Working Moms: Pros and Cons of Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

Congratulations! You’ve found a modicum of certainty. You’re pregnant, you’re going to have a baby, and you know for certain what the baby’s gender is. Now you’re starting to think about what to do after you have the baby.

It can be extremely tough to decide whether to stay at home with your child or children, or to work outside of the home. Factors like family income and daycare costs and options can make this decision that much more challenging.

How Many Stay-at-Home Moms Are There?

The Pew Research Center found that the percentage of stay-at-home moms (SAHM) has increased throughout the decades. The number of SAHMs was at a low point of 23% around the year 2000, and stay at home parents, in general, stood at a low 15% of the U.S. parent population.

It wasn’t until 2010 with the hit of the Great Recession when rates of stay-at-home parents increased to 20% due to the fact that parents would stay home with their children because they were unable to find work.

Some mothers choose to work throughout their pregnancy and return to work after the birth of their newborn. However, this decreases the amount of time that the new mother is able to spend with her baby. Some companies offer maternity leave, but this only lasts for a period of time (with the length of leave depending on the company). In the United States, this leave often doesn’t come with pay, which can put pressure on the mother to return to work as soon as possible.

What Are the Pros and Benefits of Staying at Home?

You want to raise a happy baby, and there are a variety of ways to do so. For some moms, the best way to influence their child’s development is by staying home with them. The children aren’t the only ones that can benefit from this arrangement—there are plenty of benefits to being a stay-at-home mom, including:

• More Quality Time with the Kids: When you’re home with your kids, you won’t miss the major milestones, such as their first steps or their first word.
• Free of Work Stress: When you don’t have any deadlines to meet, customers insisting they’re right, or hoping your time off requests get accepted, you may find that you’re a bit more stress-free.
• Meet Other SAHMs: Your baby will quickly become your new best friend, but it is still important to have a close-knit adult social circle. When you’re a SAHM, you have the opportunity to turn to social networking to see what groups may be out there for mothers just like you. You’ll quickly bond over similar lifestyles, and can even swap tips and tricks about staying home all day with your child.
• Gives a Sense of Routine: Staying at home with your children allows you to make sure everything is getting done the way you like it, and in a timely manner.
• Promotes Early Childhood Development: As a stay-at-home mom, you have the opportunity to engage with your child throughout the day, promoting their learning and social skills through one-on-one interactions, playtime, and reading sessions.
• Flexibility for Family Needs: Being at home gives you the flexibility to adapt to your family’s unique schedule and needs. Whether it’s attending school events, managing doctor’s appointments, or being there for unexpected challenges, you can focus on your family without external work pressures.
• Savings on Childcare Costs: By staying home, you can eliminate or reduce the high costs of daycare or babysitting services, which can ease financial stress for your family and provide peace of mind knowing your child is in your care.

What Are the Challenges of Staying at Home?

Emotional and Social Impact

1. Feeling Isolated or Disconnected: Staying at home with your child can sometimes feel isolating, as your social interactions may decrease significantly compared to being in a workplace. Without regular adult interaction, stay-at-home moms can feel disconnected from their peers or society at large.
2. Maintaining Self-Identity Outside of Parenting: Balancing your role as a parent while maintaining your personal identity can be challenging. It’s easy to focus entirely on your child’s needs, but neglecting hobbies, career goals, or personal ambitions can lead to feelings of stagnation.
3. Managing Emotional Burnout: Being a stay-at-home mom is a 24/7 responsibility with no clear breaks. The constant demands of caregiving can lead to emotional exhaustion or feelings of being overwhelmed, especially if self-care is neglected. Finding ways to recharge and seek support is essential for emotional well-being.

Financial Challenges

1. Impact on Household Income: Transitioning from a dual-income household to a single income can create financial strain. Even with reduced childcare costs, the loss of a steady paycheck may require significant lifestyle adjustments or budgeting.
2. Potential Career Gaps: Taking time off from the workforce can affect career progression. Gaps in your resume may make reentering the job market challenging, especially in competitive fields where skills and experience need to stay current.
3. Reduced Retirement Savings and Benefits: Staying at home can impact long-term financial security, including contributions to retirement accounts or access to employer-sponsored benefits. Planning ahead and discussing financial goals with your partner or a financial advisor can help mitigate these challenges.

What if I Can’t Afford to Stay at Home?

If quitting work entirely isn’t an option, there are plenty of jobs for mothers who want to work from home.

Jobs for Stay at Home Moms

• Brand Ambassador —Work for brands and help them build their clientele by selling the company’s products or services on your social media pages. This job is perfect for the SAHMs with a degree in business or marketing and experience in sales. Brand ambassadors earn ~$35,836 a year or $17 an hour according to ZipRecruiter.
• Writer/Editor —Companies are frequently in need of someone to help them write and/or edit their content. The workload may vary depending on the company you write/edit for but for the most part, can be a flexible position. The SAHM in this position must be able to meet deadlines and follow outlines when deemed necessary, and should have a background in communications, journalism or English. Writers/editors earn ~ $74,496 a year or $36 an hour according to ZipRecruiter.
• Customer Service Representative —Work with different companies as their customer service representative where your job will be to answer questions and help to resolve any problems that may occur. It is recommended that you have access to a headset, which makes working over the phone easier. Perfect for moms who have excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Customer service representatives earn ~$35,934 a year or $17 an hour according to ZipRecruiter.
• Online Personal Stylist —A perfect job from home for the SAHM who is up to date on the latest style trends. Help women and men with their stylistic needs by virtually providing different looks and fashion advice for clients. Online personal stylists earn ~$41,821 a year or $20 an hour according to ZipRecruiter.
• Online Tutor —Choose from a variety of subjects and skill levels and help those in need of extracurricular learning. You often create your own hours of operation. Online tutors earn ~$41,316 a year or $20 an hour according to ZipRecruiter.

