by Melissa Avery

Created on: May 21, 2009

The argument of stay at home moms vs. working moms is irrelevant because there shouldn't even be a distinction between the two. Both are working moms, the only difference is that one works at home for no paycheck and the other works outside of the home and earns an individual income. Both work their tails off to provide for their families.

The stay at home mom plays fashion coordinator, tutor, chauffer and chef. Not to mention laundress, referee, housekeeper and storyteller. She is the monitor of dental health, nutrition and hygiene. Whether she is a single mother (most of which, unfortunately, don't have the choice to stay at home) or part of a two parent household, she is a moral compass for the little people she is molding. There is no doubt that this involves a lot of work, yet some still think she has it easy. Because of this a lot of these women, when asked what they do, reply "I'm just a stay at home mom". "Just" my foot. A stay at home mother is just as important to a family as one who heads out the door everyday to outside employment.

The work outside of home mom is no way inferior or incorrect when compared to the stay at home mom. From both personal and observational experience, I would say she is stretched even thinner. This woman goes to her place of employment every day and does the job she's paid to do. She also tries to find time to squeeze in school activities, social obligations and doctors' appointments. She agonizes over missing her child's first step or word and having to hear about it from the babysitter. Whether she is living with a partner or not, a fair amount of moms have to do the grocery shopping, laundry and attend to the general upkeep of the home. These things are still seen by some as the woman's job, not just a mom's job.

Both types of mothers experience the same types of ups and downs. Questions like " Am I doing the right thing? Am I doing what's best for my kids? "are probably questions asked by both. While the stay at home mom does miss out on adult conversation, sometimes for days on end, the work away from home mom can miss out on some very interesting topics of conversation with her children. Both experience the anxiety of the first day of school, the first date and many other milestone events. Both experience the joy of birth, the toothless smile or their child making the team.

The bottom line is that they are both moms. Whether staying at home or employed outside of it, they work all of the time. She is a working mother.

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