Free to Stay at Home

by Marilee Horton

Book Overview

This book is called, "Free to Stay at Home, A Woman's Alternative," by Marilee Horton. It draws on both psychological and biblical resources in evaluating life choices. This is the personal story of a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0849930111
• ISBN13: 9780849930119
• Release Date: January 1982
• Publisher: W Publishing Group
• Length: 177 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.

Customer Reviews

An Encouraging Read

I picked up a copy of this book at a book sale. I have been staying at home with my two children since my first was born 3 1/2 years ago. I found this book particularly interesting because it was written in 1982 when the "anti-housewife" movement was in full-swing. I was bred on a steady diet of the "women who stay home are either lazy, unambitious, or uneducated" variety and it wasn't until I started tuning into Dr. Laura's radio show that my opinion took a 180. What I find remarkable about this book is how clearly Marilee Horton "tells it like it is" and provides a thoroughly convincing case for how important the home-keeper is to the foundations of an entire family- in a time when her views were completely unpopular. She also predicts many outcomes from the lack of a home-keeper that have indeed come true over the last two decades. Above all I find this book to be a great encouragement to me. Even though on one level I know the work I do at home is important, I cannot help but sometimes feel that wage-earning jobs are more worthwhile. When I read this book I see and feel and believe how vital my position in this family is. I hold my head a little higher, stand a little straighter, and take more pride in the moments that I create with my children and husband. It seems my husband and I are always talking about when the children are older and how I can go back to work. It sometimes makes me feel that what I am doing here at home is only a part-time thing because the children are so young. But really in my heart I would like to continue to be a home-maker even after the children are older because I really enjoy it! Sometimes I feel selfish for thinking that, but why can't being a home-maker be one's profession? The job of turning a house into a home is an important one and it DOES create an energy on which the rest of the family thrives. When I read Marilee's words it makes me want to embrace this role even more and become better and better at it. Every young woman should read this book!