Women and Careers - Men and Babies ?

A s of late I have been wandering inspirationless on Tumblr, checking out blogs of interest and because so I stumbled on quite a few blogs on Parenting. It got me thinking about the future because honestly,
I can’t wait to have kids. :) ! ♥

· I can only speak for myself here but growing up I always wanted to be a mother. I don’t know how girls my age (19) feel about having kids (later in life of course). Growing up I feared that I wouldn’t be able to have kids and yes, it’s still lurking in the back of my mind but it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. I think it’s because I’m really career-oriented right now. I’m all about finishing college, landing a good job, working hard and “saving” money. Now that I’ve grown up quite a bit I realized a lot more about myself, about the things I like, and the things I want to do in life. I’ve been questioning myself what I want in life and how I will balance a job and kids, etc.

Women and Careers
→ I want to direct this topic more towards Hmong women. To start, I am the first generation to be born in the U.S. My parents came from Laos after the Vietnam War, as many else have. & I have to say, the roles of Hmong women have changed greatly. Back in the homeland we didn’t go to school, we didn’t have jobs, we didn’t get to explore the world. Instead we cooked, cleaned, took care of the children, tended to small animals, and gardened. Here in the New World, us Hmong Women have choices. (← STRONG WORD) We are able to educate ourselves. We can work and make money. We can be anything.

· Being 19 and all, I feel like the world is in the palm of my hands. I have never felt such freedom, such independence. I can do this, I can do that. I don’t think many girls my age or younger realize this…so don’t mind me asking because I ask with pure intentions and heart. I think they’re a lot busier fighting their parents for some kind of freedom or falling head-over-heels over boys. Well whatever the situation, I will be honest here…I used to be that girl. The younger me often rebelled and I married at 17. lol I’m looking back, reflecting on my actions because like I said…the role of the Hmong Woman has changed.

· Hmong girls are to be educated (up to college), find a job (save money), and then get married and have kids. Up until they are married, their mothers are to teach them the traditions and customs of the Hmong woman (which is a lot fyi). From cooking to cleaning, proper language, respect, manners, etc. I like to say “Good Luck” to Hmong men who are trying to find their Hmong Superwoman…there are very few out there who are capable of doing literally everything in this day and age. I admit, it’s very hard. I’m very Americanized but follow old tradition customs. I give my respect to women who have a degree, job, and a happy home. That is everything I want (+more). lol But yes, us Hmong women have a lot to learn, both being Hmong and being Hmong-American.

· Bringing it back to children and parenting…as I grow older year by year, I grow more ambitious in life. I grab every opportunity that I can and I hope to be successful in whatever it is I want to be in. I literally want to do everything. However, it’ll be hard reaching my goals if my husband and I have kids. lol Which brings me to my next topic…

Men and Babies ?
→ The funny thing is that my husband and I made a promise about a year after our marriage. If 2012 didn’t happen or we lived through it, we would have kids in 2013. lol A promise is a promise but I don’t think I can follow through! lol HAHAHA I want to be healthy when I have children, financially-stable, a nice home, blah blah blah. :) * Yes, I want everything to be perfect and ready for our children because children are everything.

· Bringing it all back to Tumblr yes, I was reading up on Parenting blogs and one day I decided to ask my husband if he’d like to be a stay-home daddy. lol Of course there was positive feedback. He told me it’s his dream. HAHAHA & Honestly I thought it would be a great idea. My husband’s a very laid-back, silly, free-willed kind of guy and I can immediately imagine my sons / daughters having lots of giggles and laughs with their daddy. He’s fun and loving and I trust him with control. Although, I can imagine the house a mess, dishes in the sink, blanket tents, and Madden on the TV screen when I get home from work. lol Who knows. Maybe it’ll be more work for me and all play for daddy. :P ♥

· A couple things to add…If life ever turns up that way, I wonder what Hmong people would say. I don’t care what they’d say but I would like to know. :) I’m quite curious to know what people think. However, I do believe a lot of people would be appalled, espeically older folks. It’s probably too out of tradition yenno like, “The Husband should go to work and the wife should stay home.” But like I said, the roles of women are constantly changing. :) I wouldn’t mind being a single-income family, as long as it’s what I love doing and brings the $$$.

Conclusions
→ I know this was a long, random post but I had a bit of free time. :) I’m curious to see what other people say or think so feel free to drop me a couple words. What do you guys think? What do you girls think?

til’ next blog,

— NINA

(Source: ninaskyye)