Today is NerdDad and mine’s 10th Anniversary. Happy Anniversary and I Love You! Here we are a mortgage, minivan and 3 kids later. Who would have known;).

Michael Noer has written a controversial article, “Don’t Marry Career Women” over at Forbes.com, and people (especially women) are mad! Let me start off with the fact that I am a woman that has dreams and aspirations. I believe in education and its value. I am looking at this article as a societal commentary not a litmus test for marriage. I also admit that when I first read the hype about the article I automatically became defensive (habit;). That said….

Noer was really talking about some of the points that account for the increased divorce rates among “career women” but that, by no means, is said to be one specific woman. Maybe by looking at these issues we, as women, can look at what the problems are and address a solution for ourselves. Noer really summarized 9 points that were part of the original posting, the article seems to have all of the social studies and the data to support these points. I have found them posted here.

1) You are less likely to get married to her. That is true because, traditionally, women with a career aren’t really interested in marriage on the same time frame and other women. That is statistically proven on the whole. (The other side is in college I was married by 20) Women with “careers” or higher education are often advised to become established before looking for a spouse.
2) If you do marry, you are more likely to get divorced. (The whole article is supposed to prove that;) Women are more of the emotional component to a marriage and that can contribute to it being successful. We tend to make sure the connection and time is put in. We get to busy and it is all over looked.
3) She is more likely to cheat on you. I think part of this issue is that we are starting to even out with men. According to the electronic article “Adultery: Statistics on Cheating Spouses,” published by Eagle’s Nest Publications, “60-70 percent of adultery victims are women” while “30-40 percent of adultery victims are men.” (Infidelity, by Lori Medeiros). Part of it has to do with an availability of “worthy” candidates. I am a stay at home mom who likes white collar men (like my husband;). The UPS guy doesn’t really stand a chance. Much less the risk assessment. I could go from living off my husbands to the UPS guy’s. If I am making the same amount I don’t fear my husband taking my money in the event I get caught either.
4) You are much less likely to have kids. Even if a career girl wants the kids and all that, waiting to get married has consequences. When you are older it is harder to get pregnant. Then consider you are 40, how much energy do you have to chase kids? That could effect you number of children greatly. The fact that you could be well into your 60’s when you children are entering college so you may not be able to retire as early. All these things can contribute to the decision to have kids.
5) If you do have kids, your wife is more likely to be unhappy. So then the career girl has kids. Her focus is either split or she has to give up something she cares for greatly. A complaint I have heard from working moms is that they feel they don’t do either job well. They miss key moments in their kids life (like first steps) and the business meeting when someone is sick. But if they decide to stay home resentment tends to grow. Often mom will stay home to keep the kids out of day care and to not allow strangers to raise the kids. So women feel unchallenged, deprived and the income is cut in half (usually a needed half). Now, don’t misunderstand me. NO ONE LIKES CLEANING THE TOILET AND CHANGING POOPY DIAPERS! (Did I say that strongly enough?) But, because of the love of being a mom I can endure.
6) Your house will be dirtier. It is a time thing. Even with a husband that helps, that can’t balance the time you are gone with both the kids and house. I stay home and can’t keep it clean. I would hate to see what would happen if I worked full time.
7) You’ll be unhappy if she makes more than you. A man is different than a woman. He needs to be needed and respected. If I do everything that he does and better and have the kids, what is he needed for? This is also leading to a rash of lazy men (and that can lead to numbers 2 and 3).
8) She will be unhappy if she makes more than you. Refer to number 7;). Mom can feel trapped into not being able to stay home or resentful that she contributes more time and money to the marriage.
9) You are more likely to fall ill. Traditionally, we keep an eye on our husband’s health and behavior. We get them to go to the doctor and remind them to take their medicine. When I have worked I just was so tired and vacant that I wasn’t paying enough attention.

I am not saying that men shouldn’t marry career women but these are problems plaguing those marriages and by extension society. By looking at the issues before marriage I am sure that people can balance for them. Now there is a counterpoint article posted with the article by Noer but I don’t think it addresses his points. I think we need to no get defensive but actually think about the points he was making.

Related Tags: Michael Noer, Career, feminism, feminist, Forbes

We here at the NerdFamily Blog like to keep you apprised of breaking nerdy news! Well, there are only 8 planets now. According to the International Astronomical Union, Pluto is no longer a planet.

Pluto failed to make the new cut because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune’s. It will now be a founding member of the new class of “dwarf planets.”

Not important news for day to day life but interesting none the less!

The Canival is up! Go read, enjoy, comment!

For those of you who don’t see my kids, they are still as cute as ever. I haven’t slowed in writing due to lack of material but lack of time. But I do have time for a quick glimpse into the cuteness that is my daughter. The NerdPie is setting up a pretend meal for her and her older brother. Throughout this she is bringing me cups of “coffee”. I popped into the kitchen and came back to see her giving the one year old some “food” out of a plastic baby food jar. The Nerdling appeared to be getting a little frustrated in waiting for real food. I guess it is just great that she includes him. I did explain that babies don’t know how to pretend yet;).

