Guy Kawasaki had a great blog post, just in time for Mother's Day, linking to an article about What Stay at Home Mothers Are Worth. I thought it was great- Guy has always been very respectful. However, after I started reading the comments, I was appalled. Their mothers and wives should be ashamed of some of them.
Here is an elaborated version of the comment I left in reply:
"The point of the article (done every year) is to show that there is monetary value to what stay at home mothers do... at no charge to the end users.
It is about respect for women who have chosen to stay home with their families. How about a little thankfulness? Obviously Guy has respect for mothers and the mother of his children.
Besides the survey doesn't factor in all it costs a woman to make the choice to be at home:lost experience and time at a career, lost retirement and other benefits that often accompany a job, and her own money from a job or career and all the investments, etc. she could have done with that money (to name a few things)- that is a hell of a lot more than $138K a year.
I have chosen to be a work from home mother- I have friends who stay at home and I have friends who have careers- the bottom line is is costs to be a woman and have children.
Not looking for sympathy or special help, but at least take a good hard look and acknowledge the women who made and make sacrifices like this everyday."
Agree? Disagree? I believe the internet has leveled the playing field, so women can stay at home and make their own money. However, whatever choice a mother makes should be acknowledged and respected, not for what she could theoretically make, but for what it has cost her to make that choice.