I just read a thought-provoking article while I was waiting at the optometrist's office: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6959880/site/newsweek/
I was forced to resign from my job as a reading specialist because I wanted to work part-time but the school district wasn't offering part-time to any teacher. Many of my teacher friends who just had babies were forced to make the same choice: teach full-time or leave.
I chose to be a stay-at-home mom, but the societal support for raising a child is non-existent. If you don't have good family support or a strong community, you are very isolated and risk falling into depression. There has to be a healthier way to raise children.
I think this article hits the nail on the head. The author's proposed solutions are good, but will not only take a long time to implement, but also assumes tons of effort from a defeated, marginalized group. I am thinking that smaller communities could make changes at a quicker rate. I am thinking small groups of individuals could make changes instantly by committing to help each other through:
providing social support,
creating co-op childcare, and even
building home businesses together.
I am curious where other people weigh in on the situation of Mommy Madness. Is it an epidemic? Does it affect you personally? What can be done about it?
Rebecca
ThrivingBabies@googlegroups.com