Financial Help for Single Moms

If you find yourself in a position where money is tight for you and your family, there are resources available that you might be eligible for.

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): TANF is a Federally funded government program created to assist families with children who are not able to provide for the family’s basic needs. Each state decides on its own design of the program, the type and amount of assistance payments, the range of other services to be provided, and the rules of eligibility.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency. Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find out if you’re eligible.
• Medicaid: Provides health coverage to low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities and is one of the largest payers for health care in the United States.
• Free and Reduced Price School Meals: If you qualify for TANF or SNAPS, then your child automatically is eligible for free or reduced school lunches. Contact your school for further information about the application process.

How Do I Find a Work-Life Balance?

Whether you decide to stay at home or go back to work, it is important to maintain a proper work-life balance. Yoga classes are a great way to relieve stress and meet other mothers who might be in similar positions. You can also maintain a healthy work-life relationship by:

At Work:

• Create Achievable Goals Each Day: This helps give you a regular sense of accomplishment.
• Manage Your Time: Divide larger tasks into smaller ones, and you must complete one task in order to move on to the next. Reward yourself by taking a five-minute break in between each task.
• Communicate: Communicating honestly with your coworkers and managers if you’re struggling is a great way to tap your internal resources. Often, when you do this, someone will have advice as to how you can address the challenges you’re facing.

At Home:

• Unplug: Being on your phone 24/7 can create unnecessary chaos in your mind. Taking a break from technology can be a great way to clear your thoughts.
• Leave Your Work Problems at Work: Worrying about work when you’re off the clock is something that may happen. It is important to keep your work and home life separate.
• Don’t Overbook: When you’re in a financial bind, you may feel obligated to pick up on extra hours or tasks for that extra dollar. When you overbook your schedule, you are also overbooking your mental workload. Know your limits and only work extra hours if you think you’re capable of taking on the tasks both mentally and physically.

How to Stay Connected as a Stay-at-Home Mom

Joining Local or Online Parenting Groups

One of the best ways to combat isolation as a stay-at-home mom is by connecting with others who share similar experiences. Local parenting groups, often found through community centers, libraries, or social media platforms, offer a welcoming space for moms to meet, share advice, and build friendships. These groups can include playdates, mommy-and-me classes, or casual coffee meetups, giving both you and your child opportunities to socialize.

Online parenting communities are equally valuable, especially for moms with busy schedules or limited local options. Platforms like Facebook Groups or dedicated parenting forums provide a virtual space to exchange tips, share struggles, and celebrate milestones. Whether in person or online, joining these groups can help you feel supported and understood.

Volunteering Opportunities to Build Connections and Skills

Volunteering is another excellent way to stay engaged and connected with your community while developing new skills. Many schools, non-profits, and community organizations actively seek volunteers for events, administrative tasks, or outreach programs.

For moms who want to involve their children, volunteering at family-friendly events or school activities can be a great option. Not only does this strengthen community ties, but it also sets an example of giving back.

If you’re looking to explore future career paths or maintain professional skills, consider roles that align with your interests or expertise. Volunteering provides valuable networking opportunities, helping you stay connected while contributing to meaningful causes.

Stay Ahead while Staying at Home with SneakPeek!

There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to deciding whether or not you will stay home or return to work. Prior to having your baby, make sure to discuss your options with your partner, your employer, and have an honest discussion with yourself. Making this decision before your due date will help save you unnecessary stress and concern.

If you’re preparing to welcome your little one, SneakPeek can help you feel more connected during this exciting time. With the SneakPeek At-Home Gender Test, you can discover your baby’s gender as early as 6 weeks with over 99% accuracy, using the only patented device for gender testing. It’s safe, simple, and provides answers sooner than ever before. Visit SneakPeek today to take the first step in your parenting journey with confidence!

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At SneakPeek, our commitment is to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information to empower our readers. Our content is thoroughly researched, reviewed by medical experts, and fact-checked to ensure its credibility. We prioritize the well-being and education of our readers, and our editorial policy adheres to the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in all our articles.

This post has been reviewed for accuracy by:

Haley Milot

Haley Milot, a highly skilled laboratory professional, currently serves as the Associate Director of Lab Operations at Gateway Genomics, the parent company of SneakPeek. Her extensive experience in laboratory management, spanning over seven years with Gateway Genomics, showcases her expertise in quality assurance, quality control, and the development of laboratory procedures. Haley's background includes pivotal roles in DNA extraction and purification, real-time qPCR, and specimen accessioning, underscoring her comprehensive understanding of laboratory operations and diagnostics. Her adeptness in managing complex laboratory functions and her deep knowledge of medical diagnostics make her a vital contributor to SneakPeek's innovative approach to prenatal testing.