I have a few friends who couldn’t afford to stay home; their husbands didn’t make enough money (in our town) to make ends meet. And it’s not like the “ends” were extravagant. They lived modestly. I also have a young friend who is smart as all get out, graduated college with honors in the nursing department and works at our local hospital, helping to keep patients alive during the night. What would we do if ALL women stayed home? I ask that in a gentle tone of voice, not ridiculing. I stayed at home as much as possible while working part-time when my kids were in school. I made sure that I was the one picking them up from school and taking them home, where we had our much needed recoup and regroup time, away from the world and its ways. My oldest son’s wife stays at home with their 5 kids; they are barely surviving. Alot of people have been kind of snarky in their opinions toward them.  like, “Why so many kids?”, “Why  homeschool?”, “How do you get a break?”, etc… We each choose to do what we do to get by. Some break down because they made choices that have made their lives extrememly difficult. My daughter-in-law prefers being at home and figures out how to get by. If I was in her shoes, I think I’d have gone crazy, but that’s me. We’re all different. I love being at home and not having to report in to a boss and be constrained to someone else’s schedule. I am fully able to be here for my last child and for my husband and for my parents. We’re getting by. God blesses and provides. I’m not ALWAYS thrilled to be where I am but I am grateful. It could be so much worse.