So recently I have been whining to ya’all about the craziness our family has been enduring. Well, in the midst of adversity is when God blesses. Due to losing the baby, having strep twice and wrenching my knee all in the last 6 weeks, I have been unable to get the house as ready to sell as I wanted. Well, NerdDad and I had a construction meeting with the builder of the new house. While we were there our salesman says he needs to talk to us when we were done. The company drop the price on our house another considerable chunk of change!!!! This means we need less out of our house so I can quit stessing so much. Also, I call to get quotes on residing the front of our house. Well, then I called my “Middle Father” (mom’s 2nd husband and the first man I remember calling dad) and was asking his advice. He is a contractor 6 hours away but he volunteered to come down and reside it for cost!!!! That saves us over 2/3 the cost. I am blown away by God’s mercy and grace. It was orginally going to be a real tight squeeze to get into this larger house (twice as big!!) but now we have a little breathing room. You know $$ for a savings account (I think those kids might want to go to college some day;), car repair, etc. I just had to share God’s blessings even through the challenges we have been having in life.

I admit it, I have always loved fantasy books but I struggle with them not being written for an intelligent audience. While entertaining, standard fantasy books don’t challenge you to think. Well, Robina Williams has changed all that with Angelos published by Paladin Timeless Books, an imprint of Twilight Times Books.

In this book you follow the adventures of a time traveling cat and his recently deceased friend. Williams beautifully ties together life in a priestly order with mythology and even early church history. Williams utilizes her M.Phil in Literature by taking a new look at the old Greek myths. Seeing the Minotaur as a vegetarian who eats Athenians out of a sense of duty to King Minos puts a whole new spin on how you can see any part of mythology. What did these myths look like when they were merely historical stories, before the grandeur and hype?

This book was written in an easy going manner and language. It would be great for teens all the way to adults. If you had studied mythology it would help but not at all is it needed. Williams has a great index in the back that can orient you to the cast of characters. If you are not familiar with the mythological character in the book, it will inspire you to read the original myths (a great inspiration for a homeschool unit study!!). I am giving this book a 4, and not a 5, out of 5 for 1 reason only. This is a follow up book to Jerome and the Seraph and, since I hadn’t read it, it took a little (about 40 pages) to really get into the story. Even though it took 40 pages it was worth it. I am now going to go find Jerome and the Seraph at Amazon! I am sure if read in the proper order, Angelos would be a 5 out of 5.

Just a note: I am an avid reader and homeschooling mother and am a reviewing this book for Active Christian Media. I received no payment for this review but I was given a copy of this book as a gift.

Yesterday the NerdFamily Blog broke 10,000 visits! Thank you all who read us! Now, what amazes me is how few comments we get;).

This week I have the privilege of hosting the Kid’s Comedy Carnival. They say that laughter is a natural reliever of stress so I hope you laugh as much at these entries as I did.

First though, this pressing news!! Kim at Life in a Shoe has Another Mystery of Life Solved. This time it is where do all those socks go?

Jennifer over at Suite 101 has a great post on a Graduation Day of Luxury for a very lucky preschool graduate. I think that is a great gift that any child would love! Then as they get older we have to start thinking about careers, don’t we? Supermom over at Snow White, the Seven Dwarves and PDD has the Diva and the Drama. Not only does this little girl has a dream, she has a plan! Then Voni’s Home has Emma’s Escapades where this future chef is putting her ambitions into action now.

Sometimes the best kid’s comedy is observed just by hearing them talk. That is the case in Kitchen Table Theater over at The New Homemaker. Don’t Try This at Home also has a great collection of Things I Heard This Week. Sibling Rivalry is always hilarious as Rebecca at About Absolutely Nothing points out. Sometimes we as moms have to see the humor in what our children say and not take it personally as Rocks in My Dryer points out in the Truth. Sometimes kid’s in their hilarity hit on the truth as was the case at Principled Discovery with “One Head,” in Defense of Clarity in Communication.

This wraps up this weeks carnival! Please read, comment and enjoy! Also if you see any kid (yours or not) doing something funny, please let us know. Go over to Conservative Cat Carnival and submit your post. Then check out next week’s carnival!

I got sent to this quiz from one of my homeschool mailing lists and just loved it. Take the quiz and let me know how you did! I hope this picture isn’t a direct representation;). I do have to say that the description got me pretty dead on.

What Type of Homeschooler Are You?

Mr. Potato Head You have your ideal of how things should look, but youre flexible enough to allow for change. You are not bothered by changing methods, mid-course if necessary. You use an eclectic combination of curriculum sources. Visit my blog: http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com
Take this quiz!

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