Re: but we have ruined our generations......
On a serious note, i think whether a mom should work or not completely depends on the CIRCUMSTANCES and the kind of job she is doing. For me, when i will return to school to complete my degree I am thinking more of majoring in education than psychology. So, by the time my kids are grown enough to go to school I would be strating my career as a school teacher, that way my job timing and my kids school timing will almost overlap each other. But then again not everyone is going to choose the teaching field, world is full of other fields that might interest other ladies. For that i would say work part-time, if you please, so that one of the parents is with the kids all the time. But thats just MY thought. Do whatever pleases and satisfies you. If you think you can maintain an euilibria, quite impossible tough, between work and home then go ahead and work full time. Now it is the time to show it to the world that children from working parents home are not really ignored.
As for me, I should agree that kids are ignored when both mom and dad are working full time. I have been there and experienced that. When i was working before my third one was born, it looked like we were always on the run, more take outs/less healthy apetite, lesser quality time with kids, more worries about daycare center and babysitter issues, and very little time for each other as a couple.
Plus, working in the childcare field, as an assistant director at a well known daycare center and then as a supervisor at the School Age Child Care at public schools, I know exactly what quality of care is provided to the children. No matter how much money you are spending, you are just buying a service and not the mothers'/fathers' love for your child. That always-so-welocoming-and-smiling teacher at the day care center doesn't care if you child has eaten/slept enough or if he/she has washed the hands properly after using the toilet. The daily chart that is handed to you by the end of the day never tells you whether the food that was offered that day was fully cooked or was that a left over from two days ago?? And that mommy-looking-babysitter, oh please, did she ever tell you how much time your child has spent in the crib/playpen/exersaucer/bouncy because he was crying and she just couldn't handle it. Do you know if your babysitter really reads 30 minutes daily to your child as was promised at the time of interview??? Sometimes kids go empty stomach all day just because they didn't like the food that was offered and the daycare staff/babysitter "just can't force them to eat." And last but not least, it is so sad to see that last child looking out the window time and again to check if his/her parent is here or not and then those watery eyes for why he/she is the only one left and all the other friends are gone already.
However, i will definately go back to work once my kids' pre-school era is over. Its not about independence, equal rights, or having my own money to spend. its something that makes me complete and gives me a feeling that me and my education is worthed.
PS: i feel myself more psycho now, taking care of three little rugrats 24/7. Although my hubby is more than cooperative and always helping me out whenever home, I still sometimes feel like going back to work and let another human (babysitter and/or my husband) to share and enjoy my kids experience with me. :D Meanie me!:) But no doubt, internally I am more satisfied, relaxed, and happier now than when i was working.