Ruth, the other thing about living in a village is that, love it or hate it, there will be a number of residents who all know exactly what is going on, where, when, and who was there !!! It has its good side !!!

Personally, and this is from first hand experience, I dont think whether a mother works full-time, part-time or not at all, really has any bearing on a childs behavour.

As I've already posted, my husband and I work full time and always have done. Our son is about as good as any 19year old gap-year lad can be. However, my sister in law, has never worked, her husband earned enough alone to meet all their needs. She has always been there for the children, a total home-maker taking them to school, there when they got home, spending every minute with them. The whole 'stay at home' mom thing. They have three children and it has
to be said compared to our son they are a complete nightmare, speaking back, refusing to help around the home, not saying where they are going. The latest revelation is the oldest she's just about to finish Uni, when I asked her what she would do next she said, 'have a baby'.!! Because you get money of the government and a flat of your own and its easier than going to work !!

So from that you could say that the child with the working parents has turned out better than the children with the stay at home mom. But we know thats just not true. All homes are different, all parents are different, and definitely all children are different.

Are mothers undervalued by society, personally I would say no, ........... but I think anyone can be undervalued, if they allow themselves to be.