career mum?

Something that has been raised recently in articles I have read and with people I have talked to (both Christian and non-Christian) is that of being a full-time mum. Now, I have to admit, that I haven't really given this very much thought up until recently where the topic has been brought to my attention, so if anyone out there would like to share their comments about this topic, I would be pretty interested to hear what you have to say! But this is what I reckon (at this stage in my life anyways).

I have always thought that being a stay-at-home-mother would be a pretty cool thing to do someday. Hanging out at home ironing in front of Oprah and Dr Phil, picking up kids from school and then making dinner etc.. I dunno, seems like a pretty good deal. You just gotta make sure the family is fed and that the cockroaches aren't running amok in the house (OK, before I get spammed by people who wanna say that being a housewife is a tough gig - I know, I'm just saving cyber space until I know what it's really like... but I acknowledge that the toilet doesn't clean itself (not yet anyways! Lord willing, someone will invent one that does!!) and kids aren't always like they are in Sunday School (which is sometimes a good thing!). So I get that it's hard, ya don't need to tell me hehe).

But after talking to some people who are pretty adamant about being working-mums, I have started to see their point of view. Maybe it's because I am really enjoying the working life and my job, I'm not sure, but as good as 'settling down' and doing the housewife thing sounds, I reckon it would be pretty hard to give up a cool career. I guess nothing is more important than making sure that your kids grow up right and that they learn to love God and be decent people. But I want to know if it is possible to do that and have a job? Is it possible to be a working-mum and still be a good mum?



I had a think about this, and the best answer I could come up with was to check out Proverbs 31 - the passage about the Virtuous Woman. It says:

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no lack of gain.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and a portion to her maidservants.
She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a
vineyard.
She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good: her lamp goes not out by night.
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes fine linen, and sells it;and delivers sashes unto the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing;and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom; and on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

She seems like a pretty busy chick. I'm not too sure whether she could actually fit a career in with all of that. But is it really necessary to make your own yarn or sew your own clothes when you could just buy them and save time and effort? hehehe.. Sorry, I'm being a smarty-pants. But what is cool about the VW (virtuous woman) is that she's an all-rounder. In my interpretation: She loves, respects and cares for her man (v11-12), she's resourceful (v13), she's a bargain hunter (v14), she takes care of everyone like they are her own family (v15), she dabbles in real estate (v16), she keeps fit (v17), she's compassionate (v20), she's prepared (v21), she's got good taste (v22), she's awesome enough to have a hubby who gots da respect in da hood (v23), she's business-minded (v24), she's got integrity (v25), she's wise and well-spoken (v26), she is hard-working (v27), her family LOVES her heaps (v28), and she loves God (v30).

So I guess I've kinda answered my own question (well, enough to satisfy my mind at this stage). No matter what a woman chooses to do in the future, whether it be a working-mum or a stay-at-home-mum, it will all be good if she follows the blueprint of the VW. She's what God has described as the perfect woman, and really, I think it's entirely possible, with the grace of God, for every single one of us ladies out there to become Virtuous Women. We just have to realise what is most important to us, what we need to change in our hearts, pray that God will complete what He started in each of us, and encourage each other on the way! Sisters, keep shining brighter than rubies!