Working Moms Deserve More Credit Than Stay At Home Moms
Do you think the lifestyle of a stay-at-home mom is easier than that of a working mom? Do you think that working moms deserve more credit than stay at home moms? Maybe it’s the other way around.
Well, both mothers work very hard. Is it really better to stay at home with children rather than working to contribute to the family’s income? So let’s dig a little deeper and locate all the pluses and minuses for moms staying at home and raising children or working outside the home.
According to Marty Nemko,”The case for working outside the home, full-time, is strengthened by my point that 24/7 moms often are WORSE moms–becoming the co-dependent helicopter moms who inhibit their kids’ sense of efficacy, lose their tempers with their children more easily because they’re with them all the time, or become poor role models because indeed, many moms say their brains “turn to mush” from being a stay-at-home mom. Finally, the kids don’t get to see mom as more than just a housekeeper and mother.”
Is it really true that the children of stay at home moms see their mom as just a housekeepr and a mother? Stay at home mothers are much more than housekeepers. I am a work at home mom so that gives me a peice of both worlds and believe it’s extremely difficult to do both.
I get the love and respect from my children of being there for them, and also that I can work and contribute to the family’s income. Either way, the argument can be made that what’s good for one family might not be good for the other.
As a stay at home parent, tryinig to keep up with the demands of children at home while keeping their sanity can be the most daunting task for a stay at home parent. In addition to that, the stay at home parent would have to perform tasks around the house like cleaning, cooking and doing laundry, etc.
On the other hand, some early childhood development experts believe that parental care cannot be substituted by daycare. In 2003 there were two studies, one by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the other by the Institute of Child Development of the University of Minnesota, that concluded that children who spent all day long in daycare center were likely to be exposed to more stress and more antagonism than kids cared for at home.
Stay-at-home moms have the opportunity to directly supervise the child’s care, making sure it is a comfortable, relaxed, and nurturing surrounding. They have the opportunity to come into contact with their child in a positive way on a regular basis throughout the day.
They are also able to witness the child’s emotional and physical status throughout the day. The parent is given the best chance to be the first to see anything new that happens in a child’s life. Some mothers consider staying at home with kids as “the most rewarding career” that one can ever imagine to possess.
For some families, it is, in fact, less expensive for one parent to stay home rather than to shell out for daycare or to hire a babysitter. They also benefit by avoiding the stress from unsatisfactory job. Staying home gives women more time to spend with children and a spouse, and at the same time to take care of the home. For many families it is the best way to keep the family unit grounded.
Despite all of the many benefits of staying at home to take care of children, the life at home is not always that perfect for many women. The main explanation for that is being alone. For those women who are used to working and being surrounded by other co-workers, colleagues and friends at work, the change of pace can lead to stress, and sometimes to deep depression.
So how can a stay at home mom be a positive role model for their children if they are unhappy and unfulfilled staying at thome. For those who were happy with their work and actually had a career, it might even create loss of identity.
Some women need a self-esteem boost by experiencing appreciation and interaction from co-workers, their boss, etc during the day. So if that is gone, then their self esteem begins to suffer. Many women also prefer demanding offices to diaper changing and laundry, which they consider as boring and upsetting.
Some working moms, unfortunately, may not have the opportunity to spend as much time with their children and spouses as they would like. It is very stressful for many women who do not have a choice and have to work in order to make ends meet.
On the other hand, they have their own income and bring home a regular pay check which means more self-sufficiency, liberty and additional money to splurge. At least they don’t have to depend on their spouse for an allowance or beg for money in order to pamper themselves.They can make decisions on the subject of money and purchases, and they know how the money is being spent.
So is it better to be a stay at home mom or is it best to be a working mom? Do working moms really deserve more credit than stay at home moms?
Factors such as economic stability, spousal support, passion for work, and the age of the children plays a great role in the decision to be a working or stay-at-home mother. Being a mom, in general is the toughest job on earth.
The conclusion is, no matter what moms have decided in their lives, all good mothers deserve a big applause and respect just as much as anyone else. No, working moms do not deserve more credit than stay at home moms, nor do stay at home moms deserve more credit than working moms.
