To say moms don’t understand is insulting

Jim Bacon, North Las Vegas

Wednesday, May 2, 2012 | 2:02 a.m.

In her letter to the editor, “Stay-at-home moms face less pressure,” Joy Bellis opened with this remark: “... but until a woman works to earn the money to feed and protect her family, she cannot understand fully the critical need this ailing economy has imposed on so many working women and men.”

I cannot disagree more strongly with that statement.

If we can assume that a stay-at-home mom is likely to be in a relationship with a partner, then she will be very aware of any budget constraints imposed by her partner’s income. It is the mother who is going to know what clothes are needed, what groceries should be replenished, what doctor appointments should be made, etc. All of these things need money that may or may not be available. A stay-at-home mom has the exact same budget worries as one who works.

I will grant that it is possible to argue that a stay-at-home mom does not have the added pressure of a job (and I know some who would say having a job is a relief), but to say she cannot understand how the economy affects her family is an insult of the highest order.