Traditional girl in modern world

I’ll get right to the point: I am 19  and since I was young I have wanted to be nothing more than a stay-at-home mom.

It’s not exactly easy to live in 2008 and go about having such a dream. Many generations of women before me have fought for my right to break the mould of the role of a stereotypical woman and be whatever I want. And yet, here I am, wanting to crawl back into that mould, respectfully, of course. I enjoy my lack of oppression.

What I want to be tends to be almost shunned in our modern world. The tension is definitely felt from other girls at my university when they ask me what I want to do after graduation. The reply is either, “Wow, I could never do that” or “What!? Why are you here then?” The latter is never said pleasantly.

Presumably, to be a woman in university implies you want to be a career woman equal to, if not better than, a man. This is ridiculous. When I answer the question, I explain that I am being a responsible parent before even entering that stage of my life. I don’t want a career, I want a degree in case, God forbid, I end up a single parent. I’ll be able to support my children without too much worry over finances (though there would still be tons of stress, don’t get me wrong).

I grew up in a single-income household. My mom has always stayed at home and she tells me that she is very happy and content with her life. I love and admire my mom and have always wanted to follow in her footsteps, while still keeping them my own.

Besides being a stay-at-home mom, I always said that if I ever were to pick a career it would be teaching. Perhaps I will go through with it, since I would need to be occupied with something until my future husband and I discern when we’re ready for children.

Not every person is meant to follow the majority. For example, not all people should have a driver’s licence. Similarly, not all women are cut out for the career world. I have always been one of those women. It is not an issue of laziness, rather it is recognizing that I have strengths and weaknesses and I truly believe that being a stay-at-home parent will be one of my best strengths, something I will want to devote my attention to. I’ve spent years praying to God, trying to figure out what His will is for me and inside I have always known that God has made me to be a mother and, perhaps, a teacher first.

Being a stay-at-home mom is what success will mean for me because I know I will have followed my heart. I am excited to some day reach that goal through prayer and discernment and I can only hope that I will be half as good at it as my mom is.

(Thibeault, 20, studies English and religion at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, N.S.)