I think it could really depend on the household income. If the husband is making a decent income and can provide for his family I think the mom should stay home and raise the kids. I don't think it's a good idea to have someone outside of the family to instill their values to your children.
I have one friend who is a much better mother when she works outside the home. My niece on the other hand is a fabulous stay home momma. Her husband doesn't make much money, which means they really have to watch their spending, but both fee their children are worth more than anything else. They do not want them being raised by strangers. So, they make LOTS of sacrifices. However, they are happy with their decision and make it work.
The teacher in me is sad about the number of children who go home to empty houses, the plethora of TVs and computers being used as babysitters, and the lack of parenting occurring on a regular basis. However, I have yet to meet a parent that does not love their children and make the best choices they know how to make.
I believe that the purpose of parenthood is to raise children to become responsible adults who have the ability and know how to make a useful and functional contribution to their society. Regardless of what many people believe, children learn their language and social skills from their parents. THe idea that children need to be around other children to learn social skills is a little off. I think the x and y generations have shown us that kids can't raise kids.
Parenting is vital to the survival to our society, I mean the Christian society in particular. I used to think it didn't matter if the mother worked but now I think I would want her at home with and for the children as long as she was involved with them and didn't ignore them and sit them in front of the tv or a computer all the time.
I think it is best for one parent to stay home with the kids. That may not always be the mother, either. Sometimes the woman has the ability to earn much more income than the man does, and if he is a great father and does well with the kids, that could work just fine. Ideally, though, the mom would stay home with the kids and the dad would work to provide for the family.
I personally want to be able to stay home with my kids, whenever I have kids. I would also like to homeschool them if at all possible. I know, I know...homeschoolers don't learn how to interact with other people because they are isolated all day; homeschoolers don't learn anything and aren't prepared for college; homeschoolers are just plain odd; homeschoolers wear denim skirts/jumpers and have a dozen kids. THAT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE!!! I was homeschooled, and while I never had a lot of friends, I always had a few close friends that I saw regularly; yes, I had denim skirts/jumpers for a while, but I was going through a "phase"; I graduated valedictorian of my undergraduate class in college, got a masters, and now I teach college; I only have two siblings, and I only want 2-3 kids (though I'm not really picky about the exact number).
Sorry...didn't mean to turn that into a sermon on why homeschooling isn't bad.
Anyway, I do think it's best for a mother to stay home and raise the kids. Until she has kids, though, she could work full-time so that the family could build up the savings account!
well idk about homeschoolig but I know some people whe are and the seem like competent well adjusted people.
In Titus, and Provers 31:10-17 The verses paint a pictire of a woman whose primary focus is managing the home. Which I know from experience is a job in of itself, but I do also know if you are wise with your time, and have a streamlined proccess it will make time for other ventures..The Prov31 woman planted a vinyard, apparently for her enjoyment or perhaps business or for both, she also made belts which went to purchace the vineyard with her own money.
I think one should not approach this question in a black and white manner.
For myself, my mother used to work when I was little till my sister was born. We live in one house with my grandparents, so grandma took care of me while mom was working. She also was working only half time back then.
Years later, when I was older, my mom had some psychological issues, and it turned out to be best for her, to have a job and be out of the house at least for some time. So she worked in a small shop in the village while my sister and me were in school. So we didn't miss her much. I also have to say that we both were rather old then, I think I was 14 and she was 11 or around that age. Plus, there were still our grandparents in the house (yes, we live on the countryside, this isn't seldom there to live with grandparents).
So my mom did go to work, and it was good for her. Today as the kids are out of house (my sister is married for two years and I am studying) she is working again. She started working in a retirement castle caring for the elder when I left home for uni and my sister started her job as nurse.
I grew up in times of relative security on the job market, and my dad had a good income, so especially when I was older we didn't really need the 2nd income I guess, but it was good for my mother's soul not to see her parents, kids and husband all day and hardly anybody else. I think this can be true for many other mothers as well, besides the fact that some people do need the 2nd income just to make ends meet.
Depending on the case I think there are possibilities that kids do not come home to an empty house or to strangers and the mom can have a job, be it grandparents living nearby, or some other friends of the family with whom one could share times in job and care for the children.
It's true children don't teach children, but I think it is also true, that when you only meet people of a certain kind, like the one that beliong to your family, you could find it hard to deal with the world outside, once you are to stand on your own feet, because you have never learned how to approach those people with their strange habits...
