I finally got around to reading Judith Warner’s piece in the New York Times. I saw some tweets about the article, when I was on vacation, but couldn’t be bothered to check out until yesterday. I was throwing a stack of old papers in the recycling basket and the magazine plopped out. I only read the article, because the alternative was continuing the mad cleaning of the house in preparation for an in-law visit.

In retrospect, I chose wrong. Dusting the stereo system would have been more enjoyable.

This article is CLASSIC mommy war crap. It’s a look at a handful of the women who Lisa Belkin interviewed several years ago for a trend piece on women who leave high-powered jobs to become a stay at home parent. Warner joyfully mocks them for their bad decisions. Check out the photographs of the women in the article:

Oh, man. I screwed up. 

If only I hadn’t quit my job, my life would be PERFECT right now. 

Keeping up a brave face, but inside, I’m in a sea of pain. 

I could tear the article apart, but I don’t have the energy. OK. I can’t resist one bit of illogical nonsense. I love this sentence for its stupidity.  Warner writes, “And after decades of well-publicized academic inquiry into the effects of maternal separation and the dangers of day care, a new generation of social scientists was publishing research on the negative effects of excessive mothering: more depression and worse general health among mothers, according to the American Psychological Association” But the researchers aren’t looking at normal mothering. They are talking about excessive mothering, whatever that is. There is also tons and tons of research about the benefits of attachment parenting.

It’s shameful that the New York Times published this sensational, dishonest crap. It’s too bad, because the topic of post-parenting employment is pretty interesting. What kinds of jobs can full-time parents get, after they have taken time off to raise children? How can full-time parents keep the skills sharp during that time at home? How should they modify their expectations? I would read that article.