Even though much has been said and written about the value of stay-at-home parents, plenty of parents who choose to dedicate all their time to raising their kids often have to defend their choices.
When Australian dad Brad Kearns overheard a stranger belittling his wife, a stay-at-home mom, he wouldn’t have any of it, as EssentialBaby reports. Brad and his wife Sarah were at a wedding when another guest made a snide comment that looked down on Sarah for being a stay-at-home mom.
The conversation at the table started pleasantly enough, with everyone getting along fine. This was until the conversation turned and they started talking about their careers.
They started that awkward conversation which we all have when we meet new adults.
“So what do you do with yourself?”
I don’t know why this f***ing conversation happens. It’s almost like a passive game of ‘who’s the richest’ or ‘guess my lifestyle’.
Kearns told them what he did (he’s the general manager of a gym), and they didn’t bat an eyelash. However, it was a completely different story once they got to his wife:
“Oh so you just stay home and look after the kids?”
Yup. The guy had the gall to drop the j word.
Kearns went on to say that Sarah “is very intelligent” and has earned several accolades and awards in her 7 years as an emergency services worker, “more… than what this bloke ever will”.
I love that she wants to take this time to raise our beautiful children. She will never get this time again.
If given the opportunity I would quit work tomorrow and raise my boys and be the best parent I could be. There’s nothing f***ing wrong with being a stay-at-home parent. Temporary or career parent, who cares?
Don’t judge, don’t assume, don’t anything. Just mind your own business and let people live their life how they want to.
Kearns ended his rant by saying that he was very proud of how his wife handled the situation. Much to his surprise (“I was about to get the popcorn out”), his wife kept her cool. The rude wedding guest was lucky Sarah was so patient!
On the next page: read some of the reactions to Kearns’ viral post.
Kearns’ post resonated with plenty of parents. As of this writing, the post has garnered over 4,800 likes, 324 shares, and 185 comments.
Here’s a tip to that wedding guest: next time, lay off with the judgmental comments when you ask about someone’s career choices. Here’s a quick guide on phrases you shouldn’t say to stay-at-home moms, straight from FamilyShare, plus some gems from the comments section on Kearns’ post.
1. “I wish I was rich enough to stay home”
It’s a common misconception that most stay-at-home moms are living luxurious lives. More often than not, their choosing to stay at home comes at a huge cost. It’s a sacrifice.
2. “So you don’t work?”
Try taking care of a few screaming toddlers for a couple of weeks then get back to us. Stay-at-home parenting is hard work.
3. “I would love being able to stay at home and just relax all day”
Yes, stay-at-home parenting is rewarding and incredibly fulfilling, but by no means is it a walk in a park. In fact, it’s anything but easy.
4. “So what exactly do you do all day?”
When you’re a stay-at-home parent, there is no such thing as “free time”.
READ: “Being a stay-at-home mom doesn’t look that hard”
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