10 Pros and Cons of Being a Working Mom

The Pros and Cons of Being a Working Mom

Not sure if you want to be a working mom after having your baby? Or perhaps you’re a stay at home mom thinking about going back to work. I am giving you the pros and cons of being a working mom that can give you the clarity you need!

This is something that I have thought LONG and HARD for, and I bet you’re also finding yourself on the fence about this. Here’s a quick little exercise you can do right now to help organize your thoughts.

Use the following key points to create your own list of pros and cons of being a working mom. As you read through the list, jot down the ideas that stick with you. If you can think of other ideas, definitely add those to your list as well!

Of course, this little exercise might not instantly give you an answer, but when making a decision as big as this one, you’ll want to consider all the advantages and disadvantages of being a working mom.

This post is all about the 10 pros and cons of being a working mom.

Advantages of being a working mother

1. You have financial independence and stability

This is probably the most obvious benefit of being a working mom.

Having your own income gives you the freedom to spend on your kids, your home, and yourself without feeling the guilt or burden of asking your husband for money.

Working moms not only have this income coming in, but they are also adding to their retirement, receiving benefits, and earning bonuses depending on their job.

It’s no secret that having kids is expensive, and if you are not bringing in an income, it could be extremely overwhelming and stressful as parents to be able to afford all expenses. Being a working mom is the most obvious solution in this case.

2. You’ll have social interaction with adults

As much as any mom absolutely loves being home with their kids, eventually, not having adult interaction can really take a toll on you mentally.

You’ll reach the point where you need a break from the baby talk. You’ll want to be able to vent to someone, to ask for parenting advice, to hear the latest gossip, to talk about current events, etc.

Being a working mom not only allows you to have that adult interaction that keeps you sane, but it allows you to not forget the person you were before being a mom.

3. You’re teaching your kids to be a hard worker

As a working mom, you are setting the example of how to be a hard worker in every aspect of your life. Juggling a career and raising kids is extremely difficult to accomplish, but doing so teaches your kids that anything is possible.

Through your example, your kids will learn what having a good work ethic looks like, inspiring them to want to be like you one day.

My mom has always been my role model, and a HUGE reason for this is because of how hard she worked while also raising three kids.

4. You’d be raising more independent children

To piggyback the previous point, not only do working moms teach their kids how to be hard working, but they also end up raising more independent children.

Children who have a working mom are more inclined to have chores because there’s a greater need to help out at home.

Kids who also have less time with their parents learn at a young age to spend time alone, basically being forced into being more independent.

5. You’re less likely to experience depression

Research has continuously found that stay-at-home moms report more depression, sadness, and anger while working moms are as mentally and emotionally well-off as working women who are not moms.

The reality is that stay-at-home mom depression is a real thing, but no one ever really talks about it. One assumes that because SAHMs are home with their kids they can’t possibly experience depression.

Working moms are less likely to feel this way because they have their jobs to mentally and emotionally escape to.

Hear about this mom’s pros and cons of being a working mom vs. being a stay at home mom

Disadvantages of being a working mother

1. You’ll miss out on seeing your child grow up

One of the hardest things for working moms is being away from their baby and missing out on that invaluable time with them.

This is probably the biggest con on this list because being at work may mean that you’ll miss out on important milestones in your child’s life. You might miss your child’s first crawl, first walk, first word, etc.

I know it’s hard, but that’s the sacrifice that working moms make for their kids, as difficult as it may be.

2. You’ll be extremely exhausted and stressed. All the time.

To say that you’ll be tired as a working mom is an understatement.

You’ll work long hours at your job only to come home and find yourself cooking, cleaning, and caring for your family. Being a mom is equivalent to working 2.5 full time jobs, and having an actual job aside from that is just an insane amount of work.

You’ll have to find ways to work as efficiently at home as you can because yes you’ll be exhausted from work and exhausted from all the mom duties you’ll have when you get home.

3. Working moms are more prone to health issues

In 2019 it was reported that 9.8 million working moms were suffering from workplace burnout, a recognized health condition that can lead to fatigue, lack of motivation, headaches, nausea, hair loss, stomachaches, and crying.

Although being a working mom can help keep you sane from all your mommy duties, working way too many hours and pushing yourself too much at your job can have these consequences to your health.

4. Having less time for your family can hurt your relationship with your kids and husband

Ok I’ll be 100% honest and say that I am guilty of being a workaholic, and I feel terrible when I’m reminded that I am not spending enough time with my husband and family.

If you decide to be a working mom, you need to be careful to not spend the majority of your time on your career. It can possibly distance you from your husband and kids, making you appear as a stranger to them.

We all may know at least one person whose marriage fell apart because they were too focused on their careers and not on their marriage or family. This is the last thing you’ll want for yourself.

5. You’ll have no flexibility with your schedule

In being a working mom, it can be really difficult to schedule your kids’ doctor’s appointments, parent-teacher conferences, etc.

You’ll have to either try to schedule around your work schedule, change your work schedule, or call off from work to be able to schedule these things, which is not the easiest or most convenient thing to do.

As a working mom, you really don’t have a flexible schedule at all. Plus, the more kids you have, the harder it will be to manage everything you have going on.

tired mom pros and cons of being a working mom

Finding the work-life balance as a working mom

If you decide to go back to work after having your baby, you’ll want to find ways that will help you achieve a work-life balance. Use any of the following tips:

  • Don’t take on too much.
  • Learn how to say “no” at work.
  • Prioritize your husband and kids.
  • Go on date nights and have family nights.
  • Give yourself grace.
  • Stop striving for perfection.
  • Be present wherever you are, whether that’s at work or at home.
  • Let go of the mom guilt.
  • Lean on your husband when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
  • Treat yourself at least once a week by doing something you enjoy.
  • Eat and sleep well.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

FAQs

Are there negative effects of working mothers on child development?

Contrary to what most people assume, studies and reports have found that there are no negative effects of working mothers on child development. Children of working mothers have actually thrived in their education by following their mother’s example of working hard to achieve goals.

Are stay-at-home moms better than working moms?

One simply can’t say that one mom is better than another because she is a SAHM or a working mom. What makes a woman a good mom will stem from her love and care for her family.

Final thoughts:

Do what is best for your family when you make the decision about whether you’ll be a SAHM or a working mom. Again, use this list as well as some reasons why you may want to be a stay at home mom to complete your own pro/con list.

Being a mom is the hardest but most rewarding job you’ll ever have, and making the decision as to whether you’ll be a working mom will take time, a lot of thought, and conversations with your family to ultimately decide.

Have faith in yourself mama, you know what you need to do to ensure your family is taken care of. I hope this list gave you the push and clarity you needed <3


Related Posts You’ll Love!

Reasons to be a Stay at Home Mom

Mom Guilt Quotes


10 Pros and Cons of Being a Working Mom

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *