73 Comments
Mar 25, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

Nailed it. I’m the very lucky daughter of a tradwife. My four sisters are tradwives. As the one who went astray, I’ve learned the hard way how theirs is the life with living. Now I ache when I go to church and see the families with five, six, seven kids with the possibility of more to come. They freely accept all the little lives granted them, usher them in with joyful baptisms, bear their burdens with faith and hope, raise their children with books and games and piano lessons, and glow with a beauty not conceivably found on Instagram. Most wonderfully, the children share strong sibling bonds and will one day care for their parents and bury them with prayers and memories alongside a boatload of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They will have generations of descendants.

The indoctrinated woke do not have the eyes and hearts to see this true beauty and goodness. You make an exceedingly powerful point with Frances dwelling amid the most profoundly beautiful art on the planet and preferring ugliness.

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When we married at 20, after dating exclusively for three years, she was my trad wife. I used to tell her, "You're the most beautiful woman in the world." One day she said, "You know that isn't true." I understood that she felt I was just flattering her, insincere and duplicitous. I was caught off guard because, in my mind, I meant it, sincerely. Then it came to me: "You're the most beautiful woman in MY world." She had no retort and we finished out our 45+ year marriage, ending only in her death -- just as we had pledged back when we were 20. I'd give anything and everything for just one more day together.

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My wife worked at a local hospital, and had worked for that hospital system (multiple campi) for 15 years. When the vaccine mandates came down. They were allowed to "request" a religious exemption, with a vaccine deadline of November 2021.

Nobody in my family is getting jabbed! I immediately went to work, to slim down our budget so, that my wife would no longer have to work. I tried to get a home refi, to pay off all our debt, but I couldn't because of one late payment within a 12 month period. We owed $96k on our house, and in 2021 it was valued at $285k. There was zero liability for the bank, but because of FHA rules, we were unable to do a refi.

I watched my 401k lose $2k overnight. After that I made a decision. If things keep going the way they are, I'm NEVER going to retire anyway. So, I rolled my 401k into a rollover IRA and drew it all out. I used the money to pay off our house, pay off my wife's school loans, our car, and whatever debt we had left.

This made it so that my wife no longer had to work. A few days after we paid off our debts the hospital came back and said that my wife's religious exemption was accepted. But it didn't matter, my wife retired early!

We took a VERY large tax hit for 2021 and had to do a cash out refi to cover it, but still we are in a much better position than we were after withdrawing my 401k. The way I see it, we own our house now, and the house is a much better investment than the stock market. And, as long as we pay for our local property tax, and insurance, we'll be OK. I can still keep things afloat even if I were to lose my current job.

My wife is HAPPY staying at home! She can't believe how many years she worked. Besides, with the cost of childcare, she would literally be working -- so our kids could be raised by strangers. And we don't want that.

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Mar 26, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

I quit working to raise my kids 18 years ago, had no clue there was a name for it. I thought I was just being a good mom. But alas I fit the description, however, my uniform is jeans, t-shirt, tennis shoes, and a bun, lol. When my first was born I continued working for 2.5 years when the second came along I realized even though I had a good job I was going to be working primarily to pay for daycare and I thought that was ridiculous so I quit. I went on every field trip, helped in the classroom, and was always available for my kids. I was married the month after turning 21, my first two are 3 years apart, number 2 and 3 are 18 months apart, even though I stay home and cook and clean I always have a full face of makeup (because I enjoy it), I was raised catholic and went to catholic school and always pray everyday for our country and my family even though I no longer believe in organized religion. I absolutely believe in God. So I guess I fit the description. Yaya for traditional wives and strong families, and yes I'm still married, 28 years in April.

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Mar 25, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

Fantastic, hilarious, true! I wish I could hit the like button many more time!!!

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Mar 26, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

I felt the draw of career and money when I was younger. I traveled and had a lot of fun in my twenties. I got married in my thirties to a man who made half what I made - not nearly enough to support two of us on. I continued working, but quickly took a job that had a more normal schedule than what I’d had. I had a couple of children and worked myself into a job where I worked from home. We then moved my in-laws in with us to be the childcare. My kids are now school-aged and homeschooling. I’m still working, but I’ve found contentment in my role at work. I have absolutely no desire to move up the ladder anymore.

