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I have been a stay-at-home mother for ten years now. The term "stay-at-home" carries many job descriptions for the woman who chooses to raise her family from within the home. The job involves an extreme array of responsibilities, however without a paycheck.

In a 2006 report, Salary.com spoke with stay-at-home, and working, mothers to determine the salary a stay-at-home mother's job was worth. They chose the top ten jobs that describe a stay-at-home mother's description, and pulled together an amount. The amount that was determined three years ago, was $134,121.00, annually. Can you imagine the worth they might determine for the year 2009? The value and recognition of this particular job is undervalued in many communities.

One school year, I was invited to speak at a Girl Scout meeting and talk about my job duties, to a group of elementary students. Out of all of the mothers who spoke that evening, I was the only stay-at-home mother. The first thing I told the girls, was that before I chose to stay home and quit my job, I thought stay-at-home mothers got to sit around and watch television and snack. Their heads began to bob up and down in agreement, however that soon stopped when I continued my speech. I explained to them how I soon found out that staying at home was a lot more work that my past full-time job.

I became the Plumber, the Roofer, the Chauffeur, the Chef, the Accountant, the Customer Service Representative, the Gardener, the Auto Mechanic, the Teacher, the Housekeeper, the CEO, the Nurse, and so much more. When a woman decides to stay at home, like all decisions, they will experience consequences and rewards.

It's also easy for a stay-at-home mother to slowly be taken advantage of. School parents will ask for rides for their children, and many other favors. When there is a financial crisis, people outside the situation, instantly place blame upon the stay-at-home mother for not earning a paycheck.

The lack of recognition to the job of staying at home, and raising a family comes from either, children whose parents have taught them that women who do, are lazy. It's been a subject that has been debated for years, and will probably still be debated for a long time. Lack of knowledge, lack of understanding, and stereotypes, have kept the recognition from rising.

The paycheck that is paid to a stay-at-home mother is paid by having the joy when she teaches a child something new, the appreciation from attending every sporting event their child(ren) participate in, the thank you that is given when a child forgets to take something to school and it's instantly delivered, and the love that is shared to be able to take care of a sick child. This type of paycheck is priceless.

The recognition of the job itself is too often ignored because it's too tempting to debate the actual choice mothers have when they start having children. The debate over whether or not mothers should stay home has clouded the value and worth of the responsibilites of a stay-at-home mom.

References:

WHAT IS A MOM WORTH? WORKING MOM vs. STAY AT HOME MOM SALARIES FOR 2006, New Online "Mom Salary Wizard" Lets Moms and Their Families Customize Mom's Job Description and Create a "Mom Paycheck",http://www.salary.co m/aboutus/layoutscripts/abtl_d efault.asp?tab=...12&ser=s er041&part=Par499

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