Gena Lee Nolin: Motherhood more important than career

I guess I didn't read it that way. I read it as 35 pounds of *extra* baby weight, that she still had after delivery. I thought it was nice, actually, to see someone like her admit they'd put on extra weight, and that they had a rational, 6-month plan for taking it back off. It's a pleasant change from seeing celebrities wearing their pre-preg jeans home from the hospital and acting like we should all be able to do that.

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I gained 70lbs during my pregnancy and this was not a reflection of my eating habits, just bad luck on the genes. People assume that a large weight gain means that you must have been doing something wrong, but women's bodies are all different. Many people don't realize this and think that all pregnant women must gain the same amount of weight. Really annoying!

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25-35 lbs is recommended for women with an average BMI, 10-15 if you're overweight and 35-45 if you're underweight. 35 lbs was probably the target amount for her. I love how magazines like People make that sound horrible.

The perpetuation of the thin-at-all-costs mentality is all fine and good for 18-year old models, actresses, and heiresses but downright dangerous for pregnant women. If People led those who read the article to believe a 35-lb weight gain was excessive they should be ashamed.

On a different note, amen to your comment on "motherhood over career"! I doubt that I'm the only one who'd be living in a homeless shelter if I dedicated ONE SECOND more of my time to my daughter rather than my job! Congratulations to whoever is out there working for pleasure rather than to make ends meet and who can leave their job at will to spend more time with their kids. As for the rest of us and contrary to the opinion of many, HAVING TO WORK DOESN'T MAKE US BAD PARENTS!

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ya, us stay at home moms--we are just loaded! I have millions coming out my ears and don't know what to do with it! It is called sacrafice. It is called NOT having new cars, cable, internet, cell phones, nice houses, new clothes, etc........to be able to raise your own kids. It is called budgeting. It might mean living in a trailer, or shopping at resale shops. And unless you are a single mom, it is a choice....you choose material THINGS over your kids. The only ones that don't have a choice are single parents.

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Yeah I *choose* to be a SAHM....

hmmm childcare for a toddler $15/$20 an hour
my wage $8/hour

My husband's work schedule is completely random, he works as an audio engineer. Sure clients are *supposed* to book three days in advance. Oh and he is also the web guy, IT guy, mr. fix it, subs in the office if someone calls in sick so even if I were to go to work there is at least a 10% chance that he would get called in. And he makes a lot more than I do.

I'd probably stay home anyway. But it isn't really a choice... of cource I need to find some WAHM work for when my mat leave runs out, BUT, I admit we could also just cancel our tv and highspeed internet, live without call-waiting and whatnot. Though we will probably give up TV and internet when are contract is up as we have some other major expenses coming up. (Car is dying... washer/dryer being held together by tape and hope)

Also, I lost weight during pregnancy (A LOT) and it isn't what you weigh it's what you eat. You should eat well, however, if you can't due to morning sickness, then you can't. I had morning sickness and all I could tolerate most of the time was fruit, healthy sure, full of calories.... not so much. But baby and I were extremely healthy and I bounced back from labour/delivery. (Now if I could just get back to eating healthy as opposed to scarfing down whatever I can find maybe I could stop gaining the excess weight back.... alas, I am still sick of fruit.)

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I DID choose to be a stay at home mom. And like Tara said earlier it is a HUGE sacrifice. Yet, it is the best decision I have ever made. I wish everyone would stop using the excuse that you have to be rich to stay home with your kids. If you really want to do it, you'll find a way - just like me and my husband did. I am educated woman (previously a teacher) and I am one year away from receiving my masters degree. Our money is tight every sinlge month but we are happy with the decision we made.For me there is no career or beautiful home that could keep me away mfrom my 2 year old daughter. Unless you are of course a single parent, then everyhting gets more complicated.

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