Today, my wife, Anna, gave her two weeks' notice at the public library where she works as a children's librarian. On 7 February she will change from being at work forty or more hours a week, to being at home full-time to care for our daughter.
It went well, though her boss sent out a terse, one-sentence announcement to the library staff. No, "We wish Anna well." No, "We'll miss Anna." Just, "Anna has given her notice that her last day at SPL will be Saturday, February 7th." That was a bit disappointing, but, sadly, not surprising. Her boss has been absolutely inflexible with Anna's schedule; so, in effect, Anna's resignation is her boss' own doing.
Well, sort of. Anna and I both committed to one another when we were still dating that when we got married and had children, if Anna wanted to stay home and care for the little ones, we'd find a way to make it work. Our convictions have only grown in the ensuing decade of our marriage, as we've seen the ravages of our mobile, sex-with-no-consequences, abortion-on-demand, easy-divorce society on these the most defenseless members of our community, the innocent children. We wanted a better world for our own children. A world in which the faith is taught and lived each day. A world in which each day more time was spent with their parents than was spent with the "daycare specialist," the television, or the computer. A world in which children are not sexualized, objectified and turned in to tramps and pimps. A world in which each day their joyous voices could loudly and confidently proclaim:
This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
It will be more challenging than we now know. But we are convinced that it will be more than worth it.
Posted by Clifton at January 26, 2004 09:00 PM | TrackBackKeep the faith. Two incomes are *not* a requirement to living a good life and you really can't imagine the difference it will make in the lives of your children. My wife has practically *never* worked outside the home except for the last 3 years or so (and these "part time" or self-employed), especially since we've had children (our oldest is almost 17). We have also homeschooled our children. My mother, who was a professional educator, was quite opposed to the whole idea (not that it stopped us). After about 3 years, however, she noticed that not only was our daughter learning, but she was also one of the most polite and self-possessed (by which I mean confident, assured, able and willing to communicate with those outside her "peer" group with proper respect) children she had ever encountered.
Once we have children, *they* are our calling, our career, our vocation. If we do not spend our lives on them they will be poorer for it and so will we.
Peace!
Posted by: Jonathan David at January 27, 2004 06:16 AMThat was inspiring, CH. Thanks. I'm going to show this post to my wife, who right about now is probably putting Justin down for his afternoon nap.
Posted by: Chrysostomos at January 27, 2004 03:09 PM