I don’t usually do this kinda stuff, but…
…The old adage, “A man may work from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done.” rang true this week when CNN Democratic adviser Hilary Rosen, said of Mitt Romney regarding his wife, Ann, “…guess what, his wife’s never worked a day in her life…”.
And, might I add, the shit hit the fan.
Twitter was all ‘atwitter’.
Rosen was commenting to Anderson Cooper about the war on women.
Frankly, I’m no long sure which side she’s on.
Ann Romney did work. She chose to work in her own home, rearing five sons.
Any mother of one will tell you that’s a full time job.
Five, well, that’s probably five full time jobs.
I would venture to guess that with the Romney’s wealth, they probably had help around the house. But, maid or no maid, bringing UP five children, especially boys would be work.
The weekly laundry would include 35 pairs of jean, assuming they change clothes every day, 70 socks, 35 pairs of underwear, t-shirts, shirts, and tennis shoes galore.
The aroma alone would induce haz-mat pay.
21 meals, give or take a few if they eat school lunch, 35 good night kisses, hundreds of admonitions regarding behavior, decorum, and civil standards.
Countless sibling rivalry disputes.
Not to mention the fact that she had a husband, who like most…oh heck, all, had needs, desires, wishes, requirements, and from time to time needed advice and solace.
I am assuming, from the name, that Hilary Rosen is a woman.
And she might know what it’s like to rear children, and she should know that she insulted a vast number of American population with her comment.
The last time I checked, I’m still a man, and I’ll go to my grave before I say women who stay home, ‘don’t work’.
Hil, stay home with your kids a while, and see just how much work it is.
11 comments
Comment by Sarah on April 13, 2012 at 7:05 am
I must have missed it down here. I know what she meant, but sheesh, could have thought up a better answer!
Comment by Mackenzie on April 13, 2012 at 8:46 am
It was possibly the worst thing Hilary Rosen could have said! It restarts that Mommy wars debate which should be dead and buried. I don’t stay home with my kid because I would lose my mind. It’s too hard. I pay nice people with more patience to do that job. I admire people who do stay home with their children. I try to be as respectful as I can and your word choice plays alot into that. I make a point of asking female patients “What kind of work do you do?” not “Do you work?” Now, in Ms. Rosen’s defense, she was answering a question on a news show, sometimes politicians and pundits say stupid things in that format because of stress or whatever. But she still shouldn’t have said it and deserves the licks she’s getting.
Comment by Jenny from Mommin' It Up on April 13, 2012 at 8:56 am
Yeah, poor choice of words for Ms. Rosen! Staying at home is work, working outside the home is work, it’s all work!
Comment by Dallas on April 13, 2012 at 9:45 am
Rosen was joining in on the bashing conservative women band wagon. Hilary works, Ann Romney works, not every woman at home is a Peggy Bundy.
Although I’d love to be for a while!
Dallas
Comment by markus on April 13, 2012 at 10:30 am
chose not to have kids, enough said.
Comment by Lori on April 13, 2012 at 12:48 pm
As someone who has been a woman who works, with and without kids at home, as well as a woman who has stayed home with two girls as preschoolers, I can assure you that Ms. Rosen is smoking crack. And, especially now, being a single mom who works 50 hours a week, has a full time grad school load, and is raising two girls, ages 11 and 8, maybe I need to smoke crack like Ms. Rosen so I can enjoy a life of leisure and stay home with my children doing absolutely nothing.
Comment by Paul on April 13, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Take it from Whitney, Crack is whack!
Comment by Diane on April 13, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Raising kids is the most important work a woman can do. I worked full time out of the home for 9 yrs. after the preschool years and I was in survival mode the whole time. My kids were my first priority and a lot of other things went undone… such as housecleaning. My husband was a huge help but I always FELT responsible for the homemaker thing. I can’t say what the presidential aide’s thinking really was…maybe she was just nervous and spoke impulsively. I hope she was not trying to push the “class war” or the so-called Republican war on women. Being pro-life is not French for warring against women.
Comment by Millionaire Mike on April 13, 2012 at 5:15 pm
Besides, Ann simply didn’t have the time to work outside the home. She’s too busy reading Cadillac owner’s manuals.
Comment by Jan on April 13, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Sarah Palin was criticized because she did not stay home to raise her kids, especially her little downs guy — Ann Romney is criticized because she DID stay home to raise her kids so whose business is it anyway? We should all aspire to be excellent Mothers and instill solid values in our children; honesty, compassion, love, work ethic, hope, knowledge, confidence, and integrity regardless of which journey we follow to get them there!
Comment by A Georgia Angel on April 14, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Loved your thoughts on “Woman’s Work”, thanks for standing up for moms that “work” at home.