Motherhood in a Modern World

The mother of today is truly much more than just a mom. In today's hectic world the modern mom is more than just a mom. A modern mom to me is more like a super woman. Survival is often based on time management and juggling abilities. Some of the main characteristics of a modern mom are independence, determination, and flexibility. Many women today are single parents and are forced to be the sole provider both emotionally and financially. They struggle to find that perfect balance of nurturer and disciplinarian. Many while holding full time jobs, going to school, cooking, cleaning, and still trying to maintain their sanity.

For most of my life my mother was a stay at home mom. Back then this was pretty common and not too many moms worked outside of the house. Children were less likely to be raised in broken homes and this allowed for mom to really focus on being just mom. My mom spent her days cooking, cleaning, helping me with homework, and just trying to give my father and I the best life she could. I can always remember mom being there when I needed her. On the other hand, I never remember her being able to do anything for herself. There wasn't time for her to go to school, work, or even relax at all. Her sole responsibility was to maintain the house. My father's sole responsibility was to bring home the bacon. Their roles within the family were clearly defined and our house ran like a well oiled machine.

In spite of my parent's wonderful efforts to produce an outstanding woman, I still did not always make the best decisions. Some of these poor choices led to me ending up as a single mother. I am now forced to play the roles of both mom and dad. The house still has to be maintained, but now my time is divided between work, school, home, and whatever activity I do to keep sane. One of my daughter's first words was homework because that's all she ever heard me talk about. For most of her life I have been the main financial and emotional provider. It is difficult to be a disciplinarian when a mother only wants to protect and nurture their child. It took me awhile to realize that this was a necessary evil if I wanted her to grow up and be an independent superwoman herself. Moms have always made sacrifices for their children, but the modern mom often gives up even more.

I consider myself to be a modern mom because I have managed to become the ultimate super woman. The modern world has tried to make life easier with technology, but often that backfires. My mother never had to worry about monitoring my cell phone bill or Internet access. Technology like this has created even more worries and concerns for mothers. We now have to tell our children more than "Don't talk to strangers". Technology has helped to create a new breed of children. Children of today are very high tech and can sometimes lack appreciation for the simpler things in life. It is difficult to teach a child morals and self respect in this high speed world of instant gratification.

The modern mom faces many obstacles and prejudices even still today. It is still difficult to get ahead in some corporate worlds. Many people still believe that women should stay at home and that they don't have as much to contribute outside of the house as a man. In turn we face lower wages and often demeaning positions that many men would not. Often moms are forced to prove themselves to the rest of the world. They have to show that they are capable of juggling everything that is expected of them. Some employers are still hesitant to hire a woman because they feel that motherly duties will interfere with work duties. This is especially true for a single mother. It's like moms are expected to prove that they are capable of more than just cooking and cleaning.

Every time I stand in line in the grocery store I see a magazine cover showing a celebrity mom and talking about how they juggle motherhood and stardom. Many of these mothers try to come across as modern moms who appear to face the same obstacles in life as any other mother. The only problem is that the public only sees what the world wants them to see. Celebrity moms may face their own set of problems, but most do not know what it means to do everything on their own. They can usually afford to have someone help with household duties like cooking and cleaning. Some often rely on a nanny to help make their life easier. A celebrity mom may look like a hero when they adopt a needy child from another country, but in reality it's not that difficult when money really does rule the world. Celebrity moms are modern moms in the sense that they have adapted to the ever changing world, but they often have had advantages that most moms do not have.

Despite the struggles that I face while trying to be a modern super mom it is still the best job in the world. I may not get vacation time and a paycheck, but it is one of the only jobs that I have ever had that I see positive results daily. There is no greater reward at the end of the day than when my daughter asks me to read her a bedtime story and tells me that I am the best mommy in the world.