Poll: Think Stay-At-Home Moms Have It Easy?
One writer goes viral with a minute-by-minute account of a day home with little ones.
A San Francisco mother’s account of her typical day as a stay at home mom is making the rounds on the Internet and triggering controversy over whether full-time mothers have it “easy.”
It’s a question mothers in Maryland—the majority whom work outside of the home—may have contemplated at one time or another.
Nearly 80 percent of children under the age of 12 in 2011 in Maryland had mothers in the workforce, according to a report by the Maryland Family Network, which advocates for children and families.
In 2010, 70.8 percent of mothers with children under the age of 18 nationally were in the work force, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics.
Writer Amy Keyishian’s nearly 2,000-word narrative of one day of her life as a mother of a not-yet-1-year-old and a 2-year-old contains details of the real, actual physical work it takes to be a parent: wrestling with a Diaper Genie, the cleaning up of toddler "accidents," grocery shopping, playdates and the “stink eye” from other adults watching a mother juggling children with other tasks.
The article, with more than 400 comments on the Yahoo Shine site where it was published, has working and stay-at-home moms alike weighing in.
One commenter said too many moms today need “accolades for doing what women have always done.”
Another praised the writer for telling the truth about modern life for women at home with young children.
“We are the last ones to bed and the first ones up, last to eat (if we get to have a full meal) and the work never ends,” wrote one commenter. “I would love to go to the bathroom alone or bathe alone. I love my kids and I am proud to say I am a hard working mother and I am grateful for this little story.”
Weigh in on our poll or below: Do stay-at-home moms have it easy?
Zoobie
9:25 am on Thursday, April 5, 2012
My Mom worked, in between having five of us in the Family. Fortunately, there was a Grandmom, who raised us until we began school. At no time were we in the care of strangers (Nannies). That was unheard of in Our Family. Moms are the hardest working individuals in the world, especially in large families. Most women nowadays whine when there's one or two children to raise. I admire the woman who truly loves her children, and takes it in stride as her true vocation in life God Bless all Moms.
Jennifer
9:32 am on Thursday, April 5, 2012
Since income and the cost of living haven't grown equally, it's a very lucky woman that is able to stay home with her children. It's offensive to say that 'most women nowadays whine when there's one or two children to raise'. I have a lot of friends raising two or more children, some of whom are working full-time outside of the home as well. No one is whining about raising their children. There are gripes about everything but no mother whines about raising her kids. Funny that that should come from a man. I've always said that being a stay-at-home mom is a tough job, but for those of us that have to work outside of our home while running a household isn't such cake either.
Zoobie
3:00 am on Saturday, April 7, 2012
My reply was to the article,and if that's not whining, what is it? I wasn't trying to be confrontational. As I said, My Mom worked, and raised 5 children. Nowadays, one or two children is the norm. Women work for the same reasons my Mom did, to have enough money to live beyond their means. The exception these days is the single parent home, where work is mandatory. Now, there's this mans in your face comeback!
Catherine
5:33 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Compared to women who have to work full or even part time and raise children, yeah they do have it easy. I work in a rehab and take care of 20 elderly demanding patients every work day. If someone told me I could go be a stay at home mom I would think I had won the lottery. What I have to deal with every day, it amazes me that some women find it so hard to raise their own kids. That they can actually discipline and train. Try explaining to a 200 lb confused man they he can't get up or he could fall. After that kids seem like a walk in the park. Try telling an ex-con nicottene addict that he has to wait for the next smoke break before going down to smoke. Try passing a bajillion meds for people. Try squeezing in wound dressings and the million other things. Try being scared every day of what could happen if u make a mistake and lose your license and your source of income. Quite frankly, at the end of a long day I'm disgusted by the Facebook rants of stay at home moms I know. Honestly, stay at home moms do have it easy. And they need to quit bitching. You made your bed now lay in it.