As a full time working Mom I always wonder what it would be like to be a stay at home. I had a taste of it whilst on maternity leave, but the sole purpose of that time was to look after the new baby/s. If being a stay-at- home-Mom were a full time gig, it comes with a whole lot more responsibility!
With the increased cost of living, very few families have a choice as to whether Mom can stay home to look after the kids but I am sure that there are many who would love to have that option at least.
There are many studies that support the belief that a mother should be home with their kids during the first few years of their lives, such as the research done by Macalester College, Minnesota, and the University of California. According to these studies, children can benefit if mothers are allowed to delay a return to work until after the first year after birth. Returning somewhat later – years two or three- appear to be advantageous for children’s achievement later in life.
There are even studies such as the research conducted by Harvard Professor Kathleen McGinn which evidences that children under the age of fourteen who were exposed to working mothers, either part-time or full-time, for at least a year, grow up to hold more egalitarian gender views as adults. It even suggests that daughters of working mothers are likely to grow up to be more successful in the workplace than their peers. They earn more and are more likely to be in managerial roles.
If you think of it practically though, your children can benefit from both of these options. Should you be privileged enough to have the option, herewith a list of advantages of the two.
Stay-at-home Mom
– You will be there for every new milestone your child meets.
– You don’t have to stress about who will be looking after your child.
– As some studies suggest, your little one will not experience any separation anxiety as he or she will not be away from you for extended periods of time.
– In some cases it may even be less expensive to have one parent stay at home and look after the children, than sending them to daycare.
– You will have more time to maintain your home and manage your family life.
Working Mom
– Many stay-at- home-Moms get the feeling of isolation as they do not get the opportunity to interact with other adults very often. This will not happen if you are working.
– From a financial perspective, you may be able to provide more for your child.
– As you wont spend every waking moment with your children, you will have a more balanced lifestyle and not lose your identity.
– You will appreciate the time you spend with your children even more.
Are you working or stay-at-home mom, can you add to the list above? Let us know your thoughts!