Part 1 Answer question with at least 200 words “To Stay Home or Not to Stay Home?” Should Their be a Question? “Opting Out” or “Leaving the Workforce” What is the best decision for a well-balanced family life? Is the mom staying home the answer? Or Is the shift of the dad from “breadwinner to bread-maker” the most optimal choice for family life? What is your opinion on this subject? Explain your views and use evidence to support your answers. Part 2 Respond to both classmates separately with remaining word count. Classmate 1 I think doing what is best for the household is all that matters. I know plenty of working moms because they have to work. It is hard now to live on just one salary. If they had the choice they would stay home but they don’t have that option. I also know a few mother’s who prefer to work. I think whatever the family needs is what is better. My aunt told me about a woman at her job who loved to work and had an okay income. However, her and her husbands job combined income was just enough to cover bills and food and left them with about $100 at the end of the month. They made a few dollars over the qualifying amount for a link card. When they had a child all of her income went towards childcare and bus fare. They decided that she would quit her job and he would keep his. Financially it was the best decision for them and their child. They were able to get a link card, have extra cash for incidentals and it gave her the opportunity to stay home with her child. I personally would love to be a stay at home mom until my child is of school age. Then I wouldn’t mind going back to work. I just think the first 4-5 years of a child’s life are impressionable and I want them to have as much time with me and learn from me as possible. I think that as long as it works for that household then it is the right thing. Classmate 2 I believe that this issue, much like several others that we have covered in the book, do not have a right or wrong answer. It is based on the needs of every family and the circumstances they encounter which can be a temporary or permanent decision. In my family, my parents choose for my father to be in the workforce while my mother was a stay-at-home parent. This may not be the case for every family, but it is what worked for them. Some people especially those who have children, they may feel that it is necessary to leave the workforce to raise their children. In some cases, it is more expensive for a spouse or partner to be a part of the workforce and pay a babysitter than it is for them to be a stay-at-home parent. We live in a day and age where women have more opportunities to work than before and with that being said, a woman may have a better paying job than her husband so for that family it is most convenient for the husband to stay home. There are several ways for a family to get around their personal lives and needs while still working. For instance, one spouse can work during the day and the other at night. Some spouses can choose to work weekends or also find jobs that allow them to work out of their homes.