RESPECT is as high as one might think for the individual being the stay at home mom. I think that respect is returning to this less than prestigious profession. The original thought that you can have it all isn't true for everyone.
Drawbacks to being a stay at home mom are:
- no paycheck
- financial dependance is necessary
- few sick days or vacation days are offered.
Let's examine the job:
Cooking - With a 70% markup at local restaurants, this is the biggest area to save money and yet it can have positive health advantages. Many women dislike cooking; however, there are many home delivery companies as well as prepared foods sold in grocery stores and commissaries to help the cooking challenged person.
Cleaning - More like picking up prior to cleaning is the essential part of this job. Your family's health mandates at least once a month cleaning. Basic cleaning is cleaning bathrooms and kitchen, sweeping and mopping floors, dusting, wiping surfaces and taking trash out.
Laundry - Gathering all the clothes, sheets, towels and other washables and then washing them in the washing machine, dryer and then folding, sorting and putting clean clothes away.
Shopping - Buying provisions for the home is a frequent activity. Considering the auto fuel involved with driving around town, it's important to take a list along with coupons to the store (sometimes several stores) in order to make purchase. This takes more time than what folks realize because of huge square footage, crowds at certain times of the day and towing kids along.
Paying Bills - Paying bills such as household, medical, insurance and other expenses is important.
Home & Yard Maintenance - It takes time to mow the yard or maintain a house, condo or townhome. Certain basic maintenance is mandatory yet there is seasonal maintenance as well as remodeling or repainting.
Child Care - This is a super important part of the job because children under age five require close supervision. Feeding, changing diapers or potty training, laundering clothes, picking up toys and other items are just a few of the job to dos. Reading to your child/ren, playing music, taking them to the park, doing a craft project, or other important activities help children to develop their minds and prepare for education.
As you can imagine, each aspect of the job when singled out is simple and easy to do. The trick is to multitask and accomplish it all every day with no days off and hopefully no sickness. The stay at home mom who can master managing it all and still look like the 1950s woman impeccably dressed with makeup on is unique (there are some that exist but they are in the minority!).
Military Stay At Home Moms really are challenged with fulfilling all job requirements while the serviceman is deployed for a LONG time.
This is a brief overview of some financial perspective so that when you mop that kitchen floor again and wonder why did I give up my high paying job to do scully maid work, you look at your family and realize it is all worth it in the end.
Copyrighted 2012 by Stephanie Arredondo aka Alfa Sugar
NOTE: For those moms who must work and raise children, I know that this article is limiting. The advantage you have is you can have adult conversations during the day, make connections, and have time away from the children and home. The stay at home mom is lucky to have an adult conversation, is rundown working day in and day out, and is eager to get away from the house just to get a break. I believe that each family is unique and must function as the head of household feels it must. Working two full-time jobs is never easy.
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