Poll: Do you think a wife should quit her job if her husband tells her to stay home and take care of the kids?

Answer 1

ONLY if that's what SHE wants to do also! =)

Answer 2

No.

I believe a wife should quit her job if both she and her husband agree this is what is best for the family.

A woman needs to remain in the workforce as long as possible, and retain those skills for when she enters back into the workforce.

With just over half of all marriages failing she needs to take a good look at her ability to sustain her family independently.

"Stay-at-home" can end up being a huge trap. He says, quit your job and stay home, reverses his decision and decides she's "just lazy" and that the towels have been trained to jump, clean dried and folded onto the cupboard shelves, etc... and they split up.

He's in an uninterrupted career and she's stuck having to play catch-up on the job market.

It's risky making yourself another person's dependent as an adult.

Only men with a high maturity level and an adequate income seem to be able to handle this without becoming resentful. The husband should be able to count the wife's contribution in housekeeping, cooking, and child care as money in his pocket.

If he misses this viewpoint then he starts to become domineering and making demands in an effort manipulate his trusting, dependent partner. She gets the message that he does not value her contribution, and is told that he is no longer going to participate in household or child care responsibilites, and, well, there you go...

Excederin Headache No. 1......

Answer 3

There is one circumstance where this would work. If both parents have had to work out of necessity, but the wife really wanted to stay home with the kids, and something changed with the husband's job that finally allowed for the financial capability to support the family on one income, then yes, if he tells her that it is ok for her to quit her job, she should jump at the chance. It shouldn't be an order, but a mutual goal they are working toward.

Answer 4

Well, where I come from and how I was raised, it was up to the mother to take care of the kids and be a stay at home mom. To me, I would leave my job and be with my kids. Once they were old enough, I would get back out there and get another job. I think it is important to have one parent home. I was lucky enough to have a stay at home mom. She was always there for me, and I would want to do the same for my kids.

As far as being asked, though, it would depend on how I was asked. If I was being told, then it would cause problems, but honestly, I already would be a stay at home mom, so there really wouldn't need to be any asking done.

Answer 5

No. That's not fair to her. She has freewill, Independence, and can make her own decisions. If she wants to stay home, because the farther/husband got a job equally good to the wife's/mother's, and/or they don't need two incomes, then I see nothing wrong with a parent spending more time with his or her child. If that's what he or she want. But a mother, a wife, a individual, and a Independent person, will not and does not take orders from someone, unless it is their boss. And even then, sometimes they will refuse to. Which is also their choice

Answer 6

I think it should be up to her ultimately. I had a good job but got laid off and my husband would prefer that I didn't work. In the end it was my choice. You should consider whether or not you can afford it and how much of a benefit it will be for your family before posing that question. If it would work out but she still wants to contribute to the family maybe find something she can do from home or even a part time job. Fair warning though - It might be a rough transition for her if she decides to and she might get restless.

Answer 7

This is a subject that should have been discussed and resolved at the beginning of the relationship. While children are more likely to succeed if nurtured by a parent instead of being farmed out to a nursery, child minder or being dumped on coerced relatives, some women would rather pursue a career than fulfil their domestic duties. Such women should give careful consideration as to why they wish to have children, ensuring that they are not merely ticking another box after the 4WD and time share in Marbella.

Answer 8

I suppose either is acceptable, but it's kind of effeminate not to mention inappropriate for a man to be staying home. Studies have actually shown kids do better when a parent(generally the mom) stays home and cares for them. It is a case by case situation however but without knowing specifics i think its wonderful that a man would want his wife to stay home while he provides. Too many men dont want to step up to bat and be a man these days!!

Answer 9

That's a tough question... I think that when a woman has a child it should be at a point in her life that she is able to take at least the first 5 years off... Now I know some women can't do that and we do have children that are surprises...But yes I think that if your going to bring another human into this world than it is the mothers responsibility to take care of that human and not leave it to the care of a stranger. So I guess I say yes to your question.

Answer 10

"If" being the key word here. We were not all given such orders. Staying home and taking care of the kids is a job, in it's self. Then add a full time job. You bet, I would have stayed home with my kids.

Answer 11

Hell no. I think the husband should quit his job and let his wife work! Well only if she wanted to, of course. But staying at home with kids is no easy job.