Taking Suggestions for Talk.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I strongly agree.

My wife use to work with the YW and always told them they should get as much education as they want to get. One day one of the other YW leaders rip into her, telling my wife she was wrong. Ironically, a few years later this same woman ended up divorced and is now going to cosmetology school so her kids can hopefully have a somewhat better life. Their Dad, unfortunately, turned out to be a deadbeat even though he used to be the EQP.

Both my wife and I have always been very supportive of our daughters' secular ambitions. In fact, we have two daughters at BYU both studying engineering with ambitions to go on to graduate school (law and medicine). It is interesting that BYU is way below the national average when it comes to women studying engineering (something like 12% compared to 25% nationally). I think this comes from LDS parents pushing their mathematical gifted daughters into other fields like education instead of the field they really want to go into. Those who think that women in fields like engineering can never be mothers have really never talked to women in engineering.

When our second daughter told me that she wanted to be a doctor I took her to talk to as many doctors I could think of so she could talk to them and get advice. One of my friends I went to engineering school with ended up as radiologist. He introduced her to another radiologist, who is also a mother. She told her about how her schedule is arranged so she misses very little time with her kids. Parents that damper their daughter's educational ambitions really are doing them an huge injustice.

Bravo.

[myboynoah]

I strongly agree.

My wife use to work with the YW and always told them they should get as much education as they want to get. One day one of the other YW leaders rip into her, telling my wife she was wrong. Ironically, a few years later this same woman ended up divorced and is now going to cosmetology school so her kids can hopefully have a somewhat better life. Their Dad, unfortunately, turned out to be a deadbeat even though he used to be the EQP.

Both my wife and I have always been very supportive of our daughters' secular ambitions. In fact, we have two daughters at BYU both studying engineering with ambitions to go on to graduate school (law and medicine). It is interesting that BYU is way below the national average when it comes to women studying engineering (something like 12% compared to 25% nationally). I think this comes from LDS parents pushing their mathematical gifted daughters into other fields like education instead of the field they really want to go into. Those who think that women in fields like engineering can never be mothers have really never talked to women in engineering.

When our second daughter told me that she wanted to be a doctor I took her to talk to as many doctors I could think of so she could talk to them and get advice. One of my friends I went to engineering school with ended up as radiologist. He introduced her to another radiologist, who is also a mother. She told her about how her schedule is arranged so she misses very little time with her kids. Parents that damper their daughter's educational ambitions really are doing them an huge injustice.

Bravo.

I tried, but she still wants to be an elementary school teacher.

I learned that there is a lot of bias against young women that want to be elementary school teachers.

[SeattleUte]

I tried, but she still wants to be an elementary school teacher.

I learned that there is a lot of bias against young women that want to be elementary school teachers.

Actually, I have tremendous respect for elementary school teachers. There's nothing I'd rather my daughters be. An elementary school teacher (kindergarten) may have had as big an impact of anyone in my life, until my current wife. When I visit my young kids' classes, and talk to the teachers, I'm awed at their intelligence and versatility. Mostly, I'm agape at their hard work, dedication, and finely developed termperment. They are amazing! I've toured dozens of schools and seen these amazing people in action. And they work so hard. No time for breaks on the Internet. We owe everything to them.

[myboynoah]

Actually, I have tremendous respect for elementary school teachers. There's nothing I'd rather my daughters be. An elementary school teacher (kindergarten) may have had as big an impact of anyone in my life, until my current wife. When I visit my young kids' classes, and talk to the teachers, I'm awed at their intelligence and versatility. Mostly, I'm agape at their hard work, dedication, and finely developed termperment. They are amazing! I've toured dozens of schools and seen these amazing people in action. And they work so hard. No time for breaks on the Internet. We owe everything to them.

Thank you. She says she's always wanted to be an elementary school teacher. I foolishly fell into a common trap, thinking that "she should do better." I've repented since. She's noted on several occasions the dissapointment she sees in the eyes of some when she tells them her plans. She even gets it from her dopey boyfriend. "You're too smart for that."

Anyway, back to SM's question. I would talk about your motivations for being a mother, especially the second time and beyond if that is the case.

[Uncle Ted]

It goes on from there for about 125 pages. Nugent probably remembers the web survey she did on-line.

Yes, I recall mostly making up crap for that.

[beefytee]

In fact, we have two daughters at BYU both studying engineering with ambitions to go on to graduate school (law and medicine).

When our second daughter told me that she wanted to be a doctor I took her to talk to as many doctors I could think of so she could talk to them and get advice.

Make sure you take your other daughter to talk to a bunch of lawyers, unless you actually want her to pursue that field.

[Surfah]

Don't talk about while living in Sacramento, you ran errands once with your mom who got so lost we ended up in San Francisco. I already gave that talk on Mother's Day about 18-19 years ago.

[Goatnapper'96]

I would NOT mention fake boobs. I might think it, but nary a word would I utter about the subject.

Beyond that, I have nothing to offer that has not already been said.

[marsupial]

I strongly agree.

