Yet another article re: why mothers should return to work

[boogiewoogie]

Just snatching a couple of minutes during a coffee break, will come back. What do you think of this?

MadamePlatypus - unfortunately Xenia spends a lot of time saying full-time career all the time is the only way to go for women.

yr - I do the kind of stuff you talk about (albeit in a different environment) and I don't appreciate cheap shots from Xenia and others about how SAHMs are fat, lazy, unattractive people with nothing to say to their partners and do nothing with their children but wipe bottoms at home. Oh, and have lost all independence.

I'm slim, (very) pretty, have lots to talk about with my partner and all my family and do lots of fun things with my child that we both enjoy. In fact, she has given me opportunities to do things I would never have been able to do before I had her - for example I commissioned a drawing of her from an artist and other artist friends of hers thought my daughter so beautiful (she was naked in the drawing by the way) that now I have artists and photographers ASKING ME to use her as a model and I have this amazing collection of artworks that I receive in return for the favour. And I meet all these young international artists in Paris... it's wonderful, and all because of my daughter.

I was full time sahm for 12 years.

I ride - including cross country over solid fences.

I have loads of 'interesting' friends - some of whom have always worked full time.

I attend concerts and the theatre regularly.

I am perfectly capable of holding an intelligent conversation.

Not everyone wishes to emulate my lifestyle, and that's their business, not mine.

Unlike Xenia, I am tolerant of others' choices. If she prefers to leave her children in the care of a nanny from 2 weeks old then that's fine by me. I will keep my opinions about it to myself.

Hmm, I don't take everything Xenia says completely to heart... I think you have to read between the lines a bit.

MP - Xenia makes cheap, bitchy comments at SAHMs (moreover without knowing enough about their circumstances to know whether or not what she is saying has any basis in fact).

fortyplus - that all sounds very normal and healthy.

Maybe we should have a thread about the kinds of activities SAHMs do get up to? To dispel some of the very unkind myths going around.

Maybe we should have a thread where SAHMs and WOHMs post their pics and we give them points to judge who is the best looking - that would put that argument to rest once and for all (Mme Platypus ducks and runs)

Anna8888 - thank you

What I want to know is this...

If Xenia's life is so interesting, why does she spend so much time on MN?

Hmm - I've wondered that too. Certainly, when I used to earn a lot of money, I also had to spend a hell of a lot of time doing it and would never have found a minute to go on MN.

Because I spend time on MN when I'm trying to do things I hate (like today - tax return, plus disgusting cold - a BAD day).

Bloody Hell, the men in the world must be laughing all the way to the bank. They don't have to worry when women make each others' lives so bloody difficult.

MP - ooh yes, and of our partners, children, houses etc a mega competition to see whose lifestyle is the definitive one

I know I drive a better car than Xenia

and I speak more languages than Xenia
and have more sex

Yeah... she's just jealous 'cos her husband ran off with someone younger, prettier and more interesting.

OUCH! That's unusually bitchy for me!

I just never liked those hours and hours with small children and some of you do which is fine but I still don't find it particularly interesting unless it's in small doses. I don't think I've ever said all stay at home mothers aren't slim and pretty. I think if you have to get up for work and impress customers and dress to look good every day in proper work clothes there may well be more of an incentive to look good than if you're going to be spat on by babies and toddlers all day and because you're fed up at home eat junk food but I haven't done a survey on weight/looks v stay at home/working status. May be the results will depend on how much your man earns if you're a stay at home parent.

As for when to have children I don't think there's anything wrong with my marrying young and having a baby at 22/24/26. I'm very glad I did. It's nice to be a youngish mother and I'm glad I worked too. I could have left babies until 37 and then not found a man and not been able to have children.

As for now I had a meeting at 10am, another at 1; just finished a conference call as the nanny left and now the boys are playing the garden with their friend and I'm not sure at 8 they want me with them. In fact they've just given me a very long explanation as to where they're going, probably his house and I've work to do. I am not a typical working mother because I'm on my own financially and practically with the children.

I am humble. Divorce in that sense is good for anyone. You become the opposite of a smug married, don't you. I'm also a Catholic. I don't judge people on their wealth, looks, cars but on their personal worth and good. I have never suggested there was anything particularly good about me, except that I'm lucky I like my work; that's all.

A, I will allow you that you're probably getting more sex than me, depending on how you define sex.

oi xneia
look aty my tuna thread

Hi Xenia - I love you really

Can't believe that you have just said 'I could have left babies until 37 and then not found a man' as tho finding a man was the be all and end all - that's not a very feminist sentiment.

Well I have to say - Xenia is a much less nasty person than many of you who are posting now!

Why do you make this all so personal? Why be so downright bitchy and nasty!

FGS, it really is unnecessary and says much, much more about your shortcomings than anything Xenia has ever posted.

Ugly, ugly behaviour!

My tongue was firmly in my cheek and I've come to believe that Xenia is perfectly capable of rising above cheap jibes, even when they come from someone as artculate, beautiful and intelligent as me.

I have some particularly nice looking photographs of me - I censor them carefully. One publisher who will remain nameless put a picture of me on a DVD as still from the filming which is the most awful picture in existence and my hair is all sticking out. People still dredge it up sometimes.

PMSL - you're not going to show us, then?

My former female City colleagues had no dress sense (ill-fitting suits), bad hair and no make up. only one or two looked ok. You know why ? It's because they had to spend most of the fecking day in the office, slaving away for their clients/bosses

FGS - don't tell me that we've now moved on to a flipping beauty competition now!

If you are that way inclined then FGS go off and join the moggeling thread

tuna ? sounds more fun than this thread !