Zeno's Bar & Grill
Monday, January 02, 2006
The Voice of Experience
There’s a fascinating short piece in yesterday's New York Times by Terry Martin Hekker that tells a true story that should make moms everywhere (especially those of us who are full time stay-at-home moms) sit up and take notice. She starts by saying, “In the continuing case of Full-Time Homemaker vs. Working Mother, I offer myself as Exhibit A.”
Seems Ms. Hekker wrote an Op-Ed article a quarter century ago about the joys of domestic bliss. She expanded it into a book (“Ever Since Adam and Eve”, published in 1979) and became the poster child for stay-at-home moms, going on a national book tour and appearing on pre-Katie Couric “Today” defending the choice of staying at home at the height of the women’s movement.
As she tells us, “I was predictably stunned and devastated when, on our 40th wedding anniversary, my husband presented me with a divorce.” She received a paltry alimony payment that left her eligible for food stamps and that expired after four years.
Her story is a compelling tale full of memorable zingers. It made us think immediately of Darla Shine, who may just be the new millennium version of the SAHM poster child, with her book Happy Housewives.
Hekker has been there, done that, and turned around 180. She jokes that if she wrote another book it would be called “Disregard First Book.”
Of course, it’s just one woman’s point of view, but Hekker offers her take on things she coulda, shoulda, woulda done differently, had she known what lay in store for her…like furthering her education once her kids were in school.
--Melanie & Kelly
Seems Ms. Hekker wrote an Op-Ed article a quarter century ago about the joys of domestic bliss. She expanded it into a book (“Ever Since Adam and Eve”, published in 1979) and became the poster child for stay-at-home moms, going on a national book tour and appearing on pre-Katie Couric “Today” defending the choice of staying at home at the height of the women’s movement.
As she tells us, “I was predictably stunned and devastated when, on our 40th wedding anniversary, my husband presented me with a divorce.” She received a paltry alimony payment that left her eligible for food stamps and that expired after four years.
Her story is a compelling tale full of memorable zingers. It made us think immediately of Darla Shine, who may just be the new millennium version of the SAHM poster child, with her book Happy Housewives.
Hekker has been there, done that, and turned around 180. She jokes that if she wrote another book it would be called “Disregard First Book.”
Of course, it’s just one woman’s point of view, but Hekker offers her take on things she coulda, shoulda, woulda done differently, had she known what lay in store for her…like furthering her education once her kids were in school.
--Melanie & Kelly
