The Importance of Homemakers
The current trend these days is to encourage and support working mothers who provide for their family. However, women who choose to be full-time homemakers are just as, if not more, admirable. As things of the past are disdained as “old-fashioned” in the United States, it is encouraging to see the role of the homemaker continue to be appreciated and honored in Japan.
The Bible clearly states that the “homemaker” is an admirable occupation that is to be esteemed by others and as a Christian, I believe it. However, one does not need to share the same views as I do to see the positive effects a homemaker has on the family and on society. For example, I have noticed a strong correlation between a child’s behavior and the parents’ character and involvement in the child’s life through my experience as an English teacher. When parents are more pleasant, and seem to be deeply involved with their children’s lives, not only is the child doing better in class, they are usually more amiable and well-behaved.
However, this does not mean that working mothers are worse parents, because I know of families with working mothers who have great kids that are well-behaved, friendly, and smart. But I hope that homemakers will not feel unnecessary inferiority because they have chosen to stay at home. Homemakers need not to be ashamed of what they do, but they should be proud of having an occupation which gives them the privilege of molding the future generation.