Some people might say that being a stay-at-home mom is easy, or that life at home with kids would be boring.
Some might think they are lazy or don’t contribute much to the family. Others argue that stay-at-home mothers make the best decisions of their lives, and they make noble and valuable sacrifices to stay home and raise their children.
If you are considering becoming a stay-at-home mom, what really matters is what is best for your family. So consider your beliefs, priorities, finances, and personal lifestyle.
However, there is also a great deal of research on the subject that you can consult when making your decision. The findings about life as a stay-at-home mom may surprise you.
Opinions on Stay at Home Mom
There are, of course, many personal reasons to stay home with your kids. Benefits may include spending more time with your kids for direction on their learning and development. You might not want to miss a second of their childhood. You also may not trust other people to take care of your child.
The downside is your family income, your career, and big changes to your lifestyle.
Everyone’s specific pros and cons and how they feel about them is unique. However, studies show that there are pros and cons to being a stay-at-home mom that probably hold true across the board for many people.
This factor is derived from data collected in research and can help you decide whether you want to stay home or return to work.
While there’s no right or wrong answer, this study can help inform your choices — not make decisions for you.
Keep in mind that these pros and cons may or may not apply to you. There are many different factors, such as lifestyle, budget, priorities, social support, relationship status, and your child’s needs, which should be considered before making a final decision.
Pros
Increase in child’s school performance
Greater involvement in child’s day-to-day life
Child has less stress and aggression
Feeling good about the choice to stay home
Cons
Loss of income
Parents often desire to go back to work
Social isolation for the parents
Parents may have higher levels of sadness, depression, and anger
Children Benefit at Every Age
One study found that the benefits of having a stay-at-home mom go beyond the early years of a child’s life.
The study measured educational performance of 68,000 children. Researchers found an increase in school achievement up to senior high school age children. However, the biggest educational impact was on children ages 6 and 7.4 years
Most homeschoolers also have mothers at home teaching them. A compilation of studies provided by the National Home Education Research Institute supports the benefits of at-home parents for educational reasons.
Regardless of whether mothers stay at home or work outside the home, studies show that parental involvement in school makes a difference in children’s academic performance and how long they actually stay in school. And some children with learning differences and/or special needs may do better in school (vs. homeschooling) to access the services they need.
Reducing Stress in Children
Several studies link parenting to an increase in behavior problems and show that being home with your children will have a developmental advantage over children who are in full-time childcare, in diapers and fury. Studies also show higher levels of stress in children in daycare compared to those cared for at home. But that doesn’t mean you have to accompany your children every minute until they are ready to go to school.
Look for a Parent’s Day Out or babysitting place that allows your child to play with others while giving you time.
More Control in Parenting
The ability to directly protect, spend time with, and care for children every day is often cited as a key benefit of mothers who don’t work outside the home.
Studies show that some parents stay at home with the aim of having more direct control over the influences they are exposed to in their child. Others just see it as their duty to be the one to take care of the children.
Evidence-Based Cons
Despite the increase in numbers and a few important benefits, the decision to quit your job to become a stay-at-home mom should never be made out of guilt or peer pressure.
While there are lots of good reasons to become a stay-at-home mom, they aren’t necessarily right or financially rewarding for everyone.
For some families, the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages.
Lots of Mothers Miss Working
Studies show that many stay-at-home moms miss working outside the home, and are thinking about returning to work one day.
It can be hard to walk away from the real rewards and results of a job, especially one you enjoy and excel at.
If you lived at home when your kids were young but plan to return to work, you can take a number of steps to bridge the job gap, such as taking classes for a license or certificate that enhance your resume, or perhaps taking a part-time job.
You might also consider home business opportunities as well as work at home opportunities that will allow you to stay at home while making money and getting back some of what you’ve lost in your career.
Bad Impacts on Physical and Mental Health
Studies show that stay-at-home moms experience worse physical and mental health compared to those who work outside the home.
The effects include higher rates of mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, as well as higher rates of chronic illness.
There may be a number of reasons for this, including experiencing more pressure as a parent and financial problems.
Working parents tend to have access to more robust health insurance plans than those who stay at home. They are also likely to benefit from greater self-esteem, personal control over their lives, wallet or economic security, and more dynamic socio-economic support.
