The “Other Girls”

Mommy blogs and how popular they have become, is the topic of conversation these past few days. Julie wrote a wonderful piece last week about them and Jen Fulwiler over at NCRegister.com wrote another one just yesterday.

I have noticed a common thread amongst some of the commentators though. These young women feel left out and left behind- Almost slighted by the stay at home mothers that seem to indicate that they chose their life of being a single career women. Now don’t get me wrong; this is NOT a pity-party. I simply want to present the case of a single young lady from a different perspective.

There are a lot of stereotypes about young career women. The immediate assumption seems to be that you are some sort of feminist with a hard-nose agenda if you are over 25 and not married. Back in September, Anthony Bueno wrote an eloquent article on the struggles single career girls face. Here he states:

“Many smart men are sadly too dumb to realize that these Catholic career women will happily give up their career to have a family. In fact, many of them are dying to do it. While they wait for a good man who will not be intimidated by her intelligence, level of education, and perhaps even that she makes more money than him, they become career single women with no incentive to be otherwise.”

So yes, Jen and Julie are right in that we read other women’s accounts of their happy family lives with a sort-of jealousy. Still, given the options, we continue to wait patiently for the right guy to come into our lives. I have learned though the example of a few friends, that far worse than being lonely is the loneliness of being married to the wrong person.

What is interesting to note, (and I love this bible passage) is that the ideal woman by biblical standards is far from a typical stereotype. Apparently, she has had plenty of dealings in business, organizing and hard work. Check it out:

10 A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong.18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. 24She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers girdles to the merchant. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gate. Proverbs 31:10-31

Wow, we have a lot to live up to! Just don’t forget that there are many great Catholic women out there who are intelligent, educated, successful, and are still very feminine. Girls who are simply trying to live God’s will in their lives day to day, while serving the church, and those around them. Girls who would happily trade it all to be writing ‘Mommy blogs’.

Thoughts?

Tags: Christian Living, Life, vocation, Women

Category: Career, Single Life