Stay at Home Mothers
Today's American family is very different from the typical "ideal family" that was the norm only half a century ago. Family life in the 1950s consisted of a father who left for work every morning and a loyal mother who stayed at home to tend to her house and the children. This concept is no longer the norm for American households. Families today come in all shape and sizes, and more and more moms are trading in their gardens and cooking utensils for the hustle and bustle of the American work force. "The number of employed mothers with children under age 18 were 70.1% in 1999, up from to 66.3% in 1990."11 Are working mothers better than stay-at-home mothers? For many women, the decision to stay at home or work is very frustrating. What if a mother decides to work? For some families, having mom stay at home is not feasible. A second income is necessary to make ends meet. Even if two incomes is not critical, income is not the advantage when a mother works. Health insurance, life insurance, and saving for retirement can persuade a mom to stay at
A stay at home mom is assured her children are being raised in a healthy, positive environment. She can be accessible to her children at all times, and can be present at every school play, make Halloween costumes, or decorate for Christmas. When a mother decides to stay at home, she can cut out the hidden expenses of work. These expenses may include business clothes, dry cleaning, gas, expensive lattes from a coffee shop, and overly-priced burgers at a fast food restaurant.. Staying at home will eliminate child care expenses. Depending on what state a family lives in, child care can add up. "For example, in Ohio the average cost for full-time child care for a 1-year-old is $4,940."2 For a stay-at-home mom, the greatest reward is watching her children flourish into responsible and respectable human beings. "If you quit your job, you'll be lucky if people remember you two years down the line. But your children always going to be there. They are living proof of your hard work and effort."3 Gayle Peterson, MSSW, PhD and family therapist sa
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Approximate Word count = 717
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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