You never know someones circumstances. We are each individuals and the Lord knows what's best. I for one am a stay at home mom and have felt the judgement of others for staying home. I know on an individual basis I don't know other peoples circumstances and therefore don't judge individuals for living different than me. However, as a group to many mothers are working outside the home. President Benson refered to the importance of staying home as an eternal principle. That to me indicated that it wasn't a "mormon culture" idea.

Presidet Monson spoke of the fact that women might have to seek employment because of financial hardships and encouraged education. This shows there are definite exeption to this rule. Hopefully we can rid ourselves of the mommy wars. Just do what's best for your family .

How many school teachers are women? How many nurses are women? Just two of the vital professions that women dominate and thank God for it. Most also raise righteous families in the process thank you. Those who are stay at home moms-God bless you.
For those who enjoy judging the life decisions of others-take a break.

I guess I'm confused as to why "perception" is allowed to have such power over working or staying home. Sometimes us Women are simply too emotional. Look at that facts not perception. A wise saying was shared with me and I share it with you: "What others think of me, is none of my business."

Care a lot less of what others perceive and focus more on what choices are wholesome or not wholesome. Speculation and worry accomplish zero. Actions and having a plan, lead us to our goals.

Stop judging! Let others be. Why is it anyone's business?
I know many children who would be better off with mom working---many moms at home do not have the skills to "mom".
Kids just watch tv or do what they want. At least they are taught structure, obedience and manners at day care.

I think must be right pretty much summed up the entire article. With the beggining must be right cries out Stop judging! She then proceeds to list a few people she is judging in her mind who would be better off at work. The article was correct not only in the fact that working moms aren't the only ones being judged. Thank you must be right! I agree with women just pray and do what is truly right for your family. You are the only one who knows. Thank you for all the good examples in my life of both.

I have seen far, far too many examples of where
being a 'stay at home MOM'...doesn't equate to being a 'good mom'. I have seen their kids being the neighborhood bullies and being sent outside or to another house so 'mommy' can get her chores done.

As as the article says, yes, being LDS does make
the mommy-wars much more intense.

Why is it that our leaders mention working outside the home as sometimes being necessary for 'financial reasons'? Why can't it be that
we have been educated and trained in a particular profession, are good at it and provide a service to
humanity? There wouldn't be such a division if
each 'group' wouldn't keep putting so much
'guilt' on the other.

So many equate 'quantity' of time spent with children as the indicator of being a good mom...
whereas it really is the 'quality'.......

This thing about judging others seems to be the common thread here.Why do we judge others.I can think of a reason.We want to bring others over to our side of the debate on a matter.We want to build a support group of our ideas as there is strength in numbers.If everyone else feels the same as I do then I must be correct so now I can feel good about what I'm doing.Personally I think perception has gotten way out of hand in the church.We are being judged not on our actual behavior but on the perception of others.The judge is much too worried about what your neighbor thinks of you than you.Plain and simple the church is still more worried about its own image than they are about their members.And when I say the church I mean the people.Old thought,the gospel is perfect,the church is not. Women who work out of the home.You are probably doing the right thing for your situation.

To Mia. President Benson was a idealist. President Monson is a realist.The reason we dont add a section to the D and C about womens place in the work force or home is that the brethern probably cant agree fully.Really its a matter of agency.I think agency is Gods surpreme law and one we need to learn and understand if we are to obtain the highest level in his kingdom.Actually I think the right to choose is surpreme over that of obeying.I think you can follow both President Benson and Monson and be in harmony.There is no conflict.

To "Woman" who said "What others think of me is none of my business" I applaud you! If more of us took that simple phrase to heart, we'd be much happier whether or not we chose to work outside the home.

Myself, I am both sides of the issue. I have been a stay-home mom and I am now a working mom. Given the choice, I would be at home or in school, but financially this is just not feasible for me or my family.

Is there a difference in my parenting skills since I went to work? Absolutely. When I was home, I was always here to make sure homework got done, I was more patient and I was a much nicer mommy. When I first went back to work, all of that changed... However... when I noticed that our family was no longer a "happy family" I made the necessary adjustments in my own attitude and we are back to normal.

Kudos to all of those women who stay at home with their children, and Kudos to those who manage to balance Career and being a mother. Neither situation is easy... but it's certainly worth it!

Often people assume they are perceived a certain way by others because of guilt, ethnicity, bad hair day, etc., etc., when in reality many of those others haven't given it a thought.

I was a stay at home mom of 6 and I loved every tiring minute of it. My best memories were the times we struggled because we had little. My children now make choices based on their life expereinces with me. I am now a working mom and grandmother and I love that too.

You are a daughter of Heavenly Father who loves you no matter what your personal choice. Remember that your children were sent to you personally because of things you needed to teach them and they needed to teach you.

We were sent to earth to be tried and tested...it sounds like many of us are. I think mother Teresa said it best "You see in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway". I love you all and my prayers are with all my sisters

For all who claim we are not to judge, you must read Elder Oak's talk "Judge Not and Judging." We are to render "righteous judgment."

"In one of the monthly General Authority fast and testimony meetings, I heard President James E. Faust say, "The older I get, the less judgmental I become." That wise observation gives us a standard to live by in the matter of judgments. We should refrain from anything that seems to be a final judgment of any person--manifesting our determination to leave final judgments to the Lord, who alone has the capacity to judge.

In the intermediate judgments we must make, we should take care to judge righteously. We should seek the guidance of the Spirit in our decisions. We should limit our judgments to our own stewardships. Whenever possible we should refrain from judging people until we have an adequate knowledge of the facts. So far as possible, we should judge circumstances rather than people. In all our judgments we should apply righteous standards. And, in all of this, we must remember the command to forgive.