My wife use to work with the YW and always told them they should get as much education as they want to get. One day one of the other YW leaders rip into her, telling my wife she was wrong. Ironically, a few years later this same woman ended up divorced and is now going to cosmetology school so her kids can hopefully have a somewhat better life. Their Dad, unfortunately, turned out to be a deadbeat even though he used to be the EQP.

Both my wife and I have always been very supportive of our daughters' secular ambitions. In fact, we have two daughters at BYU both studying engineering with ambitions to go on to graduate school (law and medicine). It is interesting that BYU is way below the national average when it comes to women studying engineering (something like 12% compared to 25% nationally). I think this comes from LDS parents pushing their mathematical gifted daughters into other fields like education instead of the field they really want to go into. Those who think that women in fields like engineering can never be mothers have really never talked to women in engineering.

When our second daughter told me that she wanted to be a doctor I took her to talk to as many doctors I could think of so she could talk to them and get advice. One of my friends I went to engineering school with ended up as radiologist. He introduced her to another radiologist, who is also a mother. She told her about how her schedule is arranged so she misses very little time with her kids. Parents that damper their daughter's educational ambitions really are doing them an huge injustice.

Here's the thing. Most of the girls in church get told they need to get as much education as they can because they never know what could happen. Examples usually given include ending up as a widow who needs to support the family themselves. While this is certainly a possibility and something that young women should prepare for, it also implies that the only reason for women to be educated is so that they are prepared if they somehow find themselves in a predicament where they no longer have a man to take care of them.

Ultimately, both sexes need to get as much education (and might I add, marketable skills) as they can because the more education and marketable skills you have the more control you will likely have over future employment. Most women will have to work at some point in their adult lives whether they like it or not, so they might as well do something they like and something that pays well. Also, the more educated and marketable you are, the more power you have when it comes to finding a family-friendly career and an employer willing to be flexible with your work schedule. I wish this message was conveyed to the young women in church more. Unfortunately, go to school until you find a husband to take care of you seems to be the message that wins.

[mUUser]

I would NOT mention fake boobs. I might think it, but nary a word would I utter about the subject.

Beyond that, I have nothing to offer that has not already been said.

My 15 y/o daughter asked me for 20 bucks this morning so she could "save the boobs."

Sounded like an honorable goal. I handed it over without asking questions.

[Soccermom]

WoSG's masters thesis (1995):

"Occupational Gender-Role Stereotypes of Engineers: Flexible or Rigid?

Women are beginning to be represented in education and careers traditionally reserved for men. In recent years, the number of women in careers such as the medical sciences and social sciences has climbed to equal that of men (1). Although these recent trends are hopeful, several occupations lag behind in equal representation of women in the work force. Perhaps the most well noted is the field of engineering (2).

Engineering has been considered the most male-dominated occupation, particularly because it portrays a more male-identified image than most other male-dominated fields (3). In the United States, women make up approximately 19% of individuals receiving BS degrees in engineering each year (4), and approximately 9% of all employed engineers (5).

Engineering, as a well-paying, presigious career, should be enticing to women. Research indicates that both men and women consider engineering to be a highly prestigious occupation (6). For individuals graduating with BS degrees, engineering provides higher starting salaries than other comparable fields (7). Yet, few women are choosing to enter the field of engineering (8).

Several factors seem to influence the participation of women in engineering occupations. An investigation into the influences behind the underrepresentation of women in Engineering is necessary in order to develop effective policies and programs to increase the participation of women in engineering."

It goes on from there for about 125 pages. Nugent probably remembers the web survey she did on-line. Her thesis includes screen shots of the survey. The browser that frames the web pages in the screen shots? Netscape 1.1.

There is spare copy here of the thesis on the bookshelf if you want to borrow it for your Sacrament talk.

cheers.

Sounds like an interesting thesis. I always thought it was kind of amusing that the Engineering Dept. and Elementary Ed Dept. at BYU would host a dance.

[marsupial]

My 15 y/o daughter asked me for 20 bucks this morning so she could "save the boobs."

Sounded like an honorable goal. I handed it over without asking questions.

Was she saving "for the boobs" or "saving the boobs." There's a difference.

[Solon]

I have been asked to speak in sacrament on Mother's Day about why I love being a mother. I think I got picked for Mother's Day because of all the past complaining I have done about Mother's Day sacrament talks. Karma got me.

I gave a Mothers Day Talk in 2008. Basically, my gist was "we often talk about how mothers are Christ-like; for once I'm going to talk about how Christ was mother-like" and drew mostly from Matt 23.37. The beauty of this verse is that you can also adapt it to a talk concerning Christ as "chicken-like".

I also hit on Mothers in the scriptures (Bible, really), the "mother as savior" (Magna Mater was brought to Rome during the Punic Wars to save the city from Hannibal), and Paul likening missionary work to giving birth (Galatians 4.19).

It was only about a 10 minute talk, but take these suggestions for what they're worth.

[clackamascoug]

And I can only hope there aren't any polygamist gods...

Look at it this way... if you're right its all good.

If God is right... you're still good, 'cause you will still have your free agency no matter what, and live as you desire.