Hello,

Yesterday i read these articles for my Marriage Prep class. This is a religion class here at BYU. The topic of the articles was the role of the mothers of staying at home. Growing up in Romania, although i've been a member of the LDS church since i was 9, i don't recall the women int he church being encouraged to stay at home when they have kids. The main reason for this not being the focus of the church in Romania is the tougher economical situation people have over there. Mothers don't really have the option of staying home if they want their family to have the basics. For this reason growing up my mother has always had a full time job. I remember yearning to spend more time with her. I remember coming home from school and not having her there, it was lonely...however, since everyone else was in the same situation, i thought it was the norm, so i wasn't too sad about it. 

    So growing up with in such an environment of working mothers, i've always assumed that even if i were to stay at home right after having my children, that i would a few years later to back to work. Being encouraged by my parents to focus on a career, and having them almost belittling women in the church that are staying home moms, i developed the attitude of must have a career and be independent. 

After reading those few articles yesterday and after talking to others, i realized i will have to choose raising my children in the right way over developing a career. I used to think that i could manage both, but the truth is that i couldn't do both full time. I also used to think that i would sacrifice some of my time spent with them for being able to afford better and more things...If we're honest about it though, there is no substitute for time spent with the children. Specially in early stages of life. 

So, as a result of my pondering upon this matter, i've made up my mind that not only i will be a staying-home mom, but i want to be one, and i will enjoy it. 

That's not to say that because i'm planning on staying home i will not pursue my education. I want to have a Law degree, and i believe it will only make me a better individual and mother.