The Value of the Stay at Home Mother: What's the Right Choice for You?

There are 6.8 million stay at home mothers in America today. According to salary.com they are worth $134,000 a year. With this outstanding number who wouldn't want to stay at home and watch the babies run around all day? About 65 percent of stay at home mothers are pleased with their choice. This leads me to ask, what about the other 35 percent of these stay at home mommies?

Whether we give this much thought on a regular basis, there is an inward battle going on inside many woman questioning whether they should stay at home and take care of the children or balance a career and a family. These are well thought out decisions us women need not to take in stride.

The average pre-schooler requires his or her mothers attention about every four minutes. This means that as a stay at home mother your entire surroundings change. No longer are you interacting with the workforce but instead with, building blocks, nap times, staying clean and Baby Einstein. The days are filled with an audience of children and I know that this can become quite frustrating. For some women there is a feeling that the there is a power shift in the home. The woman takes care of the children And the home while the men provide the income.

Although in the past society has embedded in womens mind that this was the correct and proper way to live, they failed to mention the sense of feeling inferior to the provider of the home. Somehow we become more tolerable of things that as a working woman we wouldn't tolerate. It's as if we become more subdued somewhere down the line. It may be that after running around with little children all day we just don't seem to sweat the small stuff and let things go, or maybe we do lose a sense of being an equal.

There are plenty of benefits to the lifestyle of being the everyday mommy though. It has been said that the act builds a very strong sense of security with your child. And through a strong sense of security breeds an even stronger sense of love and attention. You are also allowed a little bit of leisure every now and again like a long bath during nap time or these treasured moments to write an article. Though the benefits of being a stay at home parent may sound relaxing and a no brainer it actually seems to be anything but. You face the everyday complexities of battling with the right and wrong ways to raise a child. You have more time to doubt yourself and your potential as a mother. You tend to look at the clock and ask yourself where time went.

Although staying at home I'm sure would fulfill every toddlers fantasy about being and playing with mommy 24/7 some families just cannot afford it. And some mommies just straight up need a break.Going back to work sometimes provides and sense of a breather. Some women don't want to be the stay at home mother, they love their careers and dreamed their entire lives of doing what they are doing, why should we have to settle because we had a child? Children are an added blessing. They add to your lives they shouldn't take parts of it away.

Many woman can't afford to NOT work. Single mothers, even women who are married cannot allow their dual income to slip down to one sole provider for the household. this doesn't make them a bad mother whose child will grow up feeling unloved and lacking a bond with their family. Most often it is the dream of giving your children the childhood you always wanted that inspires us to head back into the office no matter how much separation anxiety mommy may have.

There are many benefits to being a working mother as well. Some believe it sets a great example for your child, showing your youngster commitment to your career. Some also believe it sets your child up for independence. Being a working mother teaches your child about responsibilities and ethics in a different sense than actually telling them about it. Though the balancing act of work, marriage, and motherhood is a challenge that many feel they are falling short on most working woman feel that they are doing the right thing.

So I tell this 35 percent of women not happy in their situation that either choice is up to you. Whether you are working and juggling it all while pursuing the trifecta or, keeping the little ones out of the light sockets all day there are benefits in both. But your happiness will be a true reflection on the happiness of your child, and that is what matters most.