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Jim Higley – Author, Speaker, Vanilla Moment Fan

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Did Ann Romney Diss Dads?

Posted August 29, 2012 by jimhigley

Dear Mrs. Romney,

I was looking forward to your speech at the Republican National Convention. I really was. For some reason I feel a connection with you. You see, my own mom – like you – raised five boys. I was the youngest of that brood that grew up in a small, Nebraska town back in the sixties and seventies. And while I know that the world you live in is very different than that of my own mother’s, there’s some connection we have. Right?

Maybe it’s that “raising-a-fraternity” storyline or something.

Whatever it is, I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for you.

But I’ve got to tell you – and I truly hate saying this – you kind of threw me for a loop with some of your comments in your speech:

“I want to talk to you about that love so deep only a mother can fathom it — the love we have for our children and our children’s children.”

“I’m not sure if men really understand this, but I don’t think there’s a woman in America who really expects her life to be easy. In our own ways, we all know better!” CLICK HERE for the rest of the story on the Huffington Post.

  • http://www.facebook.com/tfurloni Tammy Furloni

    I am a mother (3 daughters) and a grandmother (2 grandsons). I agree that being a mom today is not really all that different. Except, of course, the obvious: birth, breast feeding…. I was more involved in my children’s schools because that was a strong point for me. Their dad was definitely the one who played at the park and took them swimming. I taught/teach them fishing. He handled cooking lessons. I believe that all parents CAN and do handle all aspects of child rearing. If the child is blessed enough to have multiple parents involved, tasks should be divided by their strong suits not by their sex

    • http://www.facebook.com/james.r.higley Jim Higley

      You have lucky, blessed kids. Thanks for the note!

  • Elizabeth Dudak

    Here! Here! When my kids were young, my husband and I were interchangeable in their eyes. They never chose one over the other for comfort, homework help, playing in the park, etc. etc. I am a feminist and a believer in equality for everyone. I think parenting is an equal opportunity employer. :) Nice job!

    • http://www.facebook.com/james.r.higley Jim Higley

      Thanks. You’re my kind of person!

  • Mclark

    Maybe I’m wrong. Father of 8. Work my rear off, but when I compare my work to hers, I agree with Romney. Not worried about being dissed against any mother.

    • http://www.facebook.com/james.r.higley Jim Higley

      Thanks for the comment…and hats off to you for all you and your wife do for your kids.

  • http://twitter.com/johndstearns John Stearns

    Sad to say, but it’s typical. Moms DO deserve huge respect and credit for child-bearing AND child-rearing, but many millions of us dads deserve respect as well. The “…only a mother can fathom it…” and “…not sure if men really understand this…” comments really kind of pissed me off. But again, it’s commonplace to think that way, sadly.

    • http://www.facebook.com/james.r.higley Jim Higley

      Agreed. Those were the two comments that really got under my skin. Wondering how people would react if I started saying things like, “I’m not sure if a woman can really understand this….”

  • http://twitter.com/EricBurgess Eric Burgess

    Hey Jim! Don’t be so hard on her. You have thicker skin than that. I think she looked great up there! -Eric aka Fashion Dad (2 kids and counting)

  • KiwiniD

    It’s kind of ironic that this representative of “family values” Republicans, the ones who believe in the importance of a mom and dad for children (and certainly not two moms or two dads) seem to think that, actually, one of the parents is not really as important as the other. She expresses her support of the traditional family model (nurturing mother and marginalized father) in such a warm, subtle manner that one might not see the consequences of what she is supporting.

    Wonder why men sometimes abandon their children following a divorce? Wonder why divorced men often feel like nothing more than a checkbook? Wonder why so many boys get into trouble without a strong male role model?

    Could it have anything to do with this “mother is really closer to the children; mother really knows best; your relationship with your father is mediated through me, your mother” message that is communicated to the father and the children, even before birth.

    Thanks to those women who commented before me and expressed an interest in true equality in child-rearing!