Tags
career, family, feminism, job, mom, mother, mothering, parenting, red pill, SAHM, stay at home mom
I can clearly remember sitting in a circle in my second grade classroom (around 1977?) while we went around and answered the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Even at that young age I knew the appropriate answers for a girl were either, “a teacher” or “a nurse.” And if like me you really wanted to score affirmation points, “President!”
(I actually didn’t want to be President, or a teacher, or a nurse…but somehow I knew those were the answers adults asking me that question were looking for.)
Some girls still would say, “wife” or “mom.” And when they did the teacher would look slightly disappointed and disapproving, and correct them. “No dear, the question is what do you want to BE when you grow up?”
This morning, my almost 5-year-old daughter was buzzing around, and she blurted out of nowhere, “When I grow up, I am going to be a mom!”
She stood there, with her big blue eyes, tousled blonde curls, peachy pink skin and cupid bow lips, just beaming with pride. Adorable!
My heart swelled up with joy, and I said, “You bet baby! That’s awesome! And I bet you are going to be the best momma EVER! That’s going to be so GREAT!”
And she giggled, and skipped off, happily dreaming of her future babies to be…
I’m so glad nobody has told my daughter yet that being a “mom” isn’t a legitimate endeavor. Because I think it is. In fact, I can hardly think of a more important job a woman could undertake — to guide, teach, and nurture the future.
Seems my second grade teacher had that (and a lot of other things!) all wrong!
Let those who have ears hear!
That’s great, Bloom!
I think any girl who thinks she wants to be a mom when she’s an adult should be encouraged, not told it is wrong or isn’t worthwhile. Same with boys who say they want to be a dad. Not all men or women want to have kids, but those that do need to have that desire acknowledged and strengthened by the adults in their lives. Good on you for making sure she knows it’s a good decision!
Funny story:
When I was in elementary school (a private Catholic one), we did a similar exercise in 1st grade. Most of the girls said they wanted to be moms/wives and were praised for it.
I said I wanted to be an archeologist, and was told that was an “inappropriate choice” for a young lady. When my friend Francis’ turn came, he said he wanted to be a father…and was likewise told that wasn’t good enough. It’s like we had an opposite childhood, Bloom! 😛
Did you go to a public school at that age?
@ tarn yes, a public school. Interesting!
Interesting indeed. Looks like we should’ve been “switched”, lol. 😉
Not that it mattered in the end, since I work in the retail-business world instead, but I think it would have been better for you to have teachers/parents tell you that being a mom is a-ok. Seems like it, anyway.
@ Tarn, I wasn’t necessarily set on being a mom either at that age, but somehow to realize now that I was being “fed” someone else’s agenda bugs me. Even at that young age I could discern the “correct” answer (as far as the teacher was concerned) and performed as directed. And even that young, I was saying what they wanted me to say, bc they had the authority, instead of what I wanted to say!
What I wanted to say was, a writer!” Actually. But learned quick that was often followed by some, “writer’s starve!” Or “be practical!” Advice. My mom however always recognized and encouraged me to follow that path, and I did, and writing has paid my bills all of my adult life. (Not this blog, I do this for free!)
I bet you would have been a great architect, I wish your teacher had the for sight then to encourage you! (I saw an architect today in fact, part of something I am building on my farm, and he charges $70 per hour!!!)
And for those wondering how I could be a professional writer despite all the typos, well I type most of this on my phone, and am not in “work mode” so yep, even pro writers get lazy! Lol.
I think that the teaching profession is owned by feminists. While they are stuffing little girl’s heads with their propoganda, what are they doing to the boys?
I am glad that the little Bloomette feels as she does. She is telling her MOm that she is on the right track.
Music for Tarn.
“Truck?….what truck????”
And for those wondering how I could be a professional writer despite all the typos
Fuzzie Bear a professional writer also he is?
Yoda,
I have big clumsy paws with long claws. On top of that, I need to be more conscientious in my proof reading.
Another Herr Doktor Jones quote: ” Nazis, I hate those guys”
Hurray for moms!
Speaking of mom-hood (tangentially).
I wanted to throw in one more comment about le Monique (the exercise thing Toad linked to).
Ever since I bought that thing I’ve been on the e mail spam list for adult diapers. WTF?! It’s starting to annoy me.
It’s starting to annoy me. I guess it’s rare for a woman without incontinence issues to order this thing (in the US, I’ll bet lots of women in France and Italy have it).
Anyway, thought a heads up there is in order, while I’m promoting LeMon
Just to add, believe me I woudln’t bring this up if it weren’t SERIOUS levels of spam. Not just a couple of day…but an inordinate amount of ads.
I didn’t mean to kill the thread!
Hm…on to the topic.
I don’t recall the subject of “what I want to be” coming up in elementary school, strangely. Maybe I blocked most of my childhood school experiences out. 😛
I do remember a song we’d sing in music class, about a boy who liked to play with dolls and what a fine thing that was. But that’s about it.
Public school, yes.
@ Liz perhaps I was in the early experimental group!
To counter what Liz said, on youtube I have been seeing a lot of ads for Muslim online dating.
Go figure.
RPG,
Internet Explorer is still doing as I reported . If I try to force it through the whole tab that shows the IRL goes red. It’s pretty alarming. Google Chrome gets me straight through.
That’s because Chrome is a real browser, bear. 😉
Tarn,
It should be working. After sorting out ll the issues building a computer from components, in an ideal world, the software should all work together and be hunky dory. But noooooooo!
It would not surprise me if Corporate America is deliberately doing this to make things miserable for Joe Average.
I’m STILL told that Librarian isn’t a logical choice, because there aren’t enough jobs and they don’t make any money. Um… I make $15,000 more than if I’d gone with my undergrad and taught and I have a great job. I hate the responses people give kids, period. They’re kids. Tomorrow, they’ll want to be zoo security. Just go with it.
@ Belle people told me not to be a writer, too! But it’s paid my bills for over 20 years now. (Freelance writing, not this blog.) Somebody has to do it, right? Maybe it’s good for us both that others were steered away to more “sensible” goals? Less competition! 🙂
late to the party … but my girls were taught in public school from kinder on to decide where they wanted to go to college and what they wanted to be when they grew up. of course, they didn’t offer to PAY for their college! when i told a high school sped teacher that my girls are not allowed to take out any student loans for college, she gave me the most incredulous look. but she didn’t offer to pay, so i ignored her.
anyway, my oldest used to really want to be a mommy when she grew up (before the divorce 😦 ). she would say when she was very little, “Mommy, I want fourteen and a hundred babies when I grow up! Will you help me raise them?” “Absolutely, Baby! Mommy will help you raise them!” “But you can’t just give them cookies all the time, Mommy, okay?!” 🙂 🙂 🙂
for one halloween i made her a top with a ‘pouch’ in it where she put a baby doll, and she was a pregnant momma 🙂
after the divorce, though, she changed. from that very moment we told her we were divorcing, she has never been the same since. breaks.my.heart.all.the.time.