The article “Does a Full-Time Homemaker Swap Her Mind for a Mop?” has some valid points. Even though the author knows and acknowledges that left wing society labels him horrible things, he continues to speak with more traditional views. Left wing supporters think that women who are homemakers are switching their abilities and talented brains for a mop brain. The author of this article opposes this stance and gives logically valid points which counter their argument about homemakers with a mop for a brain. I often wonder how the world has changed so drastically within the past 40-60 years. Oh course the world has constantly been changing and evolving but I think our society and culture has totally changed over the past 40-60 years. Since the beginning of man, men and women have worked side by side to have a family and live. As we are taught in The Proclamation to the World, fathers are tasked with providing, protecting, and presiding for their family while mothers are the primary nurturers. Though the Lord has instilled within men and women to naturally do these things, he also intended us to work together which sometimes means women going out to work and leave her children with her husband or a babysitter. As we are told by the prophets and apostles, it is extremely important to get an education, for both males and females. Even though the church encourages mothers to be home with their children while they are young, everyone has their reasons to do what they do and the church knows that. In the church today, there are many women who are homemakers and many who work outside of the home. I strongly feel that any “intellectually alive” and driven women will not exchange her brain for a mop by being a stay at home mom. On the contrary, I think stay at home moms have opportunities to become even more intellectual and well rounded than those in the work field. As the author mentioned, many stay at home moms listen to talk radio, read newspapers or news sites, watch talk shows and documentaries, as well as participate in communities groups. They know more about the world around them and how to better protect and raise their children with the help of their husbands. I hope that I can be a stay at home mom one day while my children grow so we can learn and grow together. As my children progress throughout their youth, I will want to be right alongside them learning and progressing everyday too. As some people may feel that being a homemaker is a waste of a college education and degree, I disagree to an extent. Homemaker may be a lifelong job but for most others, once children leave the house, mothers can go back into the work field to apply not only their degree but their acquired intelligence and talents throughout their homemaking years. Women who truly value education and learning will never swap their minds for mops by being a homemaker. They will be opening doors to a whole new world full of opportunity and intelligence.

My husband and I always laugh when we hear things about how different men and women are when it comes to sex and motivations for to have it from both parties. In "Becoming One," by Stahmann, Young, and Grover, it talks about how males are like microwaves and how females are like crock-pots. Women do take a lot longer than males to become aroused, continue to become aroused, and be in the mood to have sex. For males, it doesn't take much for them to become arouse and it can be done within a matter of seconds. Females won't want to have intercourse unless they feel safe, close, and connected to their husband. Males are the opposite. They want to have sex in order to feel safe, close, and connected to their wife. How are females and males ever happy if things between them are always in opposite? Maybe they just have to get into a healthy cycle and once they do, there will be balance between them. To start things off, the male needs to treat his wife like a queen and NEVER stop because once he does, the sex will probably slow down due to the wife's needs are not being met.

I wonder what males who sleep around get by just sleeping around. His isn't becoming closer to anyone but himself; prideful and selfish. Why do women do it when they are with lots of men? Is she looking to be close and safe with someone? Or are people just uneducated in this area?

I remember being present for most of my younger brother’s birth and many memories are with me from that August night. I remember my mom having contractions on the hospital bed and the nurse administering a back rub to her lower back. When the nurse left the room, my dad was by my mother’s side trying to pick up where the nurse left off, trying to be nice but my mom didn’t agree. “Mark! You’re not doing it right! Just… don’t touch me!” I remember laughing to myself a little bit while feeling bad for my dad at the same time. Poor husbands, not really knowing what to do but trying to do something to help their wife (at least in my dad’s case).

I have never really thought about it before but I have come to know and strongly desire to include my husband in every stage of pregnancy. Throughout all the doctor appointments, putting his hands on my belly when I feel the baby moving and describing what it feels like, to pick out the baby clothes and toys, being in the hospital with me when I am in labor... the entire, and to help choose the name. When fathers aren’t involved in the process of pregnancy, it doesn’t seem as real to them as it could. By including husbands every step of the way, it helps the bond between spouses become even stronger. The bond with the parents to the baby will be stronger as well, not just the mother to the baby but the father to the baby as well.  I am so grateful that my eyes were opened to this and I am going to make sure my husband is included in all the details of our pregnancies. 

Why is dating and romance so important?

Coming at this topic from an LDS, non bubble Mormon perspective, I think that the information presented to us in class was quite accurate. As many Mormons do, they date and marry quickly, with hardly any time to really get to know each other. Studies show that it takes at least 3 months for people to begin to get to really know each other. “Date with your eyes wide open and once you’re married, live with one eye shut.” I can’t agree with this quote more. When couples are dating, it is so important to leave no big stones left unturned. It is important to have the time to get to know each other and to go on different types of dates, doing different activates all the time (not just watching movies and talking to one another). It is sad to see people getting divorced over things such as “not knowing each other,” or rushing into it because they were wrapped up in the Cinderella story. Being honest with one another and respecting boundaries and limits are crucial to successful dating that leads to a successful marriage.

I am married and I can tell you, it is better to have a longer dating period than an engagement period.

On Fox News the other day, they did a special on why so many young adults, college students especially, are skipping over the steps of dating and courtship and jumping right to sex. Most college students they interviewed said that it was just the way of life now. How sad is that!!! What are parents teaching their children these days? What kind of examples are they to their children? Just horrible! There were a select few that said they missed the romance that used to be involved with dating.