Most of our more respectable fantasies have found a place on reality TV. There's the show where designers swoop in to organize your clutter and the one about the nanny who figures out how to keep the kids from using their potties as weapons. There's even a show about wife swapping.
But TLC has found one more untapped fantasy—at least for mothers. We're not talking about "The Manny." No, this is the one where you're a woman who's been home with your kids so long that you can't remember the last time you wore hard-soled shoes. Then someone (say, former sitcom star Tracey Gold) comes by and says, "Hey, you know how you always wanted to be a fashion designer, cop or chef? Well, we'll give you a week to try it out—without your family knowing. Then at the end of the week you get to choose whether to restart your career or stay home. And guess what: your kids and husband will support you either way."
http://www.newsweek.com/id/120362?GT1=43002
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Yay another reality show.
This show has received criticism from people who think these women are "selfish" and shouldn't have had kids if they weren't going to raise them. Eh--I agree that a family with a stay at home parent (father or mother) needs the appropriate transition if the parent decides to be the other breadwinner.
Working mothers in traditional homes tend to have two jobs--one without pay---and stay-at-home parents have a 24/7 job that is overworked and unpaid. Knowing how I feel about the family and gender, I can't just say these women are selfish for wanting to reduce the home responsibilities (which requires the fathers to do more than sit on the couch and relax) and place more emphasis on the working world. Maybe it'd be better if the kids were a bit older (like what my mom did) but it would still depend on the situation.
Anyone heard of this? What say you?