Comments on: Guest Post: *Mothers of Contention and the Money Wars* by Meg Wolitzer http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/ and it has addled her brain Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:39:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Nicole http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/comment-page-1/#comment-14514 Nicole Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:25:33 +0000 http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?p=4247#comment-14514 I don't understand the whole "war" thing myself. I may be envious of other's situation, but one thing this book teaches us is that you never know a family's full situation. Sometimes, the family doesn't even know it. So, stop judging and live your own life the best you can. I don’t understand the whole “war” thing myself. I may be envious of other’s situation, but one thing this book teaches us is that you never know a family’s full situation. Sometimes, the family doesn’t even know it. So, stop judging and live your own life the best you can.

]]> By: Literate Housewife http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/comment-page-1/#comment-9398 Literate Housewife Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:03:31 +0000 http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?p=4247#comment-9398 Even among my coworkers there is discomfort over decisions to stay at home or go to work. I had one former friend tell me before I had children that other women make is so hard for mothers to work or stay at home. Then, after I became her supervisor and had children, proceeded to tell me in a meeting that I was not a good mother because I let my work (i.e. trying to get her to work to her potential) get to me and that was "damaging" my "angels." Hmmm... People will always have their own opinions and many will feel free to share them with you. Whatever your decision and whether it was made for you by circumstance or made intentionally with your eyes wide open, the key is to be comfortable with it. If you are whole in your decision, what others say will be much more easily ignored and discounted. Even among my coworkers there is discomfort over decisions to stay at home or go to work. I had one former friend tell me before I had children that other women make is so hard for mothers to work or stay at home. Then, after I became her supervisor and had children, proceeded to tell me in a meeting that I was not a good mother because I let my work (i.e. trying to get her to work to her potential) get to me and that was “damaging” my “angels.” Hmmm…
People will always have their own opinions and many will feel free to share them with you. Whatever your decision and whether it was made for you by circumstance or made intentionally with your eyes wide open, the key is to be comfortable with it. If you are whole in your decision, what others say will be much more easily ignored and discounted.

]]> By: Bertha http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/comment-page-1/#comment-9378 Bertha Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:59:04 +0000 http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?p=4247#comment-9378 sheistoofondofbooks, please correct me if I am wrong, but the character who makes the remarks about Mennonite Colleges as noted in my previous email is a figment of Ms. Wolitzer's imagination. Consequently, the words spoken by the character would be the words that Ms. Wolitzer puts in this character's mouth. You write in your email and I quote, "but the line you are referring to is something a "character" is saying, not the author". Surely you cannot believe that this made up character is actually capable of speaking words. My question still remains - What gives Ms. Wolitzer the right to presume that Mennonite colleges are second rate? sheistoofondofbooks, please correct me if I am wrong, but the character who makes the remarks about Mennonite Colleges as noted in my previous email is a figment of Ms. Wolitzer’s imagination. Consequently, the words spoken by the character would be the words that Ms. Wolitzer puts in this character’s mouth. You write in your email and I quote, “but the line you are referring to is something a “character” is saying, not the author”. Surely you cannot believe that this made up character is actually capable of speaking words. My question still remains – What gives Ms. Wolitzer the right to presume that Mennonite colleges are second rate?

]]> By: sheistoofondofbooks http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/comment-page-1/#comment-9103 sheistoofondofbooks Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:02:39 +0000 http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?p=4247#comment-9103 Jenners - I'm in a similar situation; I'm able to choose to stay home, and (although there are days I joke with my husband that I want to switch places), I'm so glad I can do this. Bertha - um, I can't speak for Meg Wolitzer, but the line you're referring to is something a *character* is saying, not the author. Jenners – I’m in a similar situation; I’m able to choose to stay home, and (although there are days I joke with my husband that I want to switch places), I’m so glad I can do this.

Bertha – um, I can’t speak for Meg Wolitzer, but the line you’re referring to is something a *character* is saying, not the author.