I wouldn’t call myself a “trad” wife, but I think the set up we created, a multi-generational household, has been the absolute best decision we have made. We live crowded in a small home. Our home isn’t the most beautiful, our cars are very basic, and we have nothing to show off. I realized though that many of our same-age friends would give up almost anything to have what we have - a happy home and a family. I only wish I’d married and started a family earlier.

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Mar 26, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

Hi Peachy, I never subscribed to a substack before, but I like your column and want you to keep working at it.

If you need some additional ideas we have trad latin mass and a lot of kids. Overall, I think that current western society has a lost generation of men who are addicted to entertainment and lack courage and confidence. Trad wive's need to help them understand the value in fighting for single income sustainability. Men will watch the women try to do it all, and take the path least resistance. They need to be encouraged to do what it takes to get the skills to provide for a family. It is scary to be the main provider, but also it drives an strategic and intentional approach to business opportunities / education. A job is a business opportunity. A marriage should also be a partnership where these topics can be discussed in advance. My trad wife left the business world 20 years ago, and we drive old cars and shop at Goodwill and take fewer vacations. We are not starving! We are grateful for our blessings. And we know that life is fragile. JMJ

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Mar 26, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

I am one of six children and can say hands down, lots of siblings is a huge blessing. With that said, my Dad worked construction and Mom had to start working (for luxuries such as food) when I was in the third grade. So I agree with much of what you say, but shit happens, then people do what they gotta do. I had 3, raised them & worked part time after they started school. We are not cookie cutter carveouts and should respect all, esp widows, etc who might need to garner a paycheck (for luxuries such as food). But I do believe large families are better, no matter how they put said food on the table.

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Mar 25, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

Love the Br’er Rabbit bit. I used it often on my daughter when she was young to get her to do things. Then she got wise...

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Mar 25, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

You are on the right track. If you can make the trend cool, you can subvert the regime. Since most women have that nurturing instinct because of -gasp- biology, the foundation is there. People want to be happy and authenticity makes people happy in the long term. They don’t want to be guilted and twisted into an artificial existence that satisfies an external mandate from Prog social engineers. But the Progs are good at marketing and indoctrination. So that’s a battle. Some women want to have meaningful careers. And that’s cool as well. Working from home, you can achieve a balance.

My wife does it. Funny and well written post.

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Mar 26, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

I was a tradwife for decades (kids all grown now). It was very hard and stressful at times in a Dem-run, high-cost of living, high-tax blue state. I wouldn't have done things differently though. Married 40 years, husband just passed away. Starting a new path now and I know God is with me.

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Mar 26, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

Trad IS rad! It's the only way to be with faith, family and country. Go Trad or go bad. 😁👍

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Mar 26, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

Traditionalists are Happier. Saner. Better all Around. Good for them.

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Mar 26, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

Love, love this!! I'm a trad wife, now in my 60's. I burst out laughing when I read that you wanted to check out Estee's "assets" after she's breastfed 4 babies! I can relate. After nursing my 4 babies, I was left with a pair of empty gym socks! But I have to say, it was well worth the sacrifice. And my husband of 44 years would agree.

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Mar 26, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

I already liked the post, but when I watched the Estee Williams video, that nailed it for me. The world needs a lot of those women.

I've had my fill of the green haired, nose ringed, black trannies that the media and government are pushing down our throats.

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Mar 26, 2023Liked by Peachy Keenan

Trad-but-not-as-busty-wife here. I am at the other end of trad-wifery, kids are grown and they're both "successful." Successful being educated with a better than average job so they can support a family. Basically the opposite of traditional wife, but that's their decision. That's not to say we need to be uneducated, but there will be an income back-up if they go that route.

When we made the decision for me to stay home with the kids, it was due to cost of childcare. It turned out to be the best decision we made for us. Not for my ego, though. I STILL have a hard time admitting I was an "at home mom." When asked my occupation, I always said "cartographer" because that's what I was trained to do. I still claim that as my occupation. I was ashamed to be kept at home, even though it was best for my family.

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