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While about half of all mothers choose to stay at home, it is still viewed as the lessor of the two choices. There are benefits to full-time mothering
Every new mother is faced with the decision to either return to work full-time, part-time or stay at home after the new baby arrives. Statistics show that 48% of mothers stay home with their children under the age of two, while 25% of mothers stay home when their children are between the ages of 3 and 6. Our culure rarely values this role of the stay-at-home mother and instead seems to tell mothers that they need to "be everything they should be" by pursuing a career. The work of changing diapers, doing laundry and managing a household, is certainly not revered by most people today. Yet there are some benefts to the family should a mother decide to be a stay-at-home mom. Stability and Consistency at HomeAs children grow from infancy to school-age, they are learning all about life and what to expect from the people around them. Children function best in their world by knowing that there is stability and predictability at home. Having a mother home to care for them if they are sick or even later when they get home from school can be a huge benefit to their sense of self-esteem and having a sense that they are cared for and loved. Management of HouseholdAnyone who has managed a home knows that it is indeed a full-time job. One big advantage in terms of managing the home is if one parent can tackle all of those responsibilites. Duties like cooking, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping and even doctor visits can be much more difficult to manage with both parents working full-time. Cost SavingsAlthough living on one salary can be challenging if parents are used to having two salaries, there are numerous ways that staying at home can be cost efficient for the family budget. One of the biggest savings is for child care. Cost for full-time child care can range from $400 to almost double that amount each month. In addition, stay-at-home mothers can save on other expenses such as gas, car repairs and clothing. Experiencing Special MomentsOne of the biggest treasures of staying at home with children is sharing in all the the "first" moments. As a new mother, watching daily changes with your new baby as he or she grows is amazing. The first smile, first word and first step are all huge landmarks in the life of your baby. It you are not staying at home, you are likely to miss out on those special "first" moments of your baby's development. What do you think are other advantages of staying at home? What about advantages of working or having a career outside the home? Tell us on the forum.
The copyright of the article Choosing to Stay at Home in Postpartum Health is owned by Brenda Lane. Permission to republish Choosing to Stay at Home in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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