To the Mississippi Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, I say enough is enough. It wasn't so much his assumption that women entering the work place was the down fall of the education of our children as much as the assumption that all families have two parents at home and are involved. With divorce at an all time high, maybe we should look at the now common ability for a father to walk away from his wife and children with nothing but a "I don't want to do this anymore." It is most often the mother, who not only has to work to support those kids but also has to help them with schoolwork. I dare the Governor to care for even just one elementary school-aged child by himself for one week while working 50 hours a week, managing day care, bills, balancing work demands, perhaps even finding time to grocery shop and clean the home. Good luck, Governor! You would drop to your knees and whimper like a school-aged child yourself. Trust me!
My ex left in January, 2005. That May he left me a message on my answering machine that although we were splitting up, I was a good mother to his kids so, "Happy Mother's Day." I should have kept that recording because, like the governor, when it became appropriate fodder for his argument, my ex then said I was an unfit mother. Mind you, I was not unfit enough to retain custody and do "everything" for the kids...driving, feeding, consoling, caring 24/7. Our courts allow such silliness because politicians are stuck in the 1950s.
So, tell me why the same dad now can continue to be late picking up his child, leaving her waiting at school for an entire hour. I'll tell you why...because dads are not shamed the way mothers are, not held to the same standard. But it is shameful. And it is shameful that politicians refuse to acknowledge that the traditional 1950s family is a thing of the past. "Sure, Governor, I'll stay home with my kids. Oh, but that's right, you are also against State and Federal aid. Oops. Hhhhmmm. So, Governor, how do I stay home and support my kids? Do you have any comment on how dads might want to get involved?" I thought not.
If men want to be out of the family equation, then I suggest they own up to that. Is it possible for a Politician to acknowledge that fact? Until then, my children of a single mom continue to show signs of a positive ability to learn and adjust, one just graduating from college and the other graduating from middle school on the honor roll. So, I guess us single, working moms haven't done half bad with the lot we have been dealt by a male dominated society. Now, it is our turn not to be satisfied with the lot dealt. We have to continue towards change where both male and female roles and expectations are more equally defined.
So, tell me why the same dad now can continue to be late picking up his child, leaving her waiting at school for an entire hour. I'll tell you why...because dads are not shamed the way mothers are, not held to the same standard. But it is shameful. And it is shameful that politicians refuse to acknowledge that the traditional 1950s family is a thing of the past. "Sure, Governor, I'll stay home with my kids. Oh, but that's right, you are also against State and Federal aid. Oops. Hhhhmmm. So, Governor, how do I stay home and support my kids? Do you have any comment on how dads might want to get involved?" I thought not.
If men want to be out of the family equation, then I suggest they own up to that. Is it possible for a Politician to acknowledge that fact? Until then, my children of a single mom continue to show signs of a positive ability to learn and adjust, one just graduating from college and the other graduating from middle school on the honor roll. So, I guess us single, working moms haven't done half bad with the lot we have been dealt by a male dominated society. Now, it is our turn not to be satisfied with the lot dealt. We have to continue towards change where both male and female roles and expectations are more equally defined.
RSS Feed