Is There Really A 'Mommy War'?
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Some call it the "Mommy War" -- a battle between stay-at-home moms and mothers who must work or choose to work.
But is there really such a war?
On a beautiful day in Oakland, Amirah Hamed of Greenfield was in Schenley Park with her two young children.
She makes no apology for being a stay-at-home mom.
"I love staying at home with my kids, but really, honestly, everybody's situation is different and I don't think anybody should be judging anybody else," Hamed says.
But that's exactly what Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen did about Anne Romney, the wife of Mitt Romney, who raised five boys at home.
Rosen started a political controversy when she said of Romney on CNN: "His wife has never worked a day in her life."
The comment brought a sharp retort from President Obama.
"There's no tougher job than being a mom," Obama said.
Dr. Laura Engel is director of Duquesne University's Women and Gender studies program and the mother of two young ones.
Engel won't call it a "Mommy War," but in an interview with KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano, noted, "The idea of whether women work or whether women stay home is still a sensitive issue."
Jennifer Guatell of Baldwin says she'd rather be at home with the kids, but must work to support the family budget.
"Me and my husband don't see each other much because he comes home and I leave, but we have the weekends and it's working out for us."
Most women may not have the financial resources of the Romneys, but Engel says all choices should be respected.
"What is so threatening about a woman choosing to work or a woman staying at home?"
Whether the "Mommy War" really exists or is some trumped up partisan political charge, there can be no doubt that women with children have tough choices to make.
And maybe the rest of us should refrain from judging those choices.
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