Facebook is rife with posts about this article or that article that makes sweeping statements about what women should do or men should do or parents should do.
I think, here at the Casa de Ginley, we not only broke the mold, we smashed it into itty bitty pieces.
My husband began our son's life as a stay-at-home dad. When were were discussing how our child would be raised, Mr. G. said he didn't want him to be raised in a day care setting. He would stay home and raise him. Many sacrifices were made, but I must say, our son turned out remarkably well.(So far. Don't screw it up, kid!)
We took a certain amount of flak for our decision, often from quarters we had not expected. But in the end, they had to admit, it was an arrangement that worked for us.
I knew things were a little topsy-turvy when my son, who was about five years old at the time, chided me for taking down the curtains to wash them. "That's man's work," he insisted. That's when I knew we were on to something.
So, what am I trying to say here? That this model works for every family? No. I'm just saying this is what worked for our family. And if someone had come to me and implied I was less of a mom for going off to work and leaving my husband and son to navigate domestic matters, I would have told them to piss off.
Which is why I don't feel I have the right to tell anyone else how they should be a family. If it works for you, great. Whether mom stays home or dad stays home or both parents work, or if there is only one parent who plays both roles, or if there are two moms or two dads in your family, it's all good. And even if your family doesn't include children, it's still a family.
Everybody has to find their own way in this life. And as short as our years on this rock are, they should be as happy as we can make them.
Do I sound a little preachy here? Oh, well, it happens sometimes. Since I'm on my high horse, I'll finish with this: Go give your family a hug. That's an order!
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