"Modern women must not be enslaved by their children"

by Crystal Paine

If you can stomach it, you might find this article enlightening:

It's the start of the summer holidays, when millions of mothers despair at how to entertain their children for the next six weeks. What none of them dare say is that they would rather their children were still at school or, frankly, anywhere else. Helen Kirwan-Taylor, a 42-year-old writer, lives in Notting Hill, West London, with her businessman husband Charles and their sons Constantin, 12, and Ivan, ten. Here, she argues provocatively that modern women must not be enslaved by their children.

The lies started when my eldest son was less than ten months old.

Invitations to attend a child's birthday party or, worse, a singalong session were met with the same refrain: 'I would love to but I just can't spare the time.'

The nanny was dispatched in my place, and almost always returned complaining that my son had been singled out for pitiful stares by the other mothers.

I confess that I was probably ogling the merchandise at Harvey Nichols or having my highlights done instead. Of course I love my children as much as any mother, but the truth is I found such events so boring that I made up any excuse.

I can't say which activity I dreaded more: playing Pass The Parcel at parties with a child who permanently crawled away from the action towards the priceless knick-knacks, or listening to the other mothers go on about such excitements as teething and potty-training. Mind-numbing!

Read the full article.

Sorry, Helen, but I disagree that you love your children as much as any other mother. The truth is: You love yourself.

In this age of the feministic "It's all about ME" mantra, what can we expect, though? More and more women have children only to pass off the responsibilities of raising them to anyone but themselves.

I feel no sympathy for these moms but I feel incredible sympathy for these children. Can you imagine how it would feel if your mom thought you were boring and she'd much rather get her highlights done than spend time with you? That she'd rather be anywhere else than with you? And this is passed off as loving and healthy? I honestly don't understand how anyone can think this way. Yes, children are a lot of work and they require enormous amounts of time and love and sacrifice. But it is worth every bit of it.

My advice to Helen: If you weren't willing to be a mom in the first place, why did you have kids? Your children need you. At the end of your life, I doubt you'll look back and be happy that you sacrificed being your children's mother for the sake of a selfishness. You'll wish you could take back all those years and you can't. You only have one shot at being a mom.

Crystal Paine is a 24-year-old homeschool graduate from Topeka, Kansas. She is the blessed wife of Jesse and joyful mother of Kathrynne. Visit her site, Biblical Womanhood, for books, articles, encouragement, and inspiration!

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