"She Works, He Doesn't" by Peg Tyre and Daniel McGinn

If you are a male, imagine that you have become a Mr. Mom. How would you adjust to your new role? What would be the biggest challenges? What would you like most? If you are a female, imagine that you have become the family's primary breadwinner. How would you adjust to your new role? What would be the biggest challenges? What would you like most? Write an essay or short story about one of these situations.

I grew up in a household where my father worked, and my mom stayed at home. My father was a very successful police officer, holding the position of Chief for 14 years before retiring and working in the private sector as the head of security for a business owner. My mother grew up in a time when it wasn't expected for women to go to college. She was expected to say home with the children when she was married. So, with those expectations paired with not having the money, she didn't attend college. Up until the time my brother and I were born (we are twins) he worked as a police officer, and she was a secretary. Then when we were about to be born, she quit. Only once has my mom had a job while raising us. . . she hated it. Needless to say, that didn't last very long. I loved growing up in this environment. I loved coming home from school and smelling fresh baked cookies, or dinner cooking. I loved that she was able to volunteer to work in the school library, and was able to be there for every major event in my life (not that my dad wasn't, but it was harder for him). For a long time I thought that was what I was going to do with my life too, but that changed.

It was always assumed that I would go to college by both my parents and I, yet I thought that once I had children, I would just quit my job and raise them. Now, I want to keep my career, and part of me would not be surprised if I did end up being the primary breadwinner in the household. It would be difficult though. Although things are changing, society still sees the men as being the ones who are supposed to make the money and support the family, and to deviate from those norms and make you somewhat of an outcast, which would be one of the biggest challenges. Another would be if I become the primary breadwinner because my husband lost his job. This now makes the situation forced, and straining on the relationship. So not only are we going to be dealing with the strains on our relationship become of the situation, but also the strains on the family because of the way society views us. The adjusting would come from all sides, by having friends who are supportive of both my husband and I, and by being comfortable with the situation in the household, no matter how it occurred. I would find happiness in this because I would get to continue the path of the career that I have always wanted to be in. I'd get to do what I loved. As I see it now, I don't want to work this hard in college, earn multiple degrees, then decide just to drop it all to raise my children. I know that I want kids, and I know that I will be a great mother to them while continuing to support the household, whether my husband has a job, or not. After all, it isn't about who is making the money to support the family and raise the kids, but that the family is supported and the kids have a loving environment to grow up in.