The Rise of the SAHM

It has been a while.

However, not EVERYONE is completely absorbed with the new trend and in fact many people may be busy with other things (like NOT losing one's job thanks to the recession!!).

Taglines have been bantied around for the past few months now. Domestic Goddess is my current favourite. And now we have the SAHMs (Stay At Home Mums). Sorry ladies with no kids (and stay at home Dads). You just Don't Cut It. You don't make the grade. Missed the boat. No Longer on the hip list...

The SAHMs...plenty of time to look their best, dote on their children (and husbands), join a hobby club, lunches and plan elaborate dinner dates held in their immaculately kept homes. Plenty of time to endlessly update their facebook status (he-llo how about just saying what it is you are really doing, i.e. that you are completely bored with no direction other than to the cupboard where the cleaning products are held). They claim better relationships with their children as a result of more time and a less stressful lifestyle. Husbands are happy (and so are the wives because if nothing else, there is a LOT more energy and time for snuggling between the sheets). The SAHMs claim that they are happy to be keeping their husbands happy. Sewing machine sales have soared. However, with all this to keep them busy, it seems there is plenty of time to build resentment against the working Mums (who neglect all these important matters of the home and heart).

The working Mums, on the other hand, are the ones you see hurrying everywhere - they are usually carrying several bags, children are all asking questions, everything is delegated at breakneck speed (Sam, stop doing that! Emily, wipe your face! James, do up your shoelaces and for god's sake yuck your shirt in for the third time!) and often misconstrued as being snappy, by the time they organise everyone else and themselves for work only the truly energetic have time for some good ole s-e-x (and not on housework night!). And they of course resent the SAHMs, who are often perceived as lazy and boring, judgmental bi-arches who sit on their katoucas's for the better part of each day and probably for too long in any event (and maybe because they just couldn't cope in the real world hence the 'choice' to stay at home?).

Jeez. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. So who is better off?

Unless forced to stay at home by way of losing your job, in the current climate and conditions it is difficult to see how families will survive if both parents are not working. On the other hand, one can see the argument in which choices can be made in which lifestyles are more sustainable (with less focus on 'things') and everyone is happier on a single income. There is more time to teach children how to cook, sew, grow vegies and the like - passing on skills that many 20 or 30 something year old women today do not have because their mothers and grandmothers were busy burning bras. They worked and fought hard to give young women today what we take for granted particularly in the employment and public arenas (and this is not to say that there is still not a way to go forward).

The fact that women are now sniping at each other in such concerning times is a scary thought indeed. We should be supporting one another and each other's choices. It is difficult to know why a woman chooses as she does on any given topic (just ask the Superhusbands/Superpartners).

When Superwoman just won't go away

Last night I had some of the best you-know-what, that I've had for a long time.

The fact that it was not until 12.30am and after returning from a late night working back (gracias to my Superboss), hitting the gym, having a (late) homecooked dinner courtesy of the current Supersqueeze, washing clothes and then spending half hour on the phone with a girlfriend who is currently living on the other side of the world was not noticed until early this morning, sitting at my workstation (as I am now), enjoying a rare moment of reflection...ok and yes perhaps my thoughts were intermingled with flashbacks of my late night rendevous

Are we all now geared to live our lives so busily? If this is true, and if Gen X and Gen Y are so happy being busy and flitting from one thing to the next, how will Gen Z adapt - or change?? - the social landscape?

I personally get a lot of satisfaction out of 'having it all' - even when what this is changes, or leaves me exhausted, or things do not conform necessarily to the GLP (see below) - in fact I thrive on the 'busy-ness' and living up to my notions of the Domestic Goddess, but I still wonder when enough is enough?

Superwoman, I'm Not!

It occured to me, not so long ago, that I am not a Superwoman.

I had, however, been suffering from the delusion that I WAS a Superwoman. Not that you could have told me that then. Hell no. I was too busy to have stopped and listened to you, let alone to take on board anything you might have to say that did not sit well with my 'Great Life Plan'.

I bet most of us gorgeous-young-women, who now bask in all the benefits bestowed upon us as a result of our bra-burning mothers and grandmothers, have a 'Great Life Plan'. In fact, perhaps more than one. Or one major 'GLP' (now that just sounds like we are talking economics now, doesn't it?), from which everything else must comform, comply, adjust and adapt....

During my moment of Great Revelation (in which it occured to me that I am not Superwoman), I wondered what 'everything' encompasses for other women (and maybe even men too in this day and age). Further what the GLP means for us all?

Does it mean - developing a fabulous career - drinking to excess whilst maintaining a sense of style - keeping a lovely home - cooking up a storm for the partner/friends/parents - travel - wild sex whenever and with whomever (or abstaining until you find 'the one'??) - being one fashionable step ahead of the rest inside your wardrobe and out - until you have achieved the GLP?

When is having it all (and what the hell does this mean), enough? I wondered.

Subsequently, I was reading online (yes....during work hours!) a feature article (with numerous comments) talking up the 'Domestic Goddess', and how easy it is now to bake cookies and prepare 3 course meals for 4 children and partner whilst working full time in a career (not just 10am to 2pm at the school canteen waiting for the kiddies, but an appropriately attired-traveled to-clock-on-clock-off, mode of employment. Not to say canteen 'work' does not have its benefits) and organising after school activities and sport and keeping a lovely home and everyone is happy including partner who comes home to a cooked meal and clean house to relax and maybe get some action if its a lucky day!!!

As lovely as all of this sounds, I wondered how it could be sustained because I know for a fact there are (many) people who fit into the above routine in one way or another - are we all guilty of Superwoman idolisation?

Even our men who, once all the requirements of the day have been met, would no doubt like it if we put on our best appearances before the 'action' starts....

Are multi vitamins the answer? I don't know. I am starting with this blog (in my so called 'spare' time). Turn off the auto pilot. Everyone wants to know what you have to say about this - what is 'everything' and why do we have GLP's?