December 1, 2011
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The Irony of Both Parents Working and Korean Students Attending Academy…
In the last 100 years there have been wonderful advancements in societies around the world where women are now regarded as equal to men and allowed to work, study, and obtain top jobs and top positions. But something ironic happened along the way. As more women chose to work and make money rather than stay at home with the children, there had to be an increase in jobs. And with that increase, the average pay stopped increasing as much as before because so many more people were pursuing work. And now, many families seemingly can no longer get by on one income and need both parents to work. Whereas 40 years ago it was normal just having the husband work and provide enough for the family, now it is rare. While pursuing dreams/professions is wonderful for both genders and there is nothing wrong with that, it is somewhat ironic for those who wanted more money by having both work are now making about the same together as they would have 40 years ago when just the husband was working.
The same irony is happening in Korea, where students are being forced by their parents to study more and more and “get ahead” of each other academically. There was a time when students used to get out of school and study until 7pm or 8pm at after school academies. Soon it became until 9pm or 10pm. And now students are studying as late as midnight and even 2am (no joke!) to “get ahead.” The belief is if the students have more time to study, they will learn so much more. But the truth is, the more these kids are pushed in studying the less sleep they get, the more unhealthy they become, and the poorer they do at school. The irony is that the kids who are avoiding academy and studying at school, doing homework/practice work at home, and getting good rest are actually achieving better than the kids who are being forced to study all the time.
Please don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against women working and I am all for equality. But I’m concerned when the reason to have both parents work and not care for the children is to make more more money. I just can’t see God smiling over and blessing that type of reasoning. And I definitely know God isn’t smiling over and blessing the academic system that is forcing children to study 16 hours a day to get ahead.
You can see in both examples the enemy targeting the family. With both parents working more kids are becoming “latch-key” kids (coming home to an empty house). They aren’t getting the attention they need. And for kids in Korea the situation is even worse. Many of them don’t even see their family because they are studying so much.
As for Sky and me, we decided that we would live off of my income and not get used to a double income (she is currently working part time as an art teacher). When we have kids, likely in a couple years, Sky desires (and I agree) to stay home with the children and care for them. Because I live off of support I never have a consistent income. It fluctuates every month. God has always provided thus far. I feel that if I choose to ask Sky to work and have us live off a double income (living in fear that I won’t receive enough support, or in other words, living in fear that God won’t provide) that I will end up receiving less support. But if we choose to live by faith and trust that God wants to provide for us and our children that He will provide more than enough in support to me than if Sky had worked and provided the double income.
I guess you can consider our life an experiment. Will God provide enough for both of us and the kids? Will we have to cut back our budget? Will we have more than if Sky had worked full time? I think without faith this “experiment” is risky and even irresponsible in the world’s sight. But our trust is in God’s promises and He hasn’t failed us yet. Feel free to check back as each year passes…
God bless! =)
