posted by: Sara | January 13, 2012 1:10 PM
I keep wondering - If I am so lazy, why do I feel exhausted when I put the kids to bed every day? I certainly did not feel like that nearly every day when I worked an outside job full-time! Plus, when I had an actual job, I actually got to sleep and have time off and vacations. I don't get time off (except maybe a couple of hours a month) and I NEVER get vacations (from my job) as a SAHM.
Posted by: michelle | January 13, 2012 5:25 PM
I appreciate you bringing this kind of bias and divisiveness to our attention (I don't watch these shows). That being said, it seems uncharitable to ascribe 'hating the traditional family' to its host, unless we have reason to back that up. Maybe he longs for it, we don't know, do we? This kind of screaming just adds to peoples' impression of the right as two-dimensional bomb-throwers. Don't get me wrong, Andersoon Cooper seems foolish and vain to me, but I think we do better to attack their message rather than the messenger. I have nothing but gratitude for your energy on this website; you have taught me so much. Not the least of the lessons I've learned from you is that I might package my own life and visage with respect and cheerfulness so that people will be drawn to our cause. Thank you, Barbara and family for your example!
Posted by: Tiffany Borges | January 13, 2012 5:32 PM
I played the video on full volume and my husband, bless his heart, said when it was over, "honey, for record, I am happy that you are lazy." Cracked me up.
Posted by: anne | January 13, 2012 7:24 PM
It occurs to me that if we are to respect gay men and their choice it is only consistent to ask them to respect our choices.Some want careers outside the home, some want to be home full time to tend the ones they love and others want to mix these roles. Let people be different. He is way behind the times to think these 'mommy wars' capture the mood of society now. The current hurdle is to let women choose what their heart wants and for government to not tilt the balance by tax penalty for either side. Right now there is huge tax penalty for mothers at home, often because mothers who earn are given all the perks, as ones who 'work'. In fact all of us raising kids are benefiting the nation, adding to the tax base, anchoring the economy down the road with bright and stable citizens. We all deserve equal tax breaks because all kids are of equal value. Where we raise the kids is not relevant to their value to society. All mothers 'work' and most women nowadays actually know this. Many earn from home, many tag-team parent with the father, many telecommute or earn evenings only and there aren't two' sides' to the discussion any more. We are all on the same side- pro kids and pro moms. If a gay commentator wants our respect of him, he has to stop pitting us against each other.
Posted by: Beverley Smith | January 14, 2012 8:43 AM
Ugh !! I hate when women turn on one another ! Can't we remember judge not lest you be judged? There is no single answer for all famillies. Work outside the home, work within the home, either might be what God is calling you to do. It may even change over time. I think some women who are uncomfortable with their decision take it out on women who have made a different choice.( Isn't it interesting that you get more of this nasty, judgemental tone form the "pro choice and marriage equality crowd".)
I work outside the home as a teacher and I value, respect and admire all women who are good moms.
Posted by: Cynthia | January 14, 2012 10:41 AM
The way I look at it, if these "professional" women have the time to be slinging mud and making loud pronouncements about SAHMs, their actions are speaking much louder than their words. Their actions are those of someone who is unhappy and bitter. to worry about what another woman may be up to in her life.
I wonder what they would say to a gay man staying home to raise an adopted child? I think they'd all look like bobble head dolls nodding that this was OK.
Posted by: kelly | January 16, 2012 4:14 PM
