Mind for a Mop

Seeing as this week's lesson fell on thanksgiving week, we did not go into much depth about the assigned topics. Despite this, i thoroughly enjoyed the article assigned for Tuesday's preparation. The article, by Dennis Prager, is entitled "Does a Full-Time Homemaker Swap her Mind for a Mop?" This article addresses an issue that I am particularly passionate about. In our world, it is common that women to not feel valued unless they attain a high level education, or work a high paying job. Motherhood is frequently underestimated. In a sense, the world sees motherhood as an "entry level job" while it requires amazing amounts of flexibility, diversity, patience, and resilience. Prager poses the question of whether full-time mothers are trading intellectual potential for the tedious chore of motherhood. In our society, there is obvious feminist pressure in regards to motherhood. This pressure is devaluing the divine role of motherhood.

Dennis Prager insists that while motherhood is demanding, there are ways that full time mothers can expand or enhance their intellectual progression. Prager states, "So it is not only nonsense that full-time homemaking means swapping the mind for a mop. It is also nonsense that the vast majority of paid work outside the home develops the mind. One may prefer to work outside the home for many reasons: a need or desire for extra income; a need to get out of the house; a need to be admired for work beyond making a home; a need for regular interaction with other adults. But the development of the intellect is not necessarily among them." I appreciate the fact that Prager addresses the fact that while some feel a need to work outside of the home, This is not the only source of intellectual progression. Often, those who work full time do not receive the same intellectual stimulation that a mother may. Motherhood is not the equivalent of intellectual abandonment, but is quite the opposite.