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Survey says moms tired of working
Filed under: Just For Moms, Just For Dads, Work Life
Moms are less interested in working outside the home, according to a recent survey.
In the last decade, the number of moms who want to work full-time has dropped significantly -- with only 21% of moms who work outside the home describing their situation as ideal, down from 36% 10 years ago. Likewise, only 16% of stay-at-home moms expressed an interest in working full-time, which is down from 24%.
On the other hand, 72% of fathers surveyed preferred working full-time.
Especially considering the last statistic, this is a surprise. Given the recent increase in stay-at-home dads, coupled with the recent notion that parenthood can be hip, I would've thought these number reflected a shift in the attitudes of both men and women -- that staying home with the kids was preferred over spending 40 or 50 hours away at a job. It seems, however, that -- at least in the US, where the survey was conducted -- parents are dreaming of more traditional roles as mothers and fathers.
Could this be true?
I was also interested to read that 44% of stay-at-homes think it's "bad for society" to have so many moms working outside the home, and shocked to see that 34% of working moms felt the same way.
Are you a working mom? Do you wish you were at home? Are you a stay-at-home mom who'd prefer spending weekdays in an office? Does anyone really thinking working moms are sending our society down the tubes?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
7-14-2007 @ 11:08AM
Anne said...I work full time doing a job I absolutely LOVE. If I had to hand pick the perfect job for me, the job I have would be it. Even though I work a job that I enjoy so much, I only work because financially it is necessary. If we could afford it- I would not work. If sometime in the future we can afford it, I would quit my job in a heartbeat. I hate leaving my kids everyday (even though they stay with my mom). I would much rather stay at home with them.
Anne
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7-14-2007 @ 11:16AM
Rachel May said...I think the problem is not so much that moms work outside the home, but that their priority is their job.
SAHM's are available to the kids when they need them - parent/teacher conferences, before and after school, helping with homework, etc.
I think that some of the problems we are seeing as a society are because kids don't feel valued -- they get "stuff" from their parents, but not time. This leads them to have too much autonomy sometimes, or to act out in order to get attention.
That said, I do work outside the home. I'm a teacher, though, and am available to my son when he needs me.
I absolutely love my job -- I'm incredibly passionate about my teaching, but if I didn't have to work for financial reasons, I wouldn't. We are hoping to make that dream a reality within the next two years.
Having stayed at home for the first time ever this summer, I can say that I totally love it. Our lives as a family are so much easier with me at home, and everyone is happier.
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7-14-2007 @ 12:49PM
LS said...I'm a SAHM. I love it. Wouldn't trade it for the world. My husband and I planned for it, working and saving for ten years before having our son. As my husband advanced in his career, I took less and less "important" jobs - my salary went to pay off debts from when we had financial troubles, and eventually into savings so we could make the down payment on a house.
It may be a controversial statement, but it is totally possible to be a Stay-at-home (married) parent. It takes sacrifices - no new car every year, and maybe dial-up instead of a complete cable package - but the sacrifices are so worth it when you get to spend your days with your kids.
Eventually, I'll go back to work, and find a job that fulfills me, even if it isn't the greatest, pay-wise. But the fact that I got to spend this time with my little guy makes everything else worthwhile.
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7-14-2007 @ 1:06PM
Katrina said...Before my son was born I figured I'd take maternity leave, find him a fabulous day school, and return to work business as usual, continuing to inch my way ahead in the professional world.
We couldn't make it without being a two-income family, at least not right now. So I continue to work, as I earn about $15k more a year than he does. But I have lost all desire to advance in the professional world. I'm secure in what I do, don't particularly care if I get promoted, and would probably stop working full-time if it were at all possible. As it stands right now, I spent roughly 11 hours each weekday away from my son. I know he is in good hands during that time, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me ache a bit each time I drop him off and head t work.
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7-14-2007 @ 2:21PM
Nicola said...I love my career. However, I love my son so much more. My job definitely suffers for being a parent, but I would not say that my parenting suffers for working outside of the home. I am totally flexible in my hours, my son has never been in daycare of any kind, and we have SO much time together. My head isn't always at work when I am, and my hours are a bit spurious to say the least, but hey, that's the life of a working mom. Enjoy their childhood while you can. Work will always be there.
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7-14-2007 @ 3:42PM
Stephanie said...I'm a work at home mom. I love the flexibility and the time with my kids. But it drives me nuts when people blame working mothers for society's problems. Girls aren't raised to just be mothers anymore, and I love that there are choices now. But it also means that many really aren't emotionally suited to being stay at home moms. I don't think a miserable mom is the best thing for children.
That said, two of my brothers-in-law are stay at home dads. One is doing quite well at it, the other probably needs to think about at least a part time job because being at home all day really isn't agreeing with him.
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7-14-2007 @ 3:42PM
rebecca Biernesser said...I worked when my oldest was younger and for a while he stayed with my mom, then she needed a break and we did the whole daycare thing. I loved it when I was able to stay at home with him. I REALLY love being able to stay at home with the boys now. I love watching the firsts and seeing the faces light up when i'm around. It's special and meaningful.
Will I ever go back to work? Maybe when all the kids are in school, I'll find a part-time job if I need one, but Even then I love being involved with the school and knowing the teachers and what my kids are actaully up too. :-)
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7-16-2007 @ 12:30PM
Ginny said...I work full time. I have an easy job and I make good money, but I still wish I were able to stay home and be able to walk the kids to school and pick them up. They do fine with before and after school care, so I don't feel too guilty. I just think it would be so much better to be able to take them to and pick them up from school. I miss out on so much that goes on at the school by never going there. I have to work tho. Even though I work, it is NOT my priority as Rachel May stated. My family is STILL my priority and it is very difficult to find a "real" job that puts up with the frequent time off that I need in order to make parenting my priority. If my kids are sick, I am there with them. If the school calls during the work day, I am out the door to go get them. That doesn't leave many choices for jobs.
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7-17-2007 @ 9:04AM
Hillary said...I'm not going to lie.....I wish I was a stay at home mom and if there was any possible way for that to happen.....I would jump on it!
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8-08-2007 @ 10:42PM
tib said...It is hard to do multiple things at once and to do them equally well. I work all day and feel badly for only seeing my child for two hours or so at night before she goes to bed at 8pm. The daycare is excellent however I missed so many milestones like her first independent steps, and then when she gets sick I have to take off time to stay home with her so my work suffers. And why pay so much for someone else to watch your child if you could do it yourself and shape them how you want. When I was home with her for her first six months everything was great. It was so much easier to be focused on her and the household as opposed to work and everything else. I almost wish we didn't fight so much to work outside the home because now it is almost a given that we must transform into superwoman. I think it is nice for women to have the choice to stay home or work outside the home. However, more respect should be given to those who choose to stay home. It can be a sacrifice. I for one, would love to stay at home at least until she is school aged.
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