]]> By: Bertha http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/comment-page-1/#comment-9081 Bertha Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:44:33 +0000 http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?p=4247#comment-9081 Almost finished reading your book called "The Ten Year Nap". What really puzzles me is your comment on page 109 and I quote, "I considered grad school too," she went on, "but these days you end up having to fight for a tenure-track job at some second rate Mennonite college. Not that I even know of any first rate Mennonite college," she added with a chirping laugh. What gives Ms. Wolitzer the right to presume that Mennonite colleges are second rate? Is she a Mennonite? Has she or any person she knows well attended a Mennonite college? Before you make statements like this in your book, maybe you should check into Mennonite Colleges. Almost finished reading your book called “The Ten Year Nap”. What really puzzles me is your comment on page 109 and I quote, “I considered grad school too,” she went on, “but these days you end up having to fight for a tenure-track job at some second rate Mennonite college. Not that I even know of any first rate Mennonite college,” she added with a chirping laugh.

What gives Ms. Wolitzer the right to presume that Mennonite colleges are second rate? Is she a Mennonite? Has she or any person she knows well attended a Mennonite college? Before you make statements like this in your book, maybe you should check into Mennonite Colleges.

]]> By: Jenners http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/comment-page-1/#comment-8246 Jenners Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:22:47 +0000 http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?p=4247#comment-8246 As a stay at home mom, I would hate to be critical of any other mom's decision to work or stay at home. I don't think I could pull off both ... and I'm glad I don't have to try. But not everyone is so lucky. I don't see why there has to be a "war" about it .. everyone needs to do what they need to do. I'm glad I haven't run into anyone (yet) who has been criticial or nasty about my choices or lack thereof. We all just try to share what works with our crazy kids! As a stay at home mom, I would hate to be critical of any other mom’s decision to work or stay at home. I don’t think I could pull off both … and I’m glad I don’t have to try. But not everyone is so lucky. I don’t see why there has to be a “war” about it .. everyone needs to do what they need to do. I’m glad I haven’t run into anyone (yet) who has been criticial or nasty about my choices or lack thereof. We all just try to share what works with our crazy kids!

]]> By: sheistoofondofbooks http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/comment-page-1/#comment-8103 sheistoofondofbooks Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:00:43 +0000 http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?p=4247#comment-8103 To all - we all seem to agree with Meg's premise, that we should support each other's choices! To all – we all seem to agree with Meg’s premise, that we should support each other’s choices!

]]> By: Sandy http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/comment-page-1/#comment-8046 Sandy Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:58:08 +0000 http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?p=4247#comment-8046 Interesting post! I was once a working mom and now stay at home, so I've been on both sides of the fence. Neither is good...I got flak on both sides. It is quite irritating at the bullying that goes on, and I often chuckle at the fact that these bullying mothers also have bullying kids! I am finding lately that with the state of the economy, I not only get bullying for staying at home, but real animosity that I didn't have to go back to work recently to make ends meet, like many have. Why can't we all just be at peace with our bond as mothers and get along??? Interesting post! I was once a working mom and now stay at home, so I’ve been on both sides of the fence. Neither is good…I got flak on both sides. It is quite irritating at the bullying that goes on, and I often chuckle at the fact that these bullying mothers also have bullying kids! I am finding lately that with the state of the economy, I not only get bullying for staying at home, but real animosity that I didn’t have to go back to work recently to make ends meet, like many have. Why can’t we all just be at peace with our bond as mothers and get along???

]]> By: Kathy http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/comment-page-1/#comment-8027 Kathy Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:36:42 +0000 http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?p=4247#comment-8027 I agree this is a great topic to think about and discuss. I wish women could be more supportive of each other, no matter what choices we make. I agree this is a great topic to think about and discuss. I wish women could be more supportive of each other, no matter what choices we make.

]]> By: Susan Helene Gottfried http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2009/03/30/guest-post-mothers-of-contention-and-the-money-wars-by-meg-wolitzer/comment-page-1/#comment-8021 Susan Helene Gottfried Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:53:42 +0000 http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?p=4247#comment-8021 Hey, ladies. I liked this so much, I posted the link on Win a Book. Hey, ladies. I liked this so much, I posted the link on Win a Book.

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