What is 'the good life' for a mom?
Advertisements like this one present a 1950s view of stay-at-home mothering.
Advertisement for Willow House (http://www.simplysharingwillowhouse.blogspot.com)
Ahhh, the joys of working at home, right? You will have time to don your mother-daughter matching outfits and bake together. No stains will hit your "perfectly pressed" dresses as you mix and share loving glances with your kids. This business will make you enough money to not only enjoy the good housewife life in a large home, but it will be complete with all the latest and beautiful kitchen appliances.
Oh, puh...lease!
This is not the life of anyone you know. Ever!
If this mom is enjoying all of this money, she is probably paying a housekeeper, chef and nanny! If she does like to bake, I highly doubt it will be in a beautiful outfit. However, these at-home money-making schemes are prevalent all over the place and continue to promote the idea that we women can have it all and enjoy the good life (by getting back into the kitchen).
I have found that working at home can look (and feel) good at times, but I don't feel like it gives me plenty of time to make muffins with my kids each day. In fact, it was when I started working at home that my muffin making days went from sometimes to almost never. Thank goodness for Trader Joe's fantastic muffin mixes!
Deb Nystrom (from Reveln Consulting) and I share a moment laughing at this absurd ideal.
Photo courtesy of Derek Huffman
Despite my initial feelings of nausea when I see these ads, I often wonder how these advertisers feel that it is okay to make moms feel like they are missing out on the good life of a 1950s suburban housewife.
Here's a secret: The good life is the one you make for yourself! It is the life that works for you and for your family.
Personally, I don't desire to be the 1950s housewife (except for when I dressed as one on Halloween two years ago as a joke).
What do you think? What is the good life for a mom of today?
Eva Johnson is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer, who isn't going to wear an apron today while cooking, just for the sake of being rebellious. She lives in chaos with her husband and two boys. To see her complete blog about how to stay sane and in shape in the real world, visit www.fitnessbyeva.com.
Comments
Deborah
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 : 6:53 p.m.
Oh yes, Eva. GREAT POST! As someone born on the tail end of the 1950s, I experienced some of those "good old days" growing up. Discrimination against women, wolf whistles, common-place tolerance of bullying which is more common with women. The norm that you had to be in dating relationship or with men to be "ok" or "cool." I have two beautiful adult children. Neither of them feels this pressure today. What a change. Celebration: In the year 2010-2011, I also saw my first "clip art" view of a MAN with a BABY and a BRIEFCASE! I regularly see in town, men with babies in strollers. The best yet, now I see men and work with men who cherish their children, spend quality time with them, change their jobs to have time to BE with their children while they are growing up. And I see couples enjoying their children TOGETHER, and traveling with them EVERYWHERE. It's a new day. Sometimes nostalgia DOESN'T sell. The new Volkswagen. Ok. New Crayola colors. OK. Back to Mommies of the 50s, no. R.I.P.