I love my job.....today.

[sunnydays]

I chose this career because I DO love being home with the kids. It's not that it isn't hard work (actually it's the hardest thing I have ever done) and it certainly isn't that I don't expect to be paid fairly for my time and effort...but I don't believe that I am somehow betraying feminist thought (or maybe I am, but I don't care) because I LIKE being home with the kids. If I didn't like it I would be out rushing to and from work outside the home like everyone else. I think as a society we have gone way too far in the other direction...now it is terrible to even say that you want to stay home with your kids. Somehow you are less of a woman. Well, personally, I think THAT kind of thinking is what perpetuates the thinking that daycare providers are less worthy, less intelligent, just doing it because we can't do anything else. Nobody said we should love doing it just because we are women....but if we do love it...what then? So are we supposed to put on a facade and pretend we hate what we do lest we harm feminism in some way? I just don't see this a path to peace and happiness for anyone.

Okay, so I'm waiting to hear from Cocoon to tell us what she charges for 2 kids that she can support two adults on that income alone. Come on Cocoon, now that you said it, we all want to know
As for pay being a perk, nope. I get that it was a tongue in cheek comment, I really do. But it does perpetuate the myth that as women we should love being home looking after children simply because we are women. The comment, although not intended to, does undermine our careers. Also, for those of you saying you make great money doing this job, that also sends the wrong message. I hope you don't tell non-daycare providers such things. I don't personally know anybody that makes a great living providing daycare. A decent living maybe if full all the time. I realize that different markets will support different fees. But if you do make a killing, don't advertise that fact because it is not the standard. I wouldn't want people to think I'm making gobs of money because I'm not. I live in a small community and it would be harder to find clients if people thought I could be charging less since I make so much money.