Dos & Don'ts for Working Wives (Part 1)

My Interview With Mrs. Super-Successful
Written by e-Mom. Follow me on Twitter. Subscribe to my Feed

Today, I’d like to address women who are working full time, with particular emphasis on women who earn significantly more than their husbands.

Introduction

You’re probably aware that the current recession has put more men are out of work than women. Business sectors like banking, real estate investing, construction, and engineering have been hit especially hard, and these professions tend to attract the men. Large numbers of workers are collecting unemployment, and that number may still be rising.

Many Chrysalis readers are privileged to be stay-at-home Moms. However, I know that some of you have full or part-time jobs (eg. Faith at Gold in the Clouds, April at April in January). One way or another, over the past year all of us have found ourselves paddling harder to make ends meet. Perhaps you’ve been forced to seek full-time paid work outside the home to support your family while your husband hunts for a new job.

Money Problems Create Marriage Stress

Life is full of challenges, isn’t it? When a wife suddenly becomes the primary breadwinner, or when she regularly earns a larger salary than her husband, there’s bound to be conflict in the marriage.

This is because God has wired women nurture and be provided for, while He has given men the task of “leading and feeding.” If we look at the Scriptures, it’s easy to see that the original curse on Adam and Eve is reflective of our distinct gender roles. Remember that Eve was cursed in her family relationships (Gen 3:16) while Adam was cursed in his work (Gen 3:17-19).

On the subject of successful working wives, Christian marriage counselor and author Willard F. Harley Ph.D.
(His Needs Her Needs) says this:

I have counseled many successful career women, some of whom earn a great deal more than their husbands. Almost every one has told me that she prefers to live on what her husband earns, even if he makes a much smaller income. These women want to use their own incomes for other things—investments, perhaps, or private schooling for the children…. No matter how successful a career woman might be, she usually wants her husband to earn enough money to allow her to feel supported and to feel cared for.

Well-Paid Executive Shares Her Marriage Secrets

So how does a wife who is successful in business or who must work to make ends meet live comfortably with her husband’s sensitive ego? How does a wife encourage and affirm her spouse knowing that built into his DNA is the masculine drive to provide for and protect her and the family?

Recently, I had dinner with a dear Christian friend Jan, who is a well-compensated executive with a local financial services firm. Married for the first time in her mid-forties, she revealed how she's been able to create a happy marriage with a man who earns significantly less than she does. To give us some insights, she graciously agreed to answer a few of my questions. See you here at Chrysalis on Wednesday for our revealing interview.

Why take a chance? You won't miss a single update if you subscribe to this weblog by RSS Feed or e-mail.

Up Next—Dos & Don'ts for Working Wives (Part 2)


Would you kindly take the working Moms survey in my sidebar?


Photos: AlpharettaCVB (Flickr)

If you enjoyed this article, perhaps you would consider linking to it.