First of all, I understand what Ms. Eyre Ward is going through. Just because she's a writer and has a flexible schedule doesn't translate into her having oodles of money (or at least it doesn't for me). Perhaps she does. Even if she does, I do feel a bit sorry for her, though not as sorry for women who have fewer possibilities open to them, such as single mothers, mothers with little income, etc. But just because her situation isn't AS dire as someone else's doesn't mean she isn't missing out of some things because she elected to be someone's mother.

I'm also a writer, and I can say, as a recent mother of two, it's pretty hard to get a chance to read a book, take a shower, read a book, write a page--you know, all the things that make writers happy. Most people maybe read a few books a year, but writers read tons, and if you're a nerdy-girl used to reading upwards of 50 books a year and it drops down to 5 or 6, you can feel pretty depressed. This situation obviously isn't as dire as the woman trying to f**king feed her kids, but that's a given. A woman trying to feed her kids wouldn't be writing this article in the first place (and if you want that info, I know exactly where you can get it, and can show you in the flesh, but trust me, you won't be getting that story from the safety of your laptop).

That said, I've had to move my toddlers from one place to another to work--it's not great. Not by a long shot. You can manage, but all you'll be doing is managing--and that is with HELP from my mother...I've been to lots of cool places with my kids, but kids really do thrive on stability.

Since your husband sounds like a supportive guy, and your mother like a supportive mother, here's my suggestion: YOU go to a place every once in a while and write, read, whatever. A week at a time, if your kids are over 2 years old--depending on the nature of the kids. You need time to recharge, figure out what makes your writing work (and yes, I know who you are, and what you've written) and why you're still here. It is important.

I'm NOT an upperclass white woman (I'm not white at all, nor upperclass), and I still say you deserve it. Everyone deserves to fulfill themselves. Your children deserve it, too. You can have everything, as the saying goes, but not everything at once. Let your children have the stability, but you go off when you need to and do what you need to do. Dad can watch the kids for a week or so. He's not a moron.

And don't mind the people on these boards. The fact that people are jealous of your situation means they WANT to be in your shoes. Hell, I want to be in your shoes! You've got choices. Pick one.

Instead of beginning with analysis, let's begin with some sad facts; When Kentucky Representative Ben Chandler endorsed Barack Obama, over 500 phone calls flooded his office, the vast majority of them using the word "nigger."

Chandler's aides (who were white) went home shaken, crying, in utter disbelief. They didn't think racism still existed.

Now. Sugarcoat it all you want. Call it "Appalachian culture" call it whatever you want, but make no mistake about it, it is racism.

I'm from Kentucky, and I'm black, and can tell you that perhaps it was "culture" when I went to a semi-nerdy mock-government camp in Frankfort, KY, assigned to a hotel room with 4 white girls, and it was assumed we'd all split beds. There were 2 queen size beds. ALL four of them chose to sleep in one bed, rather than to sleep in the bed in which I slept. Perhaps that was just their "culture?"

And instance was just something off the top of my head...

Why are we skirting around this issue? Why are we coming up with excuses? It seems as though people are more afraid of being called racist than they are afraid of actually being racist.

Obviously not every Appalachian white person who votes for Clinton is racist, but enough (21 percent) admitted that race mattered to them in their selection of a candidate to bode poorly for the non-white candidate--no matter the bona fides.

When that is the case, how can you tell Obama that it's his problem--as an earlier poster noted, no matter what he does, the goalposts change--he's smart and successful translates into "uppity;" he's the underdog translates into "he's incompetent." They will not be happy until he does the cakewalk for them and grins like Jolson.

Thus Hillary's use of code phrases--designed to be direct and easily understood by those with animosity towards blacks, resentful of blacks, distrustful of blacks--those who are...let's face it--racists.

Dee Davis says Obama should have visited rural voters more. Why? So that he can change the mind of the Marietta, GA man who portrayed Obama as Curious George? So he can expose his two daughters to possible death threats, so they can witness the panoply of black lawn jockeys? I wish I were merely some Hollywood elite,"deriding" these people; no, I'm just someone who grew up around them, and I knew years ago what those Chandler aides just found out this month: racism is alive and well in "the hills."

I will not miss Jesse Helms one bit.