Being a stay at home mom (SAHM) means mastering the art of multitasking, tackling endless amounts of laundry, cooking, managing tantrums, and doing everything the kids ask. These moms go through a lot, and most don’t even realize it. Imagine spending hours on your feet and still wondering, “Am I doing enough?”.
If you want to learn more about what stay at home moms do every day, stick around. This article explores the meaning of SAHM, the mental health challenges, and more. Let’s start!
Table of Contents
What Does a Stay at Home Mom Do?
Think of long lists, chores, hungry babies, and handling finances. Some moms even work from home! The section discusses each of these topics in detail.
Child Care
SAHMs typically handle the majority of childcare. This can include things like taking the kids to school and picking them up, arranging activities after school and overseeing play dates. These moms also schedule every doctor appointment, family events and make sure that each child has both the time and attention that they need to thrive.
However, this isn’t always the case. The amount of childcare responsibilities can vary. Some dads drop the kids off at school on their way to work, while some partners expect whoever stays at home to care for the children.
Household Duties
Many sources report that father’s think that household chores and responsibilities should be equally split but mothers still spend more time cleaning the house. The Washington Post says that this is true even when the mother is the sole breadwinner.
Stay at home moms do the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping. These are all essential to maintaining a stable environment for the family. Some days are more difficult than others.
Working from Home
Today, many stay at home moms work remotely, which can be incredibly challenging. They need to juggle work, ongoing childcare, and home management.
This does not mean less cooking, cleaning or laundry washing. Some families do need the extra income to support their family while other moms see it as a way to connect professionally with people.
Finances
Stay at home moms take on financial responsibilities even if they aren’t the primary owners. This can include budgeting and tracking the family’s expenses, relieving pressure on their partner.
The Realities Behind the Role
While the responsibilities are clear, the societal view of the role isn’t always supportive. Statements like, “It must be nice to do nothing all day” or “Staying at home isn’t a job” undermine the value of SAHMs. Money is what is what matters most, and stepping away from the children.
But here’s the thing: these moms often work more hours than a traditional job would require. This can leave them feeling exhausted while still questioning if they did enough. These negative feelings of self-worth are connected to how clean the house is and how well the children behave, which can lead to isolation. Let’s take a look at the impact of mental health next.
The Mental Health Impact
Some mothers truly thrive when staying at home and taking care of everything. But other moms can experience mental health challenges.
Did you know that moms who stay at home face high rates of depression and anxiety compared to working fathers? They often feel isolated, pressured to fulfill responsibilities, and experience mom guilt in a number of ways. Most moms feel guilty for not contributing financially.
A mom on BuzzFeed shared that she thought she would love staying at home with her kids and that she was glad she was able to do it when they were small. But she felt incredibly lonely. This is extremely common and should be talked about more. While many moms think that staying at home is rewarding some feel like it’s a never ending battle.
The Difference Between Working Moms and Moms that Stay at Home
Both stay-at-home and working moms share the common experience of providing for their families, but their experiences can differ.
Working mums have rushed mornings because they prepare themselves for work and their children for school or daycare. Then, after work, they have to tackle family responsibilities, which can include dinner, bath time, and getting everyone ready for the night. Stay at home moms spend the entire day managing the household – from early morning to night. While there is flexibility, the structure can feel repeated and isolated without adult interactions throughout the day.
Working mums struggle with mom guilt while working. However, working moms report that their work provides them with a sense of personal achievement and professional growth that they would have missed if they stayed at home. Creating a balance between career goals and family time leaves them feeling stretched thin because of how challenging it is. On the other hand, the moms who stay at home may not have a boundary between “mom time” and “personal time.” The limited breaks can make them feel “on call” all of the time, which can lead to burnout. Yet, these moms report a deep satisfaction from being able to witness milestones firsthand.
Conclusion
Being a stay at home mom requires consistently adapting, juggling, and showing up every day. This role is filled with challenges, but many moms claim that the rewards are unmatched. They get to watch their children take their first steps, share little moments, and be there for important milestones.
These moms also provide foundational support for their families, although it goes unseen. Recognizing its value and depth is important so that we can appreciate the dedication they put into raising the next generation.
If you are a stay at home mom or know someone who is, remember that the work done at home is valuable and even impactful. Embrace the journey, seek support when needed, and take time for yourself.
