Barbara, a working mom; and Whitney, a stay-at-home mom

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As the conversation continues, Barbara (left), one of the working mothers, says, "It's more important, I think, that you're around when your kids are teenagers. You know, anybody can read your kid a book or cuddle your kid. Not anybody can ask your kid how the soccer game went or cheer them on at the soccer game."

Barbara's views on motherhood upset Whitney (right), a stay-at-home mom. "I think that sometimes using phrases like that minimizes what being a stay-at-home mom is. It's not just about reading a book or wiping their nose. It's engendering in them a sense of independence and a quest for learning that is shaped by your values."

Whitney says that all mothers should seriously consider staying home as she has. "I think they should be willing to be flexible, to take a long-term view," she says. "I think it's very important to be there for your child if you are financially able, if you are in a position of financial privilege that you can even